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The name is derived from an Indian word for "stone". It comes in a variety of colors, backgrounds and textures. It is a fascinating stone all about "the play of color". Australia produces around 97% of the world's opal. That said, there are opal deposits around the world. Fire opal is named after its orange color and has become a very popular fashion gemstone in the last few years. There are important fire opal deposits in Mexico. Opals are usually divided into three groups, precious opal, (white, black and boulder opal) fire opal and common opal. Common opal is what most of us are familiar with, white, opaque with very little play of color.
Opal is the birthstone for October and there is nothing common about beautiful opals! They are so unique in their appearance, you can spend hours watching the light reflect from all different angles. Sigh.
Opal ring by Katherine Jetter. Photo courtesy of Katherine Jetter.
Fire opal earrings capped with gold, diamonds and orange sapphires by Martin Katz. Photo courtesy of Martin Katz.
Classic Opal Pendant by Katherine Jetter. Photo courtesy of Katherine Jetter.
Irene Neuwirth boulder opal and rose cut diamond earrings. Photo Courtesy of Irene Neuwirth.
Monique Pean Peruvian opal and diamond necklace. Photo courtesy of Barney's.
Solange Azagury Partridge Opal Fruit Bangle in 18k blackened white gold featuring rubies and colored sapphires. Photo courtesy of Solange Azagury Partridge
Mimi So Zozo boulder opal and diamond ring. Photo courtesy of Mimi So.
A feast for the eyes! I will take one of each!
ttfn,
Mrs. Jones
Last night in our little village of Great Falls, I attended a fund raiser for the Vanessa Pean Foundation which honors the life of Vanessa Pean who tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 16 in October, 2005. The foundation keeps Vanessa's memory alive through charitable contributions to worthy endeavors in academia, athletics and social service. A portion of the proceeds last night went to support clean water around the world and to provide scholarships to children in Haiti. It was a lovely event.
Monique Pean, the noted jewelry designer was there displaying her latest work. Monique is Vanessa's sister and is the founder of the Vanessa Pean foundation. Monique is passionate about the environment and strives to combine eco-friendly, sustainable and conflict free materials to create unique pieces of jewelry. She uses a variety of fossilized materials including woolly mammoth, walrus ivory and dinosaur bones. She combines these materials with recycled gold and conflict free diamonds.
In 2009, she was selected as one of the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund winners. In July 2011, Monique was awarded the first ever CVFF and Tiffany & Co. development grant.
Here are just a few photos of her amazing work.
Grey ombre fossilized walrus ivory ring with white diamond pave, 18 karat recycled white gold, 0.27 total carat weight. Photo courtesy of Monique Pean.
Grey fossilized dinosaur bone oval cabochon ring with white diamond pave, 18 karat recycled white gold, 0.31 total carat weight. Photo of Monique Pean.
Light sunburst fossilized walrus ivory and jasper "K'AN necklace with white diamond pave, 18 karat recycle white gold, 0.93 carats total weight. Photo courtesy of Monique Pean.
Sustainable black buffalo horn asymmetrical cuff with small gold pyramids, 18 karat recycle rose gold. Photo courtesy of Monique Pean.
Antique rose cut diamond bracelet, G color, VS2 clarity, 18 karat recycled white gold, 45.80 total carat weight. Photo courtesy of Monique Pean.
ttfn,
Mrs. Jones
