Opal
Opal’s powerfully seductive play of colour was described by Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder (23/24–79CE), who described the opal as:
“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.”
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.
