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[ileney]

Hi all, are you familiar with the blue opal (no color play, but often white, black and gray stripes) coming out of Africa? I recently bought some already thinly cut (because it was cheaper than the wear and tear to do it myself and I can always repolish). They may have been intended for earrings, but I thought how great in infinity style bracelets, going around the arm, encased in sterling bezels. But then I thought opal isn't so hard and threse are pretty thin already before I repolish; you might lean on those bracelets.

What do you think? Can it take normal wear and tear if encased in sterling bezel? Have you seen this material in person? I'm buying online sight unseen. This is similar to what I bought.
https://i.etsystatic.com/16408003/r/il/0da9b0/1881907112/il_794xN.1881907112_hw2k.jpg

[Slabbercabber]

If I were going to use opal in a bracelet I would make it a doublet.  Since it is already thin this may be a possibility.  Can you grind it flat enough for a quartz cap?

[hummingbirdstones]

I would do the doublet thing myself if I were going to do an opal bracelet.  Bracelets get a lot of abuse, getting whacked on all sorts of things.  If it's possible, a quartz cap on them would make them pretty sturdy.