608
An Opal and Diamond 'Flower' Brooch
Six jelly opals, totalling approximately 43.90 caratsBriolette diamonds and diamonds on side, together approximately 10.25 carats18 karat blackened gold
Full-Cataloguing
Play-of-colour is a special optical phenomenon which appears in precious opals. It is produced by the diffraction of white light at the spaces between tiny, uniformly sized silica spheres, which are arranged in an orderly, three-dimensional array. The prismatic colour shown in the opals mounted in present brooch is a fine example. Mounted as petals on a stylised flower brooch, these opals parade the exotic hues of our nature.