Pink Opal Designer Cut Cabochon

Strawberry Ice Cream anyone or is more like Cotton Candy? Found in Peru, this form of opal has no play of color, but is translucent with a pink color. This cab has gorgeous pink coloring throughout with white inclusions adding interest in this one-of-a-kind gemmy treasure!

Pink Opal Designer Cut Cabochon
48.2 x 22.6 x 7.3mm
38.12 cts.

I cut this cab by hand and it's been polished to a high sheen both front and back with slightly rounded bottom edges for easy setting.

Pink Opal is a "common opal" which is also referred to as Pink Silica, although it does technically qualify as opal. Although it's opal, it is harder than other opals and therefore used in carvings. It is generally found layered within a chalky white matrix, which may be present in some of the cut stones creating a pattern effect with the matrix and other inclusions which may be present. To me, this often has the feel of a dawn sky with ribbons of clouds. I should give a nod here to The Gem Shop in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, from which I've obtained most of the material I cut here and most of the information I have on it.