Where are my dreamy October babies?? You’re so lucky to have this incredibly pretty and diverse gemstone as your birthstone! Opal can really range in color - this one is a watercolor dreamscape, full of soft pastel color with flashes of red and orange among the milky blues and greens. In lower light, it looks almost pink on the skin and in bright daylight it becomes more greenish-blue. Magical!
The halo surrounding the opal is comprised of 16 clear, sparkly round pastes set in silver. "Paste" is an antique word for a man made glass that originated in Europe in the 1700s. Paste was highly regarded during its time, it was incredibly popular and desirable as it was carefully crafted and designed to replicate genuine gemstones. These little round sparklers mimic diamonds and are truly bright and sparkly, creating a very lively, vibrant frame around the soft, pastel opal.
This is really a beautiful opal pendant with soft, subtle color. I feel like the gentle colors of the opal are enlivened by the paste and the brilliance of the paste is mellowed out by the softness of the opal. A perfect balance! The sparkly halo elevates the pendant into something special and gives it that classic antique look. This would make a lovely gift for an opal lover with an October birthday! Or a painter! Truly a lovely piece for anyone with a dreamy, artistic sensibility.
Victorian era, circa 1890
Pendant is sterling silver and 9K gold
Excellent antique condition
Pendant measures just under an inch long, including the bail
Opal measures 11 x 9 mm, approximate weight is 2 carats
Comes on a new 20 inch gold fill cable chain
Pendant weighs 2.95 grams
