Rings of Fire
Mexican fire opals add a vividness to pieces from Austy Lee’s Tenth Dimension collection
The fire opal may not be as wellknown as its whitish counterpart, but its unique spectrum of colours, coupled with its rarity, make it a highly covetable gemstone. The result of a unique accumulation of small, hydrated silica spheres that emit a dark orange hue, its fragility and delicate nature add to its preciousness. It’s no wonder, then, that Austy Lee has chosen the fire opal as the centrepiece for two designs in his Tenth Dimension collection.
The Honeycomb in Psychedelic Trance ring, set in 18-karat yellow gold, features a Mexican fire opal, Colombian emeralds and an unheated Sri Lankan purple star sapphire, and is finished with abalone shell, rubies and fancy vivid yellow diamonds. The fluid arrangement of the gemstones mirrors the natural hexagon of a honeycomb, while the kaleidoscopic colours reflect the psychedelic design movement. Lee’s Phantom of Tenth Dimension ring traces the organic shape of the fire opal in fancy vivid yellow and fancy vivid colour diamonds. The rings are set in 18-karat yellow gold and finished with a Brazilian bicolour tourmaline, Sri Lankan padparadscha sapphires, abalone shell and rubies. Said to evoke creativity and passion, the fire opal is celebrated for its healing powers, as well as the influence it is reputed to hold over personal relationships. The stones represent the limitless possibilities of the tenth dimension, and echoes Lee’s own unique, unconventional approach to design.