ADAM'S Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches 12th May 2026

171 175 AN IMPRESSIVE FIRE OPAL RING The cushion-shaped fire opal weighing approximately 13.20cts, within a six-clawsetting, to aplain hoop, mounted in 18Kgold , ring size N € 5,000 - 6,000 There are gemstones that sparkle, and there are gemstones that glow. Fire opal belongs firmly to the latter: with hues of molten gold, sunset orange, and ember-red, these extraor- dinary gems seem to hold a fragment of flame within their depths. Unlike many opals prized for their spectral play-of-colour, fire opals are celebrated for their transparency and rich, flame- like hue. Most famously found in the volcanic landscapes of Querétaro in Mexico, fire opals are born from silica-rich water that slowly crystallises within cavities of ancient volcanic rock over thou- sands, and sometimes millions of years. 174 A RUBY LINE NECKLACE Composed of a continuous row of graduated circular and oval-shaped rubies, mounted in 18K gold, rubies approximately 35.00cts total, length 39.2cm € 8,000 - 9,000 Fire opals were valued by pre-Columbian civilisations, in- cluding the Aztec and the Maya, used as ornaments and during sacred ceremonies. They were associated with vital- ity, passion, and the life-giving power of the sun, and were regarded as symbols of energy and creative force. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels have continued to celebrate opals for their luminous character, selecting fire opals from Mexico for high jewellery creations that highlight the gem’s vivid colour and individuality. Although Mexico remains its most famous source, fire opal is also found in Brazil, the United States, Honduras, Guatemala, and Australia, though generally in smaller quantities.