Acquired from a St. Louis estate and signed twice by the designer, this 18k rose gold Ethiopian opal and diamond necklace reflects Le Vian at its most refined. The pendant and matching chain are both crafted in solid 18k rose gold—reserved for the brand’s highest tier pieces—and together weigh 11.51 grams, giving the necklace a quiet, reassuring substance when worn.
At its center rests a substantial pear-shaped Ethiopian opal from the Wollo Province, measuring nearly twenty-two millimeters in length and rising to a dramatic high dome of approximately 8.5 millimeters. The body tone carries a soft apricot warmth, while the play of color moves confidently across the surface: red and green dominate, with orange and yellow overtones, flashes of pink and magenta in bright light, and cool blue undertones beneath it all. Though color is visible face-up, the opal’s most electric moments appear along its curved edges, where vibrant reds and oranges ignite from the sides of the stone.
Encircling the opal is a near-colorless diamond halo, extending into a diamond-accented bail. Sixty-three diamonds, totaling approximately 0.88 carats, frame the stone with controlled brilliance. Along the rose gold filigree sides, ten fancy light brown diamonds are set discreetly into the gallery, with one additional diamond placed against the back—touching the skin. Together, these eleven diamonds add another 0.14 carats and lend warmth and depth to the piece without disrupting its refined silhouette.
The necklace is accompanied by its original 18-inch solid 18k rose gold cable chain, fitted with a lobster clasp. Rose gold chains of this weight and quality are rarely separated from their pendants, and finding the complete, signed set in such pristine condition is uncommon. Both the pendant bail and the chain tag bear the Le Vian signature.
The piece appears unworn, preserved in exceptional estate condition with no visible signs of use. Originally sold through high-end retail channels, necklaces of this scale and material quality are seldom encountered outside of private collections.
This is a statement necklace, but not a loud one. It carries presence through scale, warmth through rose gold, and drama through a nearly fourteen-carat opal that reveals its character in motion. It is a piece chosen intentionally—confident, self-assured, and unmistakably designer.
Because natural Ethiopian opals possess a hydrophane structure, this piece should be kept away from water, lotions, perfumes, and ultrasonic cleaners to preserve its vibrant play of color. It should be the last piece worn when dressing and the first piece carefully removed when undressing.
