This is Helen’s newest collection of jewelry art 
and gem sculptures featuring Opals, 
many of them set with Emeralds.

“After all these years that I have been carving Opals, 
all kinds  of different Opals, from Black Opals to Boulder Opals
 to Blue Peruvian Opals, it all came into focus this past November 
when I was invited to give two lecture presentations at the 
American Opal Society’ 
gem show 
in Anaheim, California.

Besides my main presentation ‘Gem Carving, Inspiration & Skills’, 
and since I was addressing an ‘opal-holic’ audience, 
I was asked to talk a little bit more about the creative process
 of a couple of my recent Opal gem sculptures. 
From the number of pieces that I gathered
 to be featured in the presentation, 
it was evident that Opals play a major role 
as a gem material for my artwork. 
The most suitable title for this new lecture was 

‘Passion for Opals’!!

GOLDEN FLEECE

  Pendant

        # H-0266        

 14KT yellow gold enhancer pendant
 featuring a
 large Australian Opal 13.27 carats,  
set with a pear-shaped faceted 
Peridot 
(Pakistan) 2
.59 carats, 
and a trillion-cut faceted 
Sunstone 
(Oregon) 
1.63 carats.

 “The full shape of this pendant with the 
dangling stones”, Helen says, “is reminiscent of 
a Renaissance Golden Fleece pendant 
that I saw many years ago at the 
Green Vault Museum in Dresden, Germany, 
and had stayed in my memory”

According to the Greek Mythology, Jason & the Argonauts,
 the early Greek voyagers, sailed from Thessaly, Greece,
to the Black Sea in search of the Golden Fleece treasure, 
a supposedly magical pelt from a ram. The Golden Fleece 
was hanging from a tree until 
Jason killed the dragon that was guarding it.

“Golden Fleece” 
Strand & Ear

                 # H-0267                   

A 14KT yellow gold Necklace & earrings set, featuring large 
Green Freshwater cultured Baroque Pearls, 
faceted trillion Lemon Topaz and faceted Sunstone beads, 
with a 14KT toggle clasp in the necklace 
and 14KT euro-wires for the earrings.

Photos by HSH

Chocolate Silver Faces     

This small collection of jewelry pieces in 
Sterling Silver & 14KT gold feature Winton Matrix Opal
 from Queensland, Australia. 
This Opal variety is very unique, 
as the opal permeates the ironstone matrix 
(not in a layer style) 
and the play-of-color is very bright.

# H-0239       

Sterling Silver & 14KT yellow gold Necklace

The pendant features a Winton Matrix Opal
 from Australia 31.0 carats, and 
two round faceted Colombian Emeralds 0.13 carats TW. 
The “Silver Faces” setting was carved in wax 
and then cast in Sterling Silver.

The detachable necklace is a strand of Boulder Opal, 
Chrysoprase beads, and Bronze FW Cultured Pearls, 
with a Sterling Silver oval lobster clasp

Chocolate Dreams- Silver faces

# H-0240       

Sterling Silver Necklace

The pendant features a Winton Matrix Opal 
from Australia 25.81 carats, 
and three round faceted Colombian Emeralds
 0.30 carat TW. 
The “Silver Faces” setting was carved in wax 
and then cast in Sterling Silver.

The detachable necklace is a strand of Gaspeite beads from Australia
 and Bronze FW Cultured Pearls with a 
Sterling Silver Toggle clasp.

Chocolate Silver Faces     

 Earrings

# H-0240-E   

Sterling Silver & 14KT yellow gold Earrings

Sterling Silver carved & cast “Silver Faces”

Winton Matrix Opal from Australia, Colombian Emeralds

The earrings feature Winton Matrix Opal from Australia, 
and three round faceted Colombian Emeralds 0.30 carat TW. 
The “Silver Faces” settings were carved in wax 
and then cast in Sterling Silver.

Photos by HSH

Green Fire & Earth

14KT yellow gold Slide Pendant

[ Now in Private Collection ]

A 14KT yellow gold Slide Pendant featuring 
an Australian Koroit Matrix Opal
 16.32 carats, 
an Australian crystal Black Opal 
2.29 carats, 
and two round faceted Colombian Emeralds 
0.06 carats TW

Photo by HSH

Frosty Mint

# H-0270 

A Sterling Silver Slide Pendant & Pin featuring 
an Australian Winton Matrix Opal 
27.84 carats, 

and a Brazilian Emerald in Quartz freeform
 65.00 carats

Emerald & Shamanite Necklace & Earrings

# H-0281, # H-0282 

            Sterling Silver Necklace 18” long,
 interchangeable 
with the “Frosty Mint” pendant,
 including natural Brazilian Emerald 
crystal beads, Shamanite -North American Black Calcite beads, 
and Black/ Green FW cultured Pearls, with two SS 
small oval lobster clasps and 
a SS hammered toggle clasp.

The Sterling Silver Earrings also feature natural Brazilian Emerald
 crystal beads, Shamanite –North American Black Calcite beads, 
and Black/ Green FW cultured Pearls.

Shamanite, the rare and recently-discovered 
North American Black Calcite,
 has been certified by the Gemological Institute of America. 
Native American mountain tribes have been creating Shamanite
 ceremonial objects and jewelry for centuries; 
North American Black Calcite's natural colors range from inky-black 
to a smoky taupe and mocha-brown, sometimes called 
"Toho"(Mountain Lion") by tribal healers and artists.

You & Me

    # H-0271       

Sterling Silver Earrings featuring two 
Australian Winton Matrix Opal cabs 6.50 + 6.48 carats 
(12.98 carats TW), 
and 
two Colombian Emeralds 
in matrix freeform cabs 7.18 + 6.55 carats 
(13.73 carats TW). 
The “Silver Faces” settings were carved in wax 
and then cast in Sterling Silver with 
Sterling Silver Omega earring backs.

Photos by HSH

Sterling Silver cast by Annapolis Precious Metals (APM), Annapolis, MD

 

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of the artist and author Helen Serras-Herman.
Page last modified 01/29/08.
 
 
 
 
 

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