Orange Betta

A Mexican fire opal of 10 to 15mm, circa 11.79 carats, sits at the centre, cut to an irregular profile rather than to a symmetrical outline. Precious opal is bought for the play of colour shifting beneath its surface; fire opal is bought for the body colour — transparent to translucent orange, judged on how saturated and how clean it is. The two are the same species doing entirely different work.

Circa 5.74 carats of round orange sapphires run through the fins, at 0.80 to 1.30mm apiece. At that size the weight represents several hundred individual stones, each one set by hand. Round brilliant diamonds of 1.00 to 1.20mm add a further 0.75 carats. Corundum sits at 9 on the Mohs scale and opal between 5.5 and 6.5, so the softer stone is protected by the way it is held rather than by its own resistance.

The piece is worked in 18-karat gold, yellow and white together, which lets the warm metal carry the body and the white metal disappear beneath the diamonds rather than competing with them.

The piece is made to be worn two ways, at the neck and at the shoulder.

A betta’s fins are display structures rather than instruments of speed. The fish holds and flares them, and they are never still in the water. The design follows the fins rather than the fish.

Please enquire for price, certification and viewing.