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Andamooka Opal. How it was set
Posted by Beth on June 30, 2019, 7:23 am
992234177's reference to the Andamooka Opal jogged my memory about some small items I have collected about the setting.
Has anyone ever seen the Andamooka Opal? I am curious about its dominant colour. Is it a shade of yellow or blue?
The only reference to colour I have seen in the press is that QEII's dress matched the opal when she wore the jewel for the only time we are aware of. Her dress was described as blue. In my opinion that does not really tell us what colour the opal is as either yellow or blue tones would suit a light blue dress.
On 23 March 1954, the People of South Australia gave The Queen the ‘Andamooka’ Opal as a token of their loyalty and affection.
The opal weighs 203 carats and was found at the Andamooka Opal Fields, west of Oodnadatta in South Australia in 1949. It is said to be the finest-quality opal ever found in the Andamooka Fields, partly because of its size (the rough stone from which it was cut measured 10 x 5 cm), but also because of the intensity of the fire and flashes of colour in the stone.
The opal was cut and polished by John Altmann and set in a palladium and diamond scrollwork necklace designed and made by Wendts Limited of Adelaide with matching earrings.
“THE ANDAMOOKA OPAL” ALSO KNOWN AS “THE QUEEN’S OPAL”
Altmann & Cherny had become synonymous in the world of Australian Opal.
As such in 1954 when the South Australian Government wanted to present Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II a gift in honour of her Royal visit to Australia they turned to Altmann & Cherny to find an Australian Opal of exceptional beauty and quality.
The finest gem crystal Opal ever mined at the Andamooka Opal fields was selected.
The opal was cut and polished into 6 stones by John Altmann. Once cut it weighed 203 carats and displayed a magnificent array of colours including RED, BLUE AND GREEN.
The South Australian Government purchased 5 of these stones which were then made into a necklace, earrings and cufflinks.
The necklace was made by Wendts & Co. an old jeweller who held the Warrent of the Late Prince Alfred from 1863 or so. It was set with diamonds into an 18 carat palladium necklet with matching earrings,
The Government presented this amazing suite of jewellery to HRH Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Phillip during their Royal tour to Australia in 1954, at a state banquet in Adelaide. She wore it once or twice during this first and a second tour, but not afterwards.
“The Andamooka Opal” as the necklace became known was on display at Buckingham Palace in 2009, were Claire Altmann was fortunate to see these amazing Opals which her father had lovingly cut and polished 55 years previously. John Altmann always maintained it was the finest opal he had ever polished.
The 6th opal cut from this incredible piece of rough Opal was sold to a private collector from Chicago, U.S.A.
As mention in my post below, I am probably in the minority here, but I am a fan of the Andamooka Opal Necklace.
Maybe HM could not maybe wear it today in her 90's but she rocked back in the day when she did wear it!
I love the diamond filigree work and some great thought was put into the making of this piece (as evidences by Beth's article).
What else could you have done with such a large stone? Too big for a brooch. Shape not suitable or a tiara.
I think that HM, like many of her generation (and those before) may take the superstitious view that opals are bad luck and, as such, we see very little of these gems in royal circles.
Maybe some of the younger generation of royals will have a chance to wear it. I for one would love to see it again!!
When I read more of the cuttings I have on the Andamooka Opal, I saw that this one says that the opal is white
and this which also says that the opal is white.
In my opinion a "white" opal fits better with what can be seen in contemporary photographs, particularly when the opal was photographed on the Queen.
Reports state that HM's dress was blue -- I suspect a pale blue -- and her fur jacket was white, so it is unlikely that the opal would show as so light a colour in photos if the base colour was a deeper blue as the photo on the Altamann site would suggest.
I suspect that this photo, while not capturing the flashes of fire and colour which would be seen as the opal caught the light, is nearer to reality.
This topic proves my point. This jewel deserves to be outed more often maybe as a belt or so. I know that Queen Max of the Netherlands would have found a way to haul this piece over by now.
Regards,
Dave.
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992234177's reference to the Andamooka Opal jogged my memory about some small items I have collected about the setting.
I think there is a time when a gemstone can be too large to work in jewellery, and the Andamooka Opal is one of those.
Perhaps it should have been fashioned into a paper weight or other decorative display ornament.
Prior to the government of South Australia purchasing the opal there had been a sketch made of a necklace incorporating five opals. Perhaps that might have been more appealing to QEII, although I suspect that opals are not a favourite of HM.
Whilst I can understand the necklace not having been worn it is a pity that the earrings have not had more outings. Not sure if the frames are delicate or not.
Mike
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992234177's reference to the Andamooka Opal jogged my memory about some small items I have collected about the setting.
on June 30, 2019, 7:23 am
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