QUALITY SANDSTONE 'FAIRY' OPAL MATRIX BEAD STRAND 225 CTW

Item Description Pictures Bidding History Comments

About this Auction		About this Seller: OpalBeads
Minimum Bid (USD)	$169.00	Feedback Rating	99.42% Positive
Current Bid (USD)	$169.00 convert	Member Since	19 Jan 2009 in Australia
Bid Increment (USD)	$2.50	View feedback Send seller message View 133 other auctions from this seller More about this seller
Bids Placed	1 jump to bid history
Starting Bid (USD)	$169.00
Reserve Price (USD)	none
Starts	April 5, 2010 11:00 PM (PDT)	Basic Shipping Information
Ends	April 6, 2010 11:00 PM (PDT)	Shipping Cost	4.00 paid by buyer
Auction Category	Opal Beads > Bead Strands	Optional Shipping Insurance within Australia (USD)	9.15
Auction ID	197197	Optional Shipping Insurance rest of world (USD)	9.15
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Gallery

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Description

AAA+ QUALITY FAIRY OPAL MATRIX GRADUATED BEAD STRAND

Type: TREATED SOLID NATURAL SANDSTONE OPAL MATRIX (Fairy Opal)
Origin: QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Carat Weight: 225

Strand Length: 16 inch / 420 mm

Bead Size: (graduated) 7 X 4.5mm to 12 x 7.5 mm

Cut / Shape : Smooth Roundels

Color: VIOLET BLUE

Clarity: Opaque

Treatments: Enhancement by carbonising

Description: Brilliant sparkle of gem flecks throughout the entire stone

AAA+ Grade Quality opal in sandstone matrix also known as Fairy Opal Matrix, Rainbow Opal Matrix, Mass Opal or Black Paradise opal matrix.

Quality cut with a fine finish.

What is Sandstone Opal Matrix?

Naturally formed sandstone opal matrix is Precious Opal flecks dispersed throughout an earthy orange ferruginous sandstone.

Why is sandstone opal matrix treated?

By enhancing the background matrix will give a greater contrast thus the visibility of the precious opal colors is greater and stabilizing the sandstone also strengthens the stone by up to x10. Once enhanced some stones have the appearance of top gem quality black opal particularly ones with interesting and unique patterns. They are also similar in appearance to Honduran (basalt) matrix and gem Andamooka (concrete) matrix, even nicer.

So, if you would like a piece of opal that looks like a million for a fraction of the cost try these - you will be pleasantly amazed!!!

How is sandstone opal matrix treated?

The treatment is done by cooking the stone in sugar, thus the sugar is carbonized giving the stone a darker or black background and it is stabilized with inert chemical that strengthens the opal by up to x10. Only the sandstone absorbs the treatmeant, not the precious opal. This type of treatment when applied correctly is absorbed all the way through the entire stone, so re-cutting is not a problem, you do not have to treat it again after cutting.

The opal matrix listed here is superior quality to most we have seen to date. It is a more compacted sandstone type and the flecks of precious opal are more concentrated. It takes a polish/ finish much better than the very porous types.

Sandstone opal matrix is not that new as a discovery it has been around for as long as boulder opal. However, there are not many finished stones available because it is quite a tricky and tedious procedure to arrive at a quality finished product. We have now perfected this process and can offer a Quality finished product.

Bidding History


Member	Bid	Time & Date
MJason	169.00	April 6, 2010 2:38:10 PM (PDT)

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