Coober Pedy Doublet Opal Drop Earrings | 9ct Yellow Gold

A pair of Coober Pedy doublet opal drop earrings in 9ct yellow gold. These opals are dark, and that dark base is what makes the colour stand out. Across a deep blue body, there are bright flashes of red and pink with green breaking through. Red is the colour opal buyers prize most, because it needs the largest structure inside the stone to form, and these have plenty of it. As natural stones, the two are well matched but not identical.

Opals: Two pear-shaped doublet opals from Coober Pedy, South Australia, [to add]ct total
Metal: 9ct yellow gold
Setting: Bezel set
Fittings: Shepherd hooks

About opal
Opal is made of tiny silica spheres stacked in a regular pattern, and its play of colour comes from light diffracting between them. Smaller spheres give blues and greens, and larger ones give orange and red. A doublet is a thin slice of natural precious opal bonded to a dark backing, which strengthens the slice and deepens its colour. These opals come from Coober Pedy in South Australia, one of Australia's best-known opal fields. It's been mined since 1915, and many locals still live underground in dugouts to escape the heat.

Hardness: 5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale, softer than most gemstones. Don't soak doublets or wear them swimming or in the shower. Water can work into the bonded layer over time and cloud it. Put them on after hairspray and perfume, and wipe them with a soft damp cloth.
Birthstone: October

Want to know more about opal? Read our Opal Birthstone Edit for a closer look at its colour, wearability and what to look for when choosing one.