In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II was going to make her first visit to Australia. The South Australian government wished to present her with the finest opal in all Australia as a gift, and set in motion an extensive search for such a gemstone.
The firm of Altmann & Cherny submitted a piece of rough opal which had been mined at Andamooka, and it was this piece that the government selected as the best quality gemstone to give to the English queen.
The opal was cut to 203 carats, and polished by John Altmann, and displayed a magnificent array of colours including red, blue and green. It was set with diamonds into an 18 carat palladium necklet.
What’s palladium? Palladium ihas been used as a precious metal in jewelry since 1939, as an alternative to platinum or white gold. It is slightly whiter, much lighter and around 10% harder than platinum.
It is one of the three most popular metals used to make white gold alloys.
When researching the history of opal - from mining to miners to famous opals - it is sometimes necessary to read several books before you come up with the full story on any given subject.
Take for example the Empress of Australia Opal, which I talked about briefly a few days ago. Here’s that entry:
The “Empress of Australia” was mined in 1915, from the same patch on Phone Line where the “Pride of Australia” opal had been found by by Urwin and Brown. It was first called the “Kaleidoscope Queen”, then “Tartan Queen”, before being given its present name.
This stone originall measured 3 x 2 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches in the rough. It was accidentally dropped and broke into two pieces, from which two new opals were cut.
These new, almost matching stones each measuring 2 inches long and weighing 20 carats.
The daughter of Ernie Sherman designed a beautiful pendant for one half. The second piece, measuring 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches and weighing 50-60 carats, was mounted in a necklet of brilliants.
Well, what were the names of these new opals?
According to The World of Opals, by Alan W. Eckert, pg 132, the new stones were called the Black Prince, Flamingo, and Pride of Australia, with the largset one being called the Empress. They were all sold in a single parcel and purchased by a well-known buyer, Ernest G. Sherman — and given those names by his sister.
According to the Guinness Book of World records, the largest uncut black opal in the world is the Halley’s Comet Opal.
Halley’s Comet is a “short term” comet, which orbits the earth in a period of about 75 years. One of those years in which it was visible was 1985, and that’s when this opal was found, by the Lunatic Hill Mining Syndicate. (Halley’s Comet will return again in 2061.)
It is the third largest gem grade black opal ever recorded, the largest specimen ever found in its region — Lightning Ridge, and the largest one still extant.
It weighs 1,982.5 carats and is about the size of a man’s fist. It is a very fine specimen, with few flaws. A large green and orange color bar goes through the opal.
Formed about 20 million years ago, it is an example of a nobby, a natural lump-shaped opal found only at Lightning Ridge.
Halley’s Comet Opal sold for a record price, $300,000, in 1995.
The Flame Queen opal is a red-on-black opal, and the best-known example of “eye-of-opal.” When opal in-fills a cavity, an eye-like effect is created.
The Flame Queen’s has a central raised dome, which flashes red or gold depending on the angle of view. It is surrounded by a band of deep blue-green, which gives it the appearance of a fried egg. The stone weighs 263.18 carats and is roughly triangular in shape, measuring 7.0 x 6.3 x 1.2 centimeters (2.75 x 2.50 x .50 inches).
The Flame Queen was discovered in 1914 by Jack Philips, Walter Bradley and “Irish” Joe Hegarty, three partners working the Bald Hill Workings at Lightning Ridge in Australia. They had taken over a shaft abandoned by another miner who had gone to fight in World War I.
The three men sold the Flame Queen to a buyer on the opal field for just £93.
The Flame Queen was exhibited at the Geological Museum, London, in 1937 on the occasion of the Coronation of King George VI and again at the Gemological Institute, London, in 1980 and 1981.
At one time if was part of the Kelsey I. Newman Collection Opal collection, and more recently the Jack Plane Collection. It was sold at auction in 2008.
The “Empress of Australia” was mined in 1915, from the same patch on Phone Line where the “Pride of Australia” opal had been found by by Urwin and Brown.
It was first called the “Kaleidoscope Queen”, then “Tartan Queen”, before being given its present name.
This stone originall measured 3 x 2 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches in the rough. It was accidentally dropped and broke into two pieces, from which two new opals were cut.
These new, almost matching stones each measuring 2 inches long and weighing 20 carats.
The daughter of Ernie Sherman designed a beautiful pendant for one half. The second piece, measuring 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches and weighing 50-60 carats, was mounted in a necklet of brilliants.
(See our entry on The Flamingo Opal)
The stone now called the Olympic Australis opal was found in August 1956 at the “Eight Mile” opal field in Coober Pedy, South Australia, by a miner working his claim a depth of 30 feet. In honour of the Olympic Games, which were taking place in Melbourne at the time, he named it “Olympic Australis”.
This opal consists of 99% gem opal, with an even colour throughout the stone.
It is the largest and most valuable gem opal ever found, weighing 17,000 carats (3450 grams) and is 11 inches long (280 mm), with a height of 4¾ inches (120 mm) and a width of 4½ inches
(115 mm). It is valued at AUD$2,500,000
Due to the purity of the opal, experts have estimated that over 7000 carats could be cut from the piece. However, because it is so unique, the Olympic Australis will remain exactly as is.
This Olympic Australis is located in a special security safe at Altmann & Cherny’s showroom, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne and anyone may view it during showroom hours.
The Red Admiral, also known as the ‘Butterfly Stone’ was discovered during World War I on the ‘Phone Line’ field in Lightning Ridge, Australia.
This opal is 51 carats, and has a predominantly red pattern which is visible from all angles.
The stone was given the name “Butterfly” in 1920 that because it its resembled a butterfly found in England, the Red Admiral.
According to Len Cram (the well known opal historian): “If you turn this magnificent gem on its side it changes from a butterfly to a full-length picture of a Spanish dancer in traditional broad ruffled dress, perfect in pose and movement, aflame with fiery lights.”
The Red Admiral has had many owners, including Percy Marks (Designers, Jewellers, Opal, Gem & Diamond Merchants since 1899) and a Queensland grazier, before being purchased by a Mrs Drysdale of Sydney.
Since 2004, it has been owned by Percy Marks & Co.
Here is a list of the world’s most famous opals - all of them found in Australia:
The Olympic Australis Opal: The largest and most valuable gem opal found to date.
The Red Admiral Opal: Also known as the Butterfly Stone.
The Aurora Australis Opal: Most valuable black opal.
The Empress of Australia Opal
The Flame Queen Opal
The Fire Queen Opal
The Black Prince Opal: First known as Harlequin Prince.
The Pride of Australia Opal: Also known as the Red Emperor Opal.
The Flamingo Opal
The Halley’s Comet Opal: The world’s largest uncut black opal.
The Andamooka Opal: Also known as the Queen’s Opal, because it was presented to Queen Elizabeth II.
The Jupiter Five Opal
In future entries I’ll discuss each of these opals and their history.
The “Aurora Australis” is considered to be the world’s most valuable black opal.
It was found in 1938 at Lightning Ridge. Apart from its color and play of light, it is unique in that it has the impression of a star fish on its back.
In 2005, it was valued at AUD $1,000,000.
The stone is an oval, cut and polished, and has a harlequin pattern - the dominant colors or red, green and blue against the black background. It is three inches by 1.8 inches, and weighs 180 cts.
Miner Charlie Dunstan found the gem. It is said that he sold it for 100 pounds. Altmann & Cherny purchased the opal in a semi-rough state (a rub), and cut and polished it into its current oval shape. It was then that they realized its fantastic beauty, and named it the “Aurora Australis” after the southern lights.
The Aurora Australis is still owned by the Altmann and Cherny company and is on permanent display in their Sydney showroom at 19 - 31 Pitt Street, Sydney.
See a photo of this opal, which really doesn’t do it justice, at Altmann and Cherny.