American Art Deco Platinum & Diamond Ring w. Marquise Shaped Opal

Australian opals became popular in the USA soon after their discovery.

Tiffany & Co was using Australian opal as early as 1890, and Louis Comfort Tiffany made fabulous pieces with Lightning Ridge black opals around 1910, just six years after opals from "the Ridge" first became available in 1904 (see: Tiffany Jewels by John Loring).

Marcus & Co was another great American jeweller famed for the production of magnificent opal creations during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.

A third famous name in American jewellery who often used opals was master jeweller Raymond Yard. He started at Marcus & Co in 1898 as a 13 year old doorboy, and by 1922 opened his own salon on Fifth Avenue with clients including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and DuPonts.

I'm still looking for pieces by these great American jewellers however nice pieces of American Art Deco occasionally come my way.

This platinum and diamond ring has a mixture of European and early brilliant cut diamonds. This mix of diamonds, and the angled shoulders with geometric supports, dates it to circa the late 1920's. The marquise shaped opal is crystal material, possibly from Lightning Ridge, or maybe an early stone from Coober Pedy, it's about 12.5 x 6.5mm.