A Bit About The Piece:
Asymmetrical earrings featuring white crystal opal bezel set into polished gray agate slices with 14kt yellow gold.
Details, details...
The Center Stones: Australian White Crystal Opal, solid
- origin: Coober Pedy, Australia
- measurements: 8mm x 4mm and 8mm x 3.26mm
- brightness of color: 1 of 5
- oval cabochon cuts
- crazing on one stone
The Frame Stones: Grey Agate
- measurements: 22.02mm x 15.62mm x 4.61mm and 21.19mm x 13.15mm x 5.16mm
The Metal:
- 14kt yellow gold bezel and posts, solid
- surgical steel backs
- Made in USA
About Opal:
While many believe opal to come only in a traditional white hue, this common misconception cannot be more inaccurate. With over 200 varieties of natural opal discovered so far, the historically referred "Queen of Gems" can come in a wide variety of colors- before the stone's famous "play of color" rainbow effect is even taken into consideration. Over 90% of the world's opal is produced in Australia with other well-known deposits located in Mexico, Ethiopia, Brazil, and the United States.
Chemically, opal is an integrated combination of water and silica. Water content in opal can range from 3% to 21% by weight, with average jewelry material ranging between 6% and 10%. Because of this, it is advised to store your opal jewelry with care; safes and bank vaults can be notoriously dry. We suggest storing opal in an airtight container along with a piece of water-moistened cotton when dry storage conditions are anticipated. Some varieties are more resilient to harsh conditions than others. It is safe to clean solid opal jewelry with warm water, mild soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Avoid chemicals, harsh abrasives, and ultrasonic cleaners.
About Agate:
Agate, a type of "chalcedony" quartz similar to jasper, comes in a wide variety of patterns and colors from around the world. Notable agate varieties include carnelian, onyx, sard, fire agate, moss agate, iris agate, and Madagascar sea agate. While agate and jasper are both atomically the same stone, agate is distinguished by its translucency, whereas jasper is completely opaque. The two can form together in one stone.
Both hard and durable, agate ranks 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Due to the microcrystalline nature of how agate grows, stones are resistant to chipping and breaking. Agate jewelry can safely be put into chemical and ultrasonic cleaners.