Art Deco Engraved Opal Gold Earrings

Dating to circa 1920, these 14KT yellow gold earrings each feature an oval cabochon natural opal, totaling approximately 5.48 carats. The opals display a softly luminous body color with shifting flashes of green and blue.

Each opal is bezel-set within a lozenge-shaped gold mount, creating a striking contrast between the rounded gemstone and the angular geometry surrounding it. Fine hand-engraved decoration radiates from the corners of the gold, adding texture and a subtle foliate quality.

An opal's play-of-color comes from light interacting with microscopic silica spheres within its structure. As the viewing angle changes, different wavelengths of light become visible, which is why an opal can appear different with every movement. No two natural opals arrange this internal structure in exactly the same way, giving each stone its own color pattern.

Here, the cabochon cut is particularly important. Its smooth surface creates an uninterrupted field across which the opals' green and blue flashes can appear and disappear as the earrings move.

Appraised Value:  $4,100