Please help me ID this stone and find a source for replacement

[lewinr]

Hi All

Last year in Mexico I bought a silver ring with 5 stones which I really like.
The center stone fell out and I had it replaced with a very similarly colored glass beads.

Now I've lost a second stone.

Here's a photo:



I'm trying to understand what type of stone this is, so I can find a source who can replace the lost stones (or all the stones), or in the worst case a replacement ring with similar stones. (I really like the color of these stones and the style of this ring.)

I've done some research and believe that this is Mexican Purple Opal (sometimes called Morado Opal, which I think is just a brand name), but I'm not sure. It might also be "black" Opal, but it seems to me that the color is darker/deeper than typical black opal. And as I understand "black opal" typically comes from Australia and I doubt they imported Australian opal into Mexico to make jewellery for tourists.

Or maybe it is not Opal at all and some other stone or even man-made...

I will appreciate any advice anybody can provide on what they think it is, and where (in the US) I might be able to find somebody who can replace the lost stones (and remount the others so I will be less likely to lose them).

Thank you!

 

[Garnetgirl]

Just bumping this up for you, in hopes that someone knows what it is.

 

[MollyMalone]

and I'm "tagging" @jordyonbass -- who lives in Australia and cuts-sells opals -- to see if he can shed any light for you

 

[jordyonbass]

Hi @MollyMalone and @lewinr

I don't believe it's Mexican Opal, however I do think it is most probably synthetic opal. A couple of reasons for that:

1. The shapes the stones have been cut for the ring are very particular to the design. Most cutters would not typically do that with natural opal as it would waste precious carats, however synthetic opal is cheap and well suited to this kind of design. Also it wouldn't be easy to source natural stones that would fit the design perfectly.

2. This kind of touches on the last part of my last point - if a jewellery designer did source natural stones for this kind of design, I would doubt that they would set it in silver.

Hope this helps

 

[suzanne2]

A not so quick search (I tend to get side-tracked) found these guys.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHilemanCollection?ref=l2-shopheader-name

They make custom hand forged silver rings using, among other things (anyone up for dinosaur bone inlay?) lab created opal and they are based in the U.S. Maybe they can help you. Good luck!

 

[partgypsy]

Here's another person who works with synthetic opal who might be able to fix your ring.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikiNamikiDesigns?ref=l2-shopheader-name


i think your ring is very attractive, and I've been meaning to get my oldest an opal ring. That and turquoise are her favorite stones.