ITEM DESCRIPTION

Black Magic, Lightning Ridge Black Opal (379.03 ct) Currently exhibited within the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, this monumental natural black opal originates from Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, the world’s most revered source of true black opal. The stone presents an exceptional play of colour across a dark body tone, with electric flashes of green, cyan and cobalt, accompanied by intermittent gold fire that moves fluidly as light shifts across the surface. Rather than fine pinfire, the colour forms broad rolling patterns and layered bands, giving the opal striking presence at distance and remarkable depth at close inspection. The freeform polished shape preserves the original character of the rough while maximising face coverage, allowing the stone to function equally as a collector mineral or the centrepiece of a bespoke jewellery commission. At over 379 carats, the scale alone places the piece within museum-grade classification, while the brightness and saturation remain unusually strong for a specimen of this size. The combination of dark body tone, large uninterrupted colour coverage and intensity is rarely encountered, even among Lightning Ridge productions. Key Characteristics Origin: Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia Variety: Natural Black Opal Weight: 379.03 carats Body Tone: Dark / Black Colour Play: Predominantly green-blue spectrum with flashes of gold Cut: Freeform polished specimen Suitability: Collector acquisition, exhibition display, or bespoke high jewellery creation An opal positioned at the intersection of natural history and high jewellery, suitable for a private collection, institutional acquisition, or a once-in-a-generation commission.