"This ring was made in 1898 and it is most likely that the opals in it came from Australia. It would have been very fashionable at the time. The opals are very well matched and display a gorgeous play-of-colour of predominantly vibrant greens and cornflower blues with flashes of reds and purples.
Opal has a rich history, dating as far back as Ancient Rome, when it was considered a gem more precious than diamonds and pearls for its incredible rainbow-like optical effects. Until the late 1800s, most precious opal came from mines in Hungary. In the mid to late 1800s, material with beautiful play-of-colour was discovered in Australia, which is now considered the primary source for the finest specimens. In 1890 precious opal was made commercially available for export from White Cliffs in New South Wales. Queen Victoria was very fond of the gemstone and it became highly sought-after in jewellery of the late 1800s.
Opal is an organic gemstone, as it is essentially the silica that remains in crevices, which a solution of silica and water has entered, once the water has evaporated. Its composition is therefore a structure of microscopic silica spheres, which vary in size and reflect light at varying angles, creating flashes of colour that change depending on the angle of light. This optical effect is called "play-of-colour". The more spectral colours displayed, the better the play-of-colour."
