2.00 CT Oval Cabochon Pendant in 14kt White Gold

This opal doublet pendant is a one-of-a-kind piece in 14kt white gold, built around a 2.00 carat oval opal doublet full of electric blue and green play-of-color. A halo of twelve round diamonds and fifteen baguette diamonds frames the stone, about 1.05 carats of diamonds in all, for a total gem weight of 3.05 carats. What follows describes the exact piece you will see in our Boca Raton showroom, including exactly what an opal doublet is.

What an opal doublet is

We want to be clear about this from the start. The center stone is an opal doublet, not a solid opal. A doublet is made of two layers: a thin slice of natural precious opal on top, bonded to a dark backing underneath. The opal you see on the face is genuine; the backing supports it and deepens its color.

The International Gem Society explains how doublets are made and why they are used. Precious opal often forms in thin seams too fragile to cut on their own. Backing that thin layer with dark material makes it strong enough to set and wear, and the dark base makes the colors look far more intense, much like the dark body of a black opal.

Doublets are an accepted and long-established part of the opal trade, and they are valued well below solid opal of similar appearance. That is exactly why they are worth knowing about: a doublet lets you wear vivid opal color at a fraction of the cost of a solid stone. The key is honest disclosure, and your appraisal will describe the stone as a doublet.

The 2.00 carat blue green opal

The face of this opal doublet pendant is a vivid blue green, with swirls of electric blue, teal and bright green moving across a deep blue background. As the pendant turns, the colors shift and roll across the dome.

That kind of saturated blue and green is what makes a blue green opal pendant so striking. The Gemological Institute of America explains that opal's play-of-color comes from microscopic spheres of silica that split light into spectral colors; against the dark backing of a doublet, those colors stand out with extra intensity.

On this opal pendant, the stone is cut as an oval cabochon, a smooth dome, which is the traditional way to show opal's color. The oval shape is classic and balanced, and it sits neatly within the diamond frame.

An opal and diamond halo pendant

What makes this an opal and diamond halo pendant is the frame of diamonds around the stone. Twelve round brilliant diamonds of about 0.05 carats each run around the top and sides, and fifteen baguette diamonds of about 0.03 carats each are set in stepped groups at the sides and the base.

That mix of cuts is what gives this opal and diamond halo pendant its character. The round diamonds sparkle with fine, lively points of light; the baguettes flash with longer, cleaner reflections. Together they give the frame a vintage-inspired look, with a touch of Art Deco geometry in the baguette panels.

The diamonds total about 1.05 carats and are recorded as I color, in the near-colorless range. Set in white gold around a deep blue and green center, they read as bright, crisp white.

A white gold opal pendant

The pendant is made in 14kt white gold, a cool metal that suits blue and green opal perfectly. White gold keeps the colors crisp and lets the diamonds look their whitest. A white gold opal pendant also pairs easily with platinum, white gold and silver-toned jewelry.

For a white gold opal pendant with this many settings, 14kt gold is a practical choice, because it is harder and more durable than 18kt. Like most white gold, it is finished with rhodium plating for a bright white color, which we can refresh at the bench whenever it wears. The pendant is listed at about 7.7 grams of gold.

A polished bail at the top connects it to the chain. In the photograph it hangs on a fine cable chain; ask us about chain options and lengths when you visit.

How this opal pendant wears

This opal pendant is compact and easy to wear. It sits neatly at the collarbone and works with almost any neckline, from a crew neck to an open collar.

Blue and green flatter most skin tones, and they pair beautifully with navy, white, gray, black and denim. With its diamond halo, the pendant has enough sparkle for evening wear while staying understated enough for every day.

We will fit it on you in the showroom so you can see how it hangs, and we can help you choose the right chain length.

An October birthstone pendant

Opal is a birthstone for October, alongside tourmaline, and GIA's guide to the October birthstones covers both. A vivid blue green opal pendant is a colorful way to give the October stone.

Opal is also the traditional gift for the fourteenth wedding anniversary. With its diamond halo, this piece makes that milestone feel special.

Doublet, triplet or solid opal

Opal is sold in three main forms, and it helps to know the difference.

A solid opal is cut entirely from natural opal, and fine solid black or crystal opals command the highest prices. A doublet, like this one, is a thin slice of natural opal bonded to a dark backing. A triplet adds a third layer, a clear cap of quartz or glass over the top, which protects the opal but gives it a glassier look.

Doublets sit in a sweet spot: the face is genuine opal with no cap over it, the dark backing boosts the color, and the price is far lower than a solid stone of similar appearance. For many people, an opal doublet pendant is the most practical way to wear vivid opal color every day.

How to tell a doublet from solid opal

From the front, a well-made doublet can look very much like a solid black opal. The difference shows from the side, where a fine, straight join line between the opal and its backing can often be seen, and from the back, where the dark backing is visible instead of opal.

In a closed setting like this one, the sides and back are hidden, which is another reason honest disclosure matters. Some sellers blur the line between doublets and solid stones, and that is exactly the kind of confusion we want to avoid. When you buy from us, you will know what you are wearing, what it is worth and how to look after it. If you ever want to trade up to a solid opal later, we will be glad to talk that through with you as well. We will always tell you exactly what a stone is, and your written appraisal will describe it as an opal doublet.

Where opal comes from

Most of the world's precious opal has come from Australia since the late nineteenth century, and Australian fields have long been the main source of the thin seams of dark-based opal often used for doublets. Opal is also mined in Ethiopia, Mexico and Brazil.

Opal forms when water carrying dissolved silica seeps into cracks in rock and slowly deposits it. Over very long periods the silica settles into orderly stacks of tiny spheres, and where those spheres are regular enough, the stone shows play-of-color. In many deposits that precious layer is only a few millimeters thick, which is why doublets exist at all: they let cutters use beautiful opal that would otherwise be too thin to set.

Wearing a blue green opal pendant with other jewelry

A blue green opal pendant pairs beautifully with other white metal pieces: white gold or platinum hoops, a tennis bracelet or a simple diamond stud. The cool tones of the stone echo the white gold and diamonds, so the whole look feels coordinated.

It also looks lovely with sapphire or aquamarine jewelry, which share its ocean colors, and with pearls, whose soft glow complements opal's shifting light.

Because the pendant is compact, it layers well with a second fine chain. Keep the other chain simple so the opal stays the focus.

Blue green opal and its symbolism

Opal has long been associated with creativity, inspiration and hope. The ancient Romans prized it because it seemed to hold the colors of every other gem at once, and it has remained a favorite of artists and designers ever since.

Blue and green, in particular, are colors of calm and renewal. A blue green opal pendant is a thoughtful gift for someone starting something new, or simply for someone who loves the colors of the sea.

How to judge an opal pendant in person

Start with play-of-color. On any opal pendant, look at how much of the face shows color, how bright it is and how the pattern moves as you tilt the stone. Broad, bright flashes across the whole surface are what you want.

Next, look at the colors themselves. Blue and green are common in opal; red and orange are rarer. A strong, saturated blue and green like this one gives the pendant its vivid character.

Then look at the setting. The halo diamonds should sit level and evenly spaced, and the stone should be held snugly with no gaps. That is where a well-made opal and diamond halo pendant shows its quality.

What sets this opal doublet pendant apart

Many opal doublet pieces are simple and inexpensive, set in plain frames. This one is set in solid 14kt white gold with more than a carat of round and baguette diamonds, which turns it into a true fine jewelry piece.

It gives you the look of a vivid dark-based opal surrounded by diamonds, at a price far below what a solid stone of this appearance would cost. And because every opal is unique, no other pendant will show exactly this pattern of color.

Choosing a white gold opal pendant as a gift

A white gold opal pendant is an easy gift to get right. It does not depend on a ring size, blue and green suit almost everyone, and white gold goes with most wardrobes. The question worth asking is whether the person likes color and prefers white metals.

If it is an October birthday or a fourteenth anniversary, the stone carries its own meaning as well. We are glad to help you decide, and we will tell you honestly whether this piece suits the person you have in mind.

Caring for an opal doublet pendant

Doublets need slightly different care from solid opal, because the layers are bonded together. Do not soak the pendant or leave it in water, and do not use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner; water and heat can weaken the bond over time and cause the stone to cloud. Instead, wipe it gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it straight away. Our jewelry care guide covers the rest of the piece.

Take the pendant off before swimming, showering, bathing or exercising, and keep it away from household chemicals, perfume and hairspray.

Store the opal doublet pendant on its own in a soft, lined pouch or box, away from harder stones that could scratch it.

Bring it in once a year and we will check the setting and diamonds at no charge, cleaning it with methods that are safe for doublets.

Appraisal, documentation and what you receive

Every opal pendant at this level leaves with a written appraisal describing the metal, the stones, the measurements and a stated replacement value for insurance. For this piece, the appraisal clearly identifies the center stone as an opal doublet. Our jewelry appraisals page explains how we do it.

You can see our full range of necklaces and pendants alongside this one, and our diamond and gemstone education pages set out how grading actually works. If you would like a piece altered, or something built around a stone you already own, we do that too through our design service.

See this opal doublet pendant in Boca Raton

Photographs of opal are especially unreliable. The play-of-color changes with every movement and every light source, and a still image can only show one moment of it. A piece like this has to be seen in person, which is why we would rather you came in and looked at it than bought it sight unseen.

David Stern Jewelers has been in business for over 40 years, family owned since 1970, and the showroom is at 21073 Powerline Rd #37, Boca Raton. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Call 561-994-3330 and we will have the piece waiting, or book an appointment for a quieter time.

Common questions about this opal doublet pendant

One last practical note. Because this is a single piece rather than stock, it can sell on any given day, and we do not hold items without a deposit. If you have seen this opal doublet pendant here and intend to come in, a phone call first will confirm it is still in the case and save you the trip if it is not.