I found this opal pendant a while ago and was just wanting more information about it. I love opal, but don't know much about them. Not so much after a valuation as I don't believe its worth much - but would love to know why some parts are white and others aren't on the face of it and also what "type" it looks like.. Thanks in advance...
I've posted some pictures to my flickr account...please let me know if you can't see the photos...
I was using an iphone camera so they aren't so great but I think its gives a bit of an idea.
Very interesting. It looks to me like an opal that has been smoke or sugar treated (maybe Andamooka?) And then had the black layer partially polished through.
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am Posts: 2756 Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
It's an interesting piece but without close-up images I find it very hard to "diagnose." Several possibilities occur to me. Is there any possibility of new images with more detail?
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Stephen Challener wrote:
Very interesting. It looks to me like an opal that has been smoke or sugar treated (maybe Andamooka?) And then had the black layer partially polished through.
That was my 1st thought too, but I'd like to see a larger pic as well.
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am Posts: 2756 Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
It could simply be air bubbles on a separation plane beneath a doublet or triplet top and the opal. Sometimes adhesives deteriorate with age allowing that to happen. Detailed images are needed.
It looks like an opal triplet with the glue starting to separate. I've got a couple of Spencer opal triplets that I made 40 years ago that look very similar.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I've uploaded new photos to the flickr account taken with my ipad (its better quality but not great) as I couldn't find the high def camera at home.
Also unfortunately I'm not sure if the photos will show it but under a bright light, the white parts at the bottom (of the pendant) reflect pink color/flashes.
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 8:32 am Posts: 1730 Location: Suwanee, GA US
Still hard to tell, it could be a deteriorated triplet or it also looks like Mintabie opal. The more common with not much of a color bar has black in it with a mix of color. I have piece I have like that from lower quality stuff that I got for a song.
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