1.41 Ct. Semi-Black Opal from Australia

From the iron rich flats of the Australian opal fields to the quiet workbench where it was given a voice, this semi black opal has a life that reads like a landscape painting. Born from ancient silica gels that once filled fissures and voids, it carries within it the slow language of water and time, the rhythmic settling of microscopic silica spheres that scatter light into living color. Miners found it as part of a patch of matrix, a seam that held thin layers of precious opal interspersed with brown ironstone and potch. Those brown islands and seams remained, and rather than being removed they became part of the stone s signature story. The opal s body tone leans toward the darker side, which is why gem lovers call it semi black, the shadowed ground that allows the greens and blues and warm flashes to read louder against the surface. The inclusions you can see are not flaws, they are the fingerprint of place, traces of the host rock and the geological moods that formed this stone, and they are what make this piece unmistakable when you lift it into the light.

At the workbench the cutter treated this opal with respect, honoring the internal map by choosing a tablet cut that retains a broad, flattened top and gentle angles to play the colors evenly across the surface. The finished gem weighs 1.41 carat, and measures 12.29 x 6.54 x 2.34 mm, shaped into a fancy outline that follows the natural pattern rather than forcing symmetry. To maximize durability and color impact the thin slice of precious opal was made into a doublet, secured onto a dark backing which deepens the body tone and amplifies the play of color. The result is intense color intensity and an excellent polish, a mirror finish that makes every flash crisp and immediate. The multicolor play spans neon greens and electric blues, with private flashes of warm orange and amber where the ironstone islands sit like tiny continents in a sea of light. Because this is a doublet you can see the layering at edge view if you look closely, a reminder of both the opal s fragility and the craft that preserves it, a pairing of raw nature and deliberate human hands, a solution that makes thin, rare opal slices wearable and stable for jewelry.

When you hold this stone you can read the landscape in its inclusions, the brown ironstone patches acting as punctuation that guides the eye across the color flash, creating pockets of contrast that turn the green and blue fire into vivid topography. Those inclusions create an unmistakable signature, a pattern that will not be repeated exactly in any other opal, and that is why collectors and designers prize specimens like this. The Natural Gemstone Company selected this semi black opal for its story as much as for its color, because it combines geological provenance from Australia, the practicality and brilliance of a doublet assembly, and the singularity of natural matrix inclusions that look like golden islands when backlit. As a wearable gem it prefers the protection of a bezel or a secure setting that shields its edges, and it responds to gentle care, cleaned with a soft cloth and mild soap and water if needed, avoiding ultrasonic cleaners, steam, and harsh chemicals that could compromise the glue line in a doublet. Keep it away from prolonged soaking and extreme heat, and the polish and color will remain lively for many seasons.

Imagine the semi black opal set in a custom pendant where the tablet cut faces upward, catching sunlight and turning it into motion, or paired with warm metal that echoes the ironstone tones and cool metal that plays up the blues and greens, the possibilities are simple and elegant. This piece is a conversation starter, a small landscape you can carry, a reminder of ancient waters and the artisans who transformed a fragile slice of Australian earth into a durable, polished gem. For questions about settings, care, or to request additional views of this 1.41 carat, 12.29 x 6.54 x 2.34 mm fancy shape multi color opal, contact The Natural Gemstone Company, and our team will happily guide you through design ideas and mounting options so this little continent of color can become the next chapter in your collection.