Opal
“The most beautiful of gems which combines the fire of the Ruby, the brilliant purple of Amethyst, and the sea-green of Emerald; all shining together in glorious and incredible union.”
Pliny the Elder (23/24–79CE)
Opals hold the well-earnt title of “Queen of Gemstones,” not least because—like royalty and arguably more so than any other gemstone—every opal is distinct, distinguished, and unique.
Because of their distinctiveness as individual stones but also as a species of gemstones, opals possess a somewhat separate vocabulary and standards by which they are judged.
Primary among these standards is known as “play of colour,” which refers to the brightness, character, and variety of colours that dance across the surface of some (precious) opals.
While at Malki we work with a variety of opals primarily from Australia and Mexico, play of colour is something we find truly amazing, and we’re not the only ones.
In Australia, unique geological conditions have favoured the formation of this captivating gemstone.
The abundance of high quality opals in Australia means that, at Malki Studio, we are excited to be able to readily work with opals that have been responsibly sourced and cut by artisanal lapidaries right here in Queensland to make contemporary opal jewellery worthy of royalty.
Pendant and chain: Australian white opal, responsibly sourced sterling silver, responsibly sourced fine silver, sterling silver chain.
This pendant was especially created for display in the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery’s shop for the Linda Jackson: Opal exhibition. A retrospective exhibition of Linda Jackson’s “opal era,” this exhibition features a vivid collection of the famous Australian fashion designer’s iconic and colourful garments and textiles from the late 1970’s to the present.