A Victorian cluster ring featuring a cabochon opal

A Victorian cluster ring featuring a cabochon opal surrounded by a halo of old cut diamonds. The opal displays attractive play of colour with flashes of green, pink and peach moving across the stone as it catches the light. The surrounding diamonds are substantial old cuts with that characteristic soft, romantic sparkle that distinguishes antique diamonds from their modern counterparts.
The cluster is set a yellow gold shank, with further old cut diamonds set into the shoulders adding extra sparkle. The open gallery construction allows light to enter the stones from below and is typical of quality Victorian workmanship. This design, sometimes called a daisy cluster, was one of the most popular ring styles of the Victorian era.
Opals were particularly beloved during the Victorian period, despite superstitions that arose later. Queen Victoria herself was a great admirer of opals and gave them as wedding gifts to her daughters. A well-matched opal and diamond cluster like this would have been a prized possession.