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Direct Links to popular gemstones and cabochons:
Amazonite
Opals, Boulder
Parrot Wing Understand mm sizes: Quick guide: 1" = 25mm 1/2"=13mm 1/4"=6.5mm Change can help: 1 quarter= 24.2 mm 1 dime= 18mm Both coins: 42mm |
Opals are one of the most unusual stones on earth. They are considered hydrated silicon dioxide, which means that their internal structure is a tight latticework of silica spheres with water molecules filling the spaces in between. This structure refracts light to create the beautiful gleaming colors that we associate with gem opals. The size of the spheres determines the colors that we see. Interestingly, gem opals can contain from 2 to 10 percent water, which can eventually lead some of them to crack if they dry out too much. For this reason, Heart of Stone Studio offers sturdier opals, such as Koroit Opal and Boulder Opal, both of which have the gemmy portions safely fully or partially contained in matrix. We think that this protects the opal material better without sacrificing its color and overall beauty. Not all opals have the flashy play of light-filled color associated with gem opals, but, like our new Peruvian Opal, their translucent blues and greens make them just as lovely. Next page: Pearls Previous page: Metals
Super Value Stone of the Month! These dramatic boulder opals in matrix are mined and cut in the Koroit Opal Field in the desert of Queensland, in northeast Australia. The ironstone matrix is a blend of rich coffee browns and creams, and like most gemmy opals, the opal colors show up best under strong light. Be sure to click on these to see the details. Satin-finish backs. New: Koroit Opal Drilled Pendants These beautiful pendants are laterally-drilled, so the hole goes from side to side. The holes average 2.3mm in diameter, so they'll accommodate a 16-gauge wire. Or, if you want to bezel-set one of these, just cover up the hole with the bezel strip. Please note the sizes on these: The pictures may be large, but the stones are relatively small. Photos show stones in two different positions or with the light coming from different directions to give you an idea of how the colors travel over the opalized areas.
OP55 $82.00 January's Price: $65.60
OP61 $74.00 January's Price: $59.20
OP59 $68.00 January's Price: $54.40
OP68 $62.00 January's Price: $49.60
OP110 $48.00 January's Price: $38.40
OP132 $36.00 reg. $44.00 January's Price: $28.80
Undrilled Koroit Opal
OP40-A $100.00 January's Price: $80.00
OP43 $92.00 January's Price: $73.60
OP49 $88.00 January's Price: $70.40
OP54 $78.00 January's Price: $62.40
OP3 $88.00 January's Price: $70.40
OP128 $40.00 January's Price: $32.00 Sorry, Sold!
This Peruvian Opal is a gem-quality type of "common" opal, "common" meaning that it lacks the "fire" found in Australian opals. But so what--It's still gorgeous. And these Peruvians are really amazing: The color of salt water in tropical seas, these beautiful stones are cut to include some surrounding matrix, making for a fascinating interplay of "wet" translucent color--some even with the white of surf--against the warm browns of the "shore." Satin-finish backs.
OP11 $140.00
OP13 $110.00
OP14 $110.00
OP17 $78.00
OP18 $78.00
OP19 $74.00
OP21 $52.00
Next page: Pearls Previous page: Metals To check what you've ordered so far, click:
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Heart of Stone Studio Gemstones
Cabochons
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