My new opal - what color metal should I set it in?

[Agneau]

I bought myself a new Ethiopian Opal for Christmas. Today was the cloudy day I was waiting for to take pictures... so I rolled out of my sick-bed to take some and it helped me forget my cold/flu misery for a short time.

Specs:
Ethiopian cab. The cut is okay... I wish it was thicker. The dome is not symmetrical. There is a tiny divot in the top and two small pieces of matter on the bottom and one slither on the top (hard to see without a loupe.
It's a little over 3cts.
13X9.

I am going to let it sit for a little while before I set it to make sure it's stable.

What color metal do you think would be nice? I have always wanted something in rose gold, so I was hoping it would look best in that color. I value and welcome your opinions.

Here are some pictures of it with different backgrounds. It's a lot different than my other opal and it took time for me to learn its characteristics. It's also pretty transparent which I like and don't like (depending on my mood and the lighting).




On the back of my hand.


Cool neon red.


It's my favorite on a black background.




Transparency and body color seen on my very expensive Art History book for next semester's class. If I could use the amount of money that book costs on gems... I could buy a very nice Spinel!


Fun!


Thanks for looking/commenting.

 

[minousbijoux]

Absolutely rose gold! It has the perfect color palette for it - the light bluish greens, golds and blush pinks. I think it will look better in higher karat rose gold, which has a subtler rose color.

 

[imspecializd]

Rose gold sounds beautiful with your opal, it will be so pretty!

 

[chrono]

No question it's 100% rose gold. The PoC has just the right pink, light blue and light green that will be further enhanced by the blush metal.

 

[minousbijoux]

You know, I said high karat rose gold, but now I'm not so sure. That rose/pink is so pronounced that you could even get away with 14k rose gold and I bet it would still look good! Really pretty opal; you sure know how to pick 'em!

 

[Agneau]

Minous, Imspecializd, Chrono, thanks for taking the time to respond. I think rose gold is definitely it.

I wish that I could somehow set it with a black background because I love the opal so much over black.

With rose gold behind the stone I bet it will look beautiful too.

I really wanted to get it prong set instead of bezel setting it. Is there a way for the stone to be covered on the bottom so it has a background and then to have prongs setting it in place?

I hope that makes sense... I don't know if remember ever seeing something like that before.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

You could have an oxidized or black rhodium plated backplate set behind the stone. Ask for a discreet hole somewhere, so that it can be cleaned (not a problem if you are prong setting, though). It could be soldered onto the basket of the setting.

 

[chrono]

Lady D,
I was thinking the same about having a black plating added underneath to enhance the PoC. I've seen this done to moonstones to increase the intensity of the blue adularescence. For more contrast, you can also set it in oxidized silver.

 

[LD]

I would never put this in rose gold! This is screeching "YELLOW GOLD". Opals look magnificent in yellow.

I also wouldn't put it in black anything! Black would give it a cheap look in my opinion. Unless you're a Goth, I'd steer clear.

Your finger will act as the backing and the PoC is sensational enough not to warrant messing about like this. If I were to do anything, and I felt I HAD to put a backing on it, I'd put a solid yellow gold back and then an intricate basket.

At the end of the day you've got to wear it and love it so this is one of those threads where there's no right and wrong - simply personal preferences!

 

[JewelFreak]

I missed this thread till now -- what a pretty opal! You do know how to find them! I'm with the rose gold crew. It would look sensational in rose, lovely in yellow, but since rose is what you love, yahooo! I don't have enough experience to give advice on backing it, so I'll shut up.

--- Laurie

 

[justginger]

This is such a beautiful opal. To me it lends itself to either yellow or rose gold - definitely a warm metal. It's all personal preference, so if you want rose gold, rose gold it should be!

 

[bunnycat]

Another one for yellow gold here. I'd really have to see the kind of rose gold first so that would only be a maybe for me and possibly a bit of antiquing to the gold if you want to add some darkness.

I LOVE opals! (Love your pear avatar also. )

 

[chrono]

The following is not an exact science but may steer you in one or another direction. Sit the opal in a nest of a yellow gold necklace to simulate being set in yellow gold with yellow backing. Then sit it on a new shiny copper penny or similar metal for rose gold. HTH.

 

[Agneau]

Thanks again, you guys, for taking the time to look at my opal and give me your opinions!
Thanks for the compliments too. You all are great and so supportive.


I am going to take your advice, Chrono. Tomorrow when I can get into natural light I will take a gold chain and a penny and do the test.


I do wonder about the transparency of the opal if I chose to have the back open... you would be able to see the underside of the setting's head and the top of the shank.
I don't know if that will cheapen the look. I may have to have a backing for that reason anyway (whether I oxidize, rhodium plate it or not).

 

[LD]

Agneau - your finger acts as a backing, I don't believe you need anything else. What does it look like on the back of your hand?