Problem with opals

[smitcompton]

Hi,

I recently purchased an Ethiopian Opal. The color replicates an opal I had in my youth, that I lost. So, I was really happy to find one that resembled my lost opal. The colors are green, blue(which makes it look turquoisey). It has a red glow throughout. I was so pleased with my purchase, I even took it to my safe deposit box to see if it woud go with any"good stone I had not yet set. It looked fabulous under the flourescent lights. Like any gem lover, I ordered more. I am enamored with them.

The new ones came and looked only OK. I lifted one up to my hand and it lost its color. I immediately went to my other purchased opal and found that when it is not on the black, or a dark color it loses it color as well. My mouth dropped, and sadness came over me.
Here's the question. Can I put, or paint a black color on top of the setting so the opal retains its colors. I watched JTV selling their opals and now of course noticed they are always presented on black. It keeps its colors on a deeper blue background but on my hand or an oak table it loses its colors. Remember the opal has a flat back as its cut in a cab. Anyone have any ideas.

Thanks,

Annette

Shouldn't this be disclosed. Gee you won't get these colors when you put it in a ring, but see how pretty it looks when on black.

 

[Barrett]

When I used to photo welo opals I always found that light base/white opals photographed better over black or a dark background where as black base or brown base always looked better over a light colored background.....so I can understand where you are coming from.

 

[LD]

This is why you see a lot of doublets/triplets as it helps the colour to be reflected back to the eye. A closed basket in a setting will help but I wouldn't put it on top of black (unless you're going down the doublet route) because if the black wears off you're going to end up with a very weird looking stone. Do you love them? If not, can you send them back?

Unfortunately many many many opals don't hold their colour play and you need to see them in all lights to judge them. Here's an example of one of my Welos. You can see that even when I hold it or photograph it in different ways you can still see the colour and that's what you really want.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

Thanks for answering. What if I cut out a black piece of paper and put that in the setting. Would that be called a doublet?
My stone looks like yours, but I want that blue,green turquoise that I am maintaining is the right color.
I love the opal and its somehow going to be the color I see on the black. So sorry--I can't post photos, but if you see any mine pictures of the Welo, it usually shows similar colors. Yes, I do love this opal. I sent the others back but I'm keeping this one.

My original opal was this color with no help. It fell out of its setting, so I had the empty setting.

Thanks,

Annette

 

[LD]

For longevity I wouldn't add paper to the setting. It won't last, will become water damaged etc.

A doublet is usually either a host piece of opal rough or black glass/resin as a base with the opal either cemented or glued to it. This is more durable but you have to be careful with doublets and triplets as submersion in water can (over time) loosen the opal from the base. I don't know if a local jeweller may be able to help but it might be worth asking.

 

[VapidLapid]

I would try having a closed back bezel made and ask the goldmith to blacken the metal inside the setting.

 

[Pandora II]

Ditto VL.

 

[sphenequeen]

...ask for dark rhodium under the bezel. i did that with a blue moonstone and it made that baby pop!

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

Great ideas. Thanks.

Annette

 

[gemdandy]

Wow, you're right. I'm watching a shopping channel and sure enough, their Ethiopian Opals are being shown against jet black backgrounds. When they go to a shot of the model wearing the earrings, you can barely see any of the color play at all.

 

[Starzin]

While I can appreciate where you're coming from with the bezel and being blackened on the bottom, experience tells me the slightest twist of that setting can crack the opal. Prong settings are a little more forgiving for the stone. I guess it depends how gentle you are with your rings though. I hand this happen to nine opals set on a solid silver bangle but taking it on and off did the trick, eventually eight out of nine were cracked. It wasn't that expensive to begin with but it was a valuable lesson to remember. I realize it's a totally different proposition with a ring - just wanted you to be aware.