Flame Queen Opal

The Flame Queen opal is perhaps the most famous of all the great opals, [Leechman, F: “The Opal Book”, page 198. Ure Smith, 1961] , and the best-known example of “eye-of-opal,” an eye-like effect created when opal in-fills a cavity. [O’Leary, B: “Field Guide to Australian Opals”. Antique Collectors Club Ltd, 1984]

The Flame Queen’s flat central raised dome flashes red or gold depending on the angle of view and is surrounded by a band of deep blue-green, giving the stone the appearance of a fried egg. The stone weighs 263.18 carats and is somewhat triangular in shape, measuring 7.0 x 6.3 x 1.2 centimeters (2.75 x 2.50 x .50 inches).

The Flame Queen was discovered in 1914 by three partners: Jack Philips, Walter Bradley and “Irish” Joe Hegarty, at the Bald Hill Workings, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. They took over a shaft abandoned by another miner who had gone to fight in World War One.

Tunneling down to traditional “opal level” at around 30 feet revealed no trace of the tell-tale coloring in the clay that indicates the likely presence of opal, and Hegarty concluded they had sunk a “duffer.” But, despite the poor ventilation and the constant danger of tunnel collapse, Bradley and Philips wanted to continue digging. Then, at 35 feet, Bradley’s pick found a large black nobby, also known as an opal nodule. It was not until they reached the surface that the true nature of their find was revealed. [Leechman, F: "The Opal Book", page 199. Ure Smith, 1961]

Of the three partners, Bradley was the most skilled lapidary, and he was entrusted to cut and polish the great stone. By this time the partners were tired and broke (one source says they had been living on hotcakes and syrup for three weeks). [Eyles, C: “The Book of Opals”, page 95. Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1964] They sold the Flame Queen to a buyer on the opal field for just £93. [Leechman, F: “The Opal Book”, page 200. Ure Smith, 1961]

The Flame Queen was exhibited at the Geological museum, London, in 1937 on the occasion of the Coronation of King George VI and again at the Gemological Institute, London, in 1980/81. At one time if was part of the renowned Kelsey I. Newman Collection, and more recently the Jack Plane Collection.

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