Recently we received a request from the proprietor of a fine jewelry firm who was in the market for a world class Australian Black Opal to be used as the main event in a piece his firm was designing for an important client.
Fine black opals from Lightning Ridge, NSW Australia are among the rarest gems encountered in the world. Our specialist started the process of vetting gems with potential interest – some very fine black opals were reviewed, among them really exceptional gems including those imaged in this article.
Range of fine Australian black opals 3- 10 carats initially reviewed by the jeweler.
“… black opals are from Lightning Ridge, NSW Australia are among the rarest gems encountered in the world”
The search for these rarities requires a degree of gemological expertise and a deep knowledge of where goods of this calibre may be found. Stocks held by dealers and lapidaries based in Hong Kong, Europe, the USA, and of course in Australia were explored by our expert, with additional calls made to German, Swiss, and Chinese gem connoisseurs who had on prior occasions expressed an interest to sell from their collections.
An 8.70 carat natural black opal from Lightning Ridge, Australia from a private collection.
“calls made to German, Swiss, and Chinese gem connoisseurs who had …expressed an interest to sell from their collections”
The work involved in tracking down rare gems involves a lot of research and reliance on relationships built over decades. In most instances when a collector owns a rare gem, she is not pressed to sell – unless something of greater value is offered in return. Seldom is money that thing of greater value.
Dealers and lapidaries are in business – turning inventory is their raison d’etre, most of the time. Money is the point, when a price can be agreed on.
Therefore, at the end of the day the preference in the gem trade is to keep professional business in the trade where negotiating a price and terms is the primary concern between knowledgeable traders.
However the reality is that appreciation for rare gems among private collectors with substantial wealth has numerous precedents in history and has only increased in recent decades while nature’s known stores of natural treasures has declined. Natural black opals answer even more so than other varieties of gems to this decline in available goods, as NSW Australia remains the sole natural source of these rarities.
13.96 carat Pear Shape Black Opal from a dealer’s inventory.
“the preference in the gem trade is to keep professional business in the trade”
We assembled a collection of natural black opals from dealers and private collections, which were presented at a preview scheduled by the jeweller with his customer. In the course of viewing the opals the ideas for a unique jewellery design took shape with the customer indicating he was inclined to having natural fancy coloured diamonds incorporated into the design.
The jeweller communicated with our loose goods expert and with this request in mind, a layout comprised of rare natural coloured diamonds was assembled to compliment the colors of choice black opals previewed.
Natural fancy coloured diamonds laid out on our sorting table including pink diamonds, green series coloured diamonds and the orangish brown cushion.
Natural fancy coloured diamonds laid out on our sorting table in preparation for shipping to the jewelry store.
However in the end, the opals presented were not quite what the customer had in mind.
>>>Superb Black Opal & Natural Fancy Coloured Diamonds – PART 2>>>
