There are opals… and then there are Lightning Ridge opals, stones so rare and so fiercely beautiful they seem almost otherworldly; this is one of those. A great pool of midnight blue shot through with swirling ribbons of teal, cerulean, and violet, the kind of color you expect to see only in deep ocean water or in the sky just before a storm breaks. Lightning Ridge, in New South Wales, is the most important source for true black opals — the rarest and most valuable opals on earth — prized for the way their electric colors blaze against a naturally dark body tone. Miners can work a lifetime without ever finding one of this caliber. To see such a stone in person is breathtaking; to wear it is something else entirely, like carrying a slice of the cosmos on your hand.

This magnificent ring was crafted in France in about 1900, the amazing center opal weighs approximately 4.62 carats and measures 17.5 x 10.1 x 6.2 mm. It is set in a halo of old European cut diamonds, with two slightly larger stones at the top and bottom (each about .22 carats) and sixteen surrounding diamonds averaging about .18 carats each, for a total diamond weight of approximately 1.5 carats. The ring’s face measures 25.4 mm north to south and 17.2 mm across, rising 8.5 mm off the finger and tapering to a 1.7 mm band at the back. It weighs 8.72 grams. The band is marked with the French eagle’s head for a minimum fineness of 18 karat gold, and the diamonds are set in platinum. The ring is a size 5 but can be easily sized up considerably.

Some jewels are simply beautiful; others feel mythic. This is the latter — a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opal, framed in diamonds that make it glow like a celestial body. It’s a ring for someone who wants not just a treasure, but a wonder: something rare enough to stop conversations, luminous enough to feel alive, and extraordinary enough to become an heirloom the moment it slips onto the hand.

I offer free layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. We ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations.

Please note that if you are ordering a ring and you’d like to have it re-sized by us, you need to check with us before ordering to see if this can be done and what the cost will be. We generally offer free re-sizing within one full size up or down for no additional charge, but there may sometimes be a charge for the materials, ie: gold. Some rings cannot be re-sized by us, such as eternity bands and heavy signet rings. We are happy to let you know if we can resize any ring and to quote you a price on re-sizings over one full size. Re-sized rings are not eligible for return, but may be exchanged at our discretion.

Item ID: RGA27165VA