Gold layer
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Up to 15% of total weight
Gold-Plated
Ultra-thin layer
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Ships in 2–3 working days
14-day right of withdrawal
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Opal · Luxury Collection
Opal Heart Necklace
October birthstone · play of color
incl. VAT, plus shipping
-
- 14K gold-filled, available in gold only
- Box chain in 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in)
- Opal set in a smooth bezel
- Chain is water-resistant, please keep the opal dry
- October birthstone
Handmade in Germany
Genuine opal
In stock
Genuine opal
Lumière: very good
With you in 3–6 working days (DE)
Real customer photos
Thousands of happy customers since 2019
Opal: A Heart Full of Color
Opal is a mineraloid made of hydrated silicon dioxide, with the formula SiO2·nH2O. Unlike most gemstones, it does not form crystals but is amorphous. Inside it, tiny spheres of silica gel are packed closely and evenly. When light enters, it is diffracted by these spheres and split into spectral colors, which creates the typical play of color. For this opal necklace, the stone is cut as a smooth, heart-shaped cabochon. Across its milky white base, flashes of green, blue, violet, and soft orange appear, in a different spot with every movement.
Material and Craftsmanship
The opal necklace is available in gold only, made of 14K gold-filled. A smooth bezel surrounds the heart all the way around and protects its delicate edge. With 14K gold-filled, a substantial gold layer is permanently bonded to a base metal. It wears off much more slowly than simple gold plating and keeps a warm tone even after years. The pendant glides on a box chain through an elongated bail. The chain's fine, square links lie smoothly on your skin and hardly twist. I assemble each opal necklace by hand in my studio in Oberhausen. When you order, you choose between 45 cm (17.7 in) and 40 cm (15.7 in).
Meaning of Opal
In the first century, the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder wrote that some opals hold a play of color that rivals the richest colors of painters. He saw the colors of many other gemstones united in it. For October babies, opal is the stone of their birth month. With its heart-shaped stone, this opal necklace becomes a sign of affection.
Caring for Your Opal Necklace
The 14K gold-filled chain is water-resistant, but it's better to keep the opal dry. It contains bound water and is sensitive to heat, sudden changes in temperature, and chemicals. So take your opal necklace off before the shower, the pool, or the sauna, and put it back on only once your lotion and perfume have fully soaked in.
On the Mohs scale, opal reaches only 5.5 to 6.5, which makes it one of the softer gemstones. Protect it from hard knocks and store the necklace in a soft pouch, apart from other jewelry. A soft, slightly damp cloth is all you need for cleaning. Ultrasonic cleaners and steam are off-limits for opal.
Water in the stone
Opal is hydrated silicon dioxide and usually contains four to nine percent water.
Play of color
Tiny spheres of silica gel diffract the light and split it into spectral colors.
October birthstone
Opal is the birthstone for October and long stood for hope in Europe.
Pliny the Elder saw the colors of many gemstones united in opal. Opal is the birthstone for October, and in Europe it long stood for hope, purity and truth.
Genuine opal with play of color, cut as a heart
- 14K gold-filled, available in gold only
- Box chain in 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in)
- Opal set in a smooth bezel
- Chain is water-resistant, please keep the opal dry
- October birthstone
The Lumière Factor is my transparent assessment of each stone's play of light. This opal isn't meant to be see-through. Its charm lies in its play of color. That's why I leave out transparency and rate it in 3 categories of 0 to 25 points each.
How the rating works
- Color Depth · Saturation and vibrancy, dull versus bright, cool versus warm. (max. 25)
- Surface Integrity · Natural shape without chips, intact edges. (max. 25)
- Liveliness · Sparkle and movement in daylight and candlelight. (max. 25)
0–45
Basic
46–56
Good
57–67
Very good
68–75
Exceptional
This necklace
Good
Color Depth
21 / 25
Green, blue and violet flashes of color on white
Surface Integrity
22 / 25
Smoothly polished heart shape without chips
Liveliness
23 / 25
Play of color that changes with every viewing angle
Total
66 / 75
Germany
3–6 working days
€4.95 · free shipping from €150
Worldwide
5–10 working days
from €6.95 · Europe free from €170
- Handmade for you in 2 to 3 working days, then shipped with DHL and tracking
- Carefully packed in the Handmade Art gift box
- USA €35, rest of the world €10 shipping
At 45 cm (17.7 in), the opal heart rests a little below the collarbone, a length that goes with almost any top. At 40 cm (15.7 in), it sits higher and closer to your neck, which looks lovely with open-collar blouses and as the shorter necklace in a layered look.
Yes, the heart is a genuine opal with a white base tone and a multicolored play of color. Before an opal heart goes out to you, I take a close look at its play of color and its surface.
The 14K gold-filled chain can handle water, but it's better to be careful with the opal. Over time, soap, shampoo and hot water take their toll on it. So take the necklace off before showering and put it back on once your skin is dry.
The play of color comes from the diffraction of light. Inside the opal, countless tiny silica spheres sit in regular rows, and they split the light into the colors of the spectrum. When you tilt the heart, the colors move across the stone.
Yes, opal is the birthstone for October. In Europe it was long seen as a symbol of hope, purity and truth. Cut as a heart, it makes an especially loving gift for a fall birthday.
The Difference
Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated
Best choice
Our Choice
14k Gold-Filled
Standard Jewelry
Gold-Plated
Gold layer
Up to 15% of total weight
Ultra-thin layer
Durability
Lasts many years with good care
Often wears off within months
Tarnishing
Rarely tarnishes
Discolours quickly
Wear
Keeps its new look
Flakes and wears off
Skin tolerance
Gentle on the skin
Can irritate the skin
Value
High quality and long-lasting
Cheaper, but less durable
Durability
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Lasts many years with good care
Gold-Plated
Often wears off within months
Tarnishing
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Rarely tarnishes
Gold-Plated
Discolours quickly
Wear
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Keeps its new look
Gold-Plated
Flakes and wears off
Skin tolerance
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Gentle on the skin
Gold-Plated
Can irritate the skin
Value
Top
14k Gold-Filled
High quality and long-lasting
Gold-Plated
Cheaper, but less durable
Origin of the stones
Gemstones with a clear conscience.
Every stone has a journey and I want that journey to be fair and transparent.
Carefully selected
Handcrafted
Long-lasting
Play of color
Origin · Opal
Handmade in Germany
I look at each opal heart in the light, one by one, before I make it into a necklace by hand in Oberhausen.
Carola
Founder · Designer
The woman behind Handmade Art
Hi, I'm Carola.
I am a biomedical scientist by profession and an artist by profession. In my studio in Oberhausen, I make each necklace by hand, stone by stone, bead by bead.
8+
Years of craftsmanship
1.672
wearers
100%
Unique pieces
Manufacturer Handmade Art by Carola · Carola Schade · Biefangstraße 1, 46149 Oberhausen, Germany · hello@by-carola.com
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Opal Heart Necklace
Gold / 45 cm
