Washed out opal colour

[Stevie G]

What if she wore some stacker bands on either side of the ring to close those gaps letting the light in? Otherwise I think your best option is to make a new ring, preferably with a lot of metal around the stone and in the gallery/basket. I personally would not enclose the back of the stone with metal, because from experience, its lets moisture in to stay, which is detrimental to the wearer and the stone. I see so many opal rings with closed back settings.

Thanks for your thoughts. Ideally I would want the ring settings to look the same from above and the only change would be to the central opal mount. You think it would have to have metal around the sides (gallery) to create the desired effect? That would make the settings look different. I am grateful for the tip regarding moisture retention from a closed back. I hadn't considered that factor. I was advised to have a tiny hole anyway to enable people to see it is a solid stone and not a doublet.
Thanks again, Steve

 

[T L]

Thanks for your thoughts. Ideally I would want the ring settings to look the same from above and the only change would be to the central opal mount. You think it would have to have metal around the sides (gallery) to create the desired effect? That would make the settings look different. I am grateful for the tip regarding moisture retention from a closed back. I hadn't considered that factor. I was advised to have a tiny hole anyway to enable people to see it is a solid stone and not a doublet.
Thanks again, Steve

Well to test this, put some aluminum found around the openings of the basket, and see if this makes the stone appear more lively.

 

[Stevie G]

Well to test this, put some aluminum found around the openings of the basket, and see if this makes the stone appear more lively.

Thanks, the girlfriend is due to come round shortly, I will give it a try...fingers crossed!