1.61 Ct. Crystal/Jelly Opal from Australia

This 1.61 carat Crystal/Jelly Opal offered by The Natural Gemstone Company is a finely proportioned oval measuring 10.79 by 7.83 by 3.42 millimeters, executed in a tablet cut that emphasizes thin, slightly domed presentation and maximizes light transmission through the stone. The material is translucent, exhibiting an intense color intensity and a multi-color play-of-color across the face, and it has been graded as very slightly included when evaluated at eye level. Polish is excellent, surface finish is clean and precise, and the stone is natural with no enhancement, originating from Australia. The tablet cut choice here is intentional for this material class, conserving weight while allowing the internal diffraction structures characteristic of crystal or jelly opal to project vivid spectral flashes when illuminated.

Optically, this specimen demonstrates the hallmark of crystal/jelly opal, a transparent to semi-transparent body that permits internal light scattering and high chroma play-of-color. The thin tablet profile at 3.42 millimeters allows both transmitted and reflected light to interact with the silica sphere lattice, producing broad flashes and pinfire-like micro-patterns across the red, green, and blue portions of the spectrum. Because crystal/jelly opal transmits light more readily than common opal, the tablet cut supports saturation without requiring a deep dome, preserving an even color distribution face-up. The interaction between thickness and color saturation is key for this piece: at the measured depth the balance between transparency and diffraction is optimized, giving intense face-up color without excessive darkening or loss of internal dynamics. As an amorphous hydrated silica, opal is isotropic and lacks cleavage, so optical presentation is governed by internal structure and water content rather than crystallographic orientation.

From a clarity and cutting craftsmanship standpoint, the very slightly included grade as assessed at eye level indicates minor internal features that do not materially interrupt the continuity of play-of-color. In practical terms, inclusions are subtle and localized, visible only under close inspection and not detracting from the overall visual effect under normal viewing conditions. The tablet cut has been executed to preserve the best color areas while maintaining a clean perimeter and a tight oval outline, with an excellent polish that yields crisp color transitions and minimal surface haze. Edge work is refined to support secure mounting, but because the tablet is a relatively thin profile, the cutter optimized the girdle and outline to minimize chipping risk while retaining maximum face-up color. The lack of enhancement enhances the stone’s appeal for connoisseurs who prioritize natural state and provenance, and the Australian origin is a strong positive for collectors seeking the classic opal market source.

For setting and care, this opal’s dimensions and tablet geometry make it particularly well suited to pendants, earrings, and low-profile bezel rings where the thin profile can be protected from impacts and dehydration. Bezel settings with a slight protective lip are recommended for daily wear, and when set as a ring it is advisable to orient the table parallel to the plane of the finger to reduce edge exposure. Lighting orientation can materially change perceived color balance; transmitted or backlighting will increase internal saturation and reveal subtler blues and greens, while strong frontal lighting emphasizes reds and broader flash patterns. Standard opal care applies, avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaning, and abrupt thermal changes, and minimize prolonged exposure to solvents or drying environments that can exacerbate crazing risk. The Natural Gemstone Company provides this stone with full disclosure of no enhancement and Australian origin, and we welcome technical inquiries regarding suitability for specific settings, recommendations for mounting to maximize play-of-color, and detailed observations under polarized or diffused illumination.