1.53 Ct. White Opal from Australia

This listing describes a single, translucent White Opal, weighing 1.53 carats with precise dimensions of 10.80 by 8.91 by 2.59 millimeters, presented in an oval outline and executed in a tablet cut. The tablet cut on this specimen is intentionally shallow with a broad, flat table and subtle, low-relief crown facets that maximize surface area for play-of-color, while the modest pavilion depth preserves weight and yields an elegant face-up appearance. The length to width ratio is approximately 1.21 to 1, a classic oval proportion that favors symmetry and balanced light distribution. Clarity is graded as slightly included when evaluated at eye level, consistent with minor internal features that do not materially interrupt the gem’s overall visual performance. Color intensity is described as medium light, which in a White Opal context allows the body tone to remain soft and milky while still permitting vivid play-of-color to manifest. Polish is graded excellent, indicating carefully finished facet junctions and a high degree of luster across the tablet surface. Enhancement status is none, this opal is untreated, and its origin is Australia, a provenance that is associated with consistent silica quality and mature cutting traditions.

Optically this White Opal displays a multi color play-of-color across broad, patchy flashes rather than tight pinpoint iridescence, with prominent green flashes and supplementary hints of blue and warm red tones that emerge when the stone is oriented to incident light. The translucent body and medium light intensity create a three dimensional interplay where color patches appear to float just below the tablet surface, a desirable characteristic for collectors and designers seeking visible movement with modest body tone. The slightly included clarity grading reflects the presence of small, typical internal features such as thin seams of potch and localized density variations, which are intrinsic to many natural opals and can, in this instance, contribute to character without compromising structural integrity. Because the opal has not been treated or stabilized, it retains its native hydration and internal microstructure comprised of hydrated silica spheres, the ordered arrays of which produce diffraction and the observed spectral colors. Minor inclusions are not surface reaching and do not affect the excellent polish, but they should be considered in precision settings where direct contact with harder materials might cause abrasion over time.

From a craftsmanship and setting perspective the tablet cut is well suited to low profile, protective mountings that emphasize the stone’s broad color plane, such as bezel settings with a thin lip that follows the oval silhouette, or recessed collet settings that allow the tablet table to be displayed with minimal exposure to wear. The 2.59 millimeter depth is relatively shallow for a 1.53 carat weight, therefore recommendations for secure mounting include a close fitting bezel or a low, well-supported prong design that avoids excessive pressure on the girdle area. For designers seeking to showcase play-of-color, orient the stone with its longest axis perpendicular to typical sight lines to present the most dynamic color distribution to the viewer. For collectors and gemologists, this piece represents a natural, untreated Australian White Opal with excellent polish and a well executed tablet cut, characteristics that support both aesthetic appeal and resale clarity. The Natural Gemstone Company stands behind the provenance and untreated status of this opal, and we can provide additional photographic angles and lighting conditions upon request to assist in setting design or certification. Handle with routine opal care, avoid high heat and prolonged exposure to solvents and ultrasonic cleaners, and this cut and grade will perform beautifully as a pendant focal, a refined ring centerpiece in a protective bezel, or as a pair mate in matched white opal ensembles.