The Royal Opal

The Royal Opal

Black Opal which was in possesion by Bobby, an australian miner, for 14 years, will make its debut later this month at the Couture show for high-end jewelry at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. It is expected to reach $3 million.

Called the Royal One, the 306 carat, gem quality black opal is almost double the size of the Aurora Australis, found in 1938, which was valued at $1 million in 2005.

The “Royal One” was discovered in the Australian opal mecca of Lightning Ridge in 1999 by a miner who prefers to be known only by his first name, Bobby. Incredibly, Bobby found the stone after ending his 40 year career as a miner in the Australian outback.  It was in his very last bucket of rough stones that he found the incredible gem.

The “Royal One” came to the attention of Jetter when she was approached by an opal mining group who were looking for an opal ambassador in the U.S. One of the miners in the group was none other than Bobby. Having kept the stone a secret for more than 14 years for fear of being targeted by thieves, Bobby revealed the stone to Jetter and entrusted her with finding a suitable buyer.

Jetter describes the “Royal One” as “a breathtakingly beautiful stone featuring a rich, royal blue colour that is enhanced by the stone’s natural and undulating form.” Adding to its beauty is what Jetter identifies as flashes of green that roll over the surface of the stone. “The colour is so brilliant that the stone almost glows in the dark,” says Jetter.

Jetter is known for her beautiful opal jewellery and she has made it her mission to build a name for the Australian opal in the U.S. Her artistic and detailed designs have captured the attention of fine jewellery connoisseurs around the world as well as a number of celebrities including Rebel Wilson and Kristin Davis.

The fact that she was entrusted with finding a buyer for the “Royal One” is testament to her reputation as one of the world’s most innovative and creative opal-focused jewellery designers.

For more information on Katherine Jetter and the “Royal One” visit her website here.