A Welo opal with its bat wings spread. The stone has a deep black body with green and red fire moving through it, and a flicker of orange and yellow at the edge when it catches the light.
The opal is bezel set between a pair of oxidized sterling silver bat wings, all built on a backplate that I sawed out by hand along the silhouette, leaving a blackened border around the whole bat. The chain attaches at each wing tip, so it hangs with its wings open across your collarbone. Opal is October's birthstone, and this is about as gothic as an October birthday gets.
One of a kind. Made in my Fort Collins, Colorado studio. Ready to ship.
Arrives in a Silverthaw Jewelry gift box, ready for gifting or keeping. Ships in 1-2 business days.
Welo opal is porous and can absorb water and oils, so take it off before showering, swimming, or putting on lotion or perfume, and never soak it or use jewelry cleaner. If the opal looks cloudy after getting wet, let it dry and the color should come back. Store it away from harder stones and polish the silver gently with a soft cloth, avoiding the stone.
Welo opal comes from the Wollo province of Ethiopia and is known for intense play of color, the shifting flashes that move across the surface as you tilt the stone. Most Welo opal is hydrophane, meaning it can absorb water, and its natural body color runs from clear to white to orange. Black Welo gets its dark body through smoking, a common treatment that darkens the background so the colors underneath look even more vivid. The fire itself is the opal's own.
Ships in 1-2 business days.
Your handcrafted jewelry will be lovingly packed in a gift box inside a sturdy cardboard shipping box. I include an anti-tarnish strip that can be stored with the jewelry to help prevent tarnish as well as a complimentary polishing cloth to keep your jewels in top shape.
Orders over $150 are eligible to ship for free via USPS First Class Mail.
Expedited shipping is available (price calculates at checkout). All packages will be insured for the full value. If you have any questions, please contact me at erin@silverthawjewelry.com
Jewelry may be returned for a refund in its original condition within 14 days of purchase, minus cost of shipping. Returns must include tracking.
Please contact me at erin@silverthawjewelry.com
I do NOT accept returns for:
To keep your silver jewelry looking like new, take that extra second to remove it before cleaning, bathing, swimming, or any activity that would cause excess wear and tear. Avoid exposing your jewelry to perfumes, lotions, soaps and other liquids, as well as extreme heat.
If your jewelry becomes dirty, clean with a soft cloth or soft tooth brush and a mild soap if necessary (I use Dawn), or polish with a silver polishing cloth.
Please note that polishing cloths are infused with an abrasive and will remove intentional patina along with the unwanted tarnish, so take
care not to accidentally polish off the patina!
Finally, as a best practice, store your jewelry in a cool, dry place with your complimentary anti-tarnish tab.
