Easter may be over, but that post I shared last week featuring Easter egg–esque opals has got me on a hot streak for all jewels featuring the multicolor gemstone.
Like many (though not all) around the country, I’m slowly watching the colors of spring come to life. The brown (or white, if you’re of the snowy variety) that was once all around is becoming green, and the botanical varieties that have been nesting underground are starting to sprout.
This is the first spring we’re spending in our new house, and it’s been a joy to be surprised with all the buds on the trees and bushes, and to see the flowers popping up from the ground (I may ultimately opt to change them, but it’s lovely nevertheless). Despite the wavering weather—April is a fickle month for it—we can feel confident that the season is changing, as we see colorful life returning before our eyes.
And so I return to opal, once again entranced by its mesmerizing combination of glitzy, glossy features.
One brand that does opal beyond beautifully is Lauren K, a long-standing favorite of mine for its mouthwatering use of color. I knew designer Lauren Kessler would have a fantastic selection of opal pieces, and I was right (love when that happens, don’t you?). But I was positively starstruck by this ring in particular.
With a Boulder opal just under 27 cts., this colorful behemoth in 18k yellow gold is spellbinding to say the least. It’s like a treasured work of art featured at a gallery, with watercolor lines splashed upon the canvas. I’m intrigued by the stone’s contrast of shimmering blue and green with the more matte areas of white—it’s a master display of the stunning elements of opal, juxtaposing its natural assets splendidly.
And of course it’s Lauren K that frames it beautifully, grazing the gemstone with tendril-like prongs aligned with diamonds, with a slight asymmetry that lends an organic appearance.
I guess the opal obsession just couldn’t wait until October this year, though you can count on the autumn bringing a harvest of new appetizing options.
Top: Ring in 18k yellow gold with 26.91 ct. Boulder opal and 0.11 ct. t.w. diamonds, $6,790; Lauren K
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