This Season's Stones of Splendour: Opals and Moonstones

Opal, green sapphire and diamond ring.
Estimate £2,600—3,200

Treasured among many cultures, both opals and moonstones were thought to be sent from the gods.

Fine Jewels
6 June 2018 | London

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Opal and diamond necklace.
Estimate: £2,000—3,000

Both opals and moonstones’ mysterious properties were thought to be elements from the heavens, trapped within the stone; opals held bolts of lightning while moonstones encapsulated moonbeams.

Fine Jewels
6 June 2018 | London

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Sapphire, moonstone and diamond brooch, 1920s.
Estimate: £4,500—6,500

Moonstones shimmer with an inner radiance due to the lamellar construction of the stone which is what creates the mysterious glow when light is refracted and scattered through the stone.

Fine Jewels
6 June 2018 | London

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Moonstone and diamond ring.
Estimate. £700—1,800

Opals and moonstones were first used in jewellery in the 1800s and later both favoured by jewellers such as René Lalique and Louis Comfort Tiffany in the romantic and decadent jewels of the Art Noveau period.

Fine Jewels
6 June 2018 | London

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Gem set and diamond demi-parure, 'Meli Melo', Cartier.
Estimate: £10,000—15,000 GBP

Again rising in popularity today, both opals and moonstones are trending on and off the runway.

Fine Jewels
6 June 2018 | London

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Gem set and diamond bracelet, circa 1930.
Estimate: CHF16,000—20,000 / $16,200—20,300

Since ancient times there have been beliefs that moonstones hold special powers including bringing good fortune to the wearer or allowing them to read the future – if it is placed in the wearer’s mouth during a full moon.

Fine Jewels
14 June 2018 | Geneva

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Moonstone and diamond bangle.
Estimate: CHF2,000—3,000 / $ 2,050—3,050

Moonstone is the birthstone for July and opal is the birthstone for October.

Fine Jewels
14 June 2018 | Geneva

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Gem set and diamond demi-parure, ‘Meli Melo’, Cartier.
Estimate: CHF3,000—5,000 / $3,050—5,100

In 2008, Cartier included both opals and moonstones in its Chimera Collection which was unveiled at the Biennale des Antiquaries in Paris, creating a resurgence in their appearance in fine jewels all over the world.

Fine Jewels
14 June 2018 | Geneva

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Pair of opal and diamond earrings.
Estimate: £2,000—3,000 / €2,300—3,450 / $ 2,750—4,100

An opal’s colour flashes between rich oranges, deep greens and vivid purples creating a prismatic gleam of colour.

Jewels Online
15 June 2018 | Online

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Gem-set demi-parure, H. Stern.
Estimate: £3,000—5,000 / €3,450—5,800 / $4,100—6,800

Moonstone is considered a healing stones, believed to balance emotions, calm moods and alleviate fear.

Jewels Online
15 June 2018 | Online

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Moonstone, pink sapphire and diamond ring.
Estimate: £1,200—1,800 / €1,400—2,100 / $1,650—2,450

The ancient Greeks called moonstone “Aphroselene” after the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and the goddess of the moon, Selene. The Romans believed that the image of their goddess Diana could be seen in every moonstone.

Jewels Online
15 June 2018 | Online

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