Truly exceptional for their brightness, warmth, and sizable presence, this pair of Ethiopian opal stud earrings features two oval cut stones that glow with vibrant red colors not quite capturable by a camera; orange, yellow, and green overtones roll through the smoky-orange body color, further complemented by subtle purple undertones when viewed in the light. Combined, these opals weigh an estimated total of 3.16 carats.
A halo of VS-clarity diamonds surrounds each opal, with both earrings together weighing a combined estimated total of 0.32 carat. From the top of the diamond halo to the bottom, each earring measures roughly 0.6 inch long by 0.5 inch wide, impactful for simple studs. Their construction is far from lightweight; together, including their jumbo-sized 14k yellow gold push-backs, the pair weighs 5.45 grams.
It is worth noting that though secure, one opal rattles gently in its setting; this is true to the design's original manufacture and not uncommon or cause for alarm with prong-set opals, where capturing visual design aesthetic without applying unnecessary pressure to the stone is the priority.
Similar to pearls, Ethiopian opals are to be worn with care—due to their hydrophane nature (meaning that they are porous and absorbant of liquids and chemicals that may cause their appearance to change unpredictably), it is suggested to not wet your Ethiopian opal earrings, removing them before bathing and applying hairspray or perfume. Additionally, chemical jewelry cleaners should be avoided.
