OPAL TRIPLET PENDANTS 14Kt GOLD

Made in Australia ~ With Australian Opal

Not actual sizes shown,

refer to the mm size, if shown!

Believe it or not… but Opal can contain from a few % of water to well over 10%

At times, some of the water may dry out which cause stress on the surface of the Opal.

This may result in fine surface cracks to appear.

This is termed “crazing” in the trade.

(A bit like what happens when water dries off a clay pan; the clay shrinks and cracks appears.)

Opal Triplets are made from paper thin slices of Opal which are sandwiched for protection between a domed glass top and a support backing, usually glass, but sometimes ceramic or even low quality solid Opal; hence “TRIPLETS”.

The larger and thinner the slice of Opal, the more likely it is to crack during the assembly process.

Pressure applied to the claws when setting the Opal can also be the cause.

“Crazed” or cracked Opals are marked: (*)

The only practical implications when either of those effects have occurred is a lower price and in some cases perhaps a somewhat natural or even an “antique” character!

Any further cracking is very unlikely.

The camera has a tendency to make cracks more visible than the naked eye and they become even more visible when magnified, as in a photo.

Trading Terms