Rock it! - Vintage Sterling Silver Australian Boulder Opal Modernistic Pendant & Chain (VP200)

Rock it! - Vintage Sterling Australian Boulder Opal Modernistic Pendant & Chain, which is hallmarked 925 for sterling. Feating a natural Australian boulder opal, vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. This lovely pendant is half bezel set with a beautiful natural bolder opal, displaying flashes of purple, green, and blue. The background of the opal is marbled with a brown color. The pendant is simple in style with a modernistic feel. The pendant has been matched up to a vintage sterling silver curb chain, featuring a secure spring ring clasp. This vintage pendant is so versatile, that it can be worn with everything and anything. 

History: In Australia, precious opal is found in Cretaceous age (145 to 66 million years ago) sandstones and mudstones that have been weathered. This weathering released silica into groundwater, where it flowed through cracks in the rocks and slowly hardened into sub-microscopic spheres.

Is boulder opal rare? It was discovered in the 1870s in Western Queensland. Today, it is considered the second rarest opal in the world after Black Opal.

The story of silver mining began about 5,000 years ago. Silver was first mined around 3,000 BCE in Anatolia, now located in modern-day Turkey. The precious metal helped early civilizations in the Near East, Ancient Greece to flourish.

The term "sterling silver" probably originated in eastern Germany when five towns formed the Hanseatic League in the 1100s. These town minted their own coins of 92.5 percent silver. When Britain sold cattle and grain to the League, they were paid in "Easterling coins".

Measurements: Pendant 15.50 mm x 13.00 mm       Chain 19 3/4 " 

Stone Size: Boulder Opal 1.00 carats (Approximately) Note: The boulder opal was not weighed outside of the setting so carat weight is approximate. The carat weight was determined by the measurements of the gemstone. 

Weight: 4.40 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: Boulder Opal : Australia     Pendant Setting and Chain : Italy  

Date: Boulder Opal 145 Million years old - 66 Million years old .   Pendant: Circa 1970 Century   Chain: Circa 1970