Opal Nopal is a rose gold ring with opal Ethiopian woman concentrating on her hand a small landscape of matter and colour. The central gemstone dominates the composition with green, yellow and orange reflections, while blades, shoots and fruits develop all around with irregular volumes and points of light.
Rubini, citrine, emeralds e diamonds they introduce splashes of colour that evoke the vegetation, flowers and fruit of the plant. The presence is prominent yet legible: the metal constructs an organic framework that accompanies the opal, distributes the colour and makes the subject recognisable from multiple angles.
Explore all the creations in this category or, if you are curious, discover the world of gemstones in the Gemstone Encyclopaedia. Dedicated insights into the characteristics, colour varieties and gemmological aspects of the stones can guide a bespoke project.
Opal Nopal is a rose gold ring with opal Ethiopian woman concentrating on her hand a small landscape of matter and colour. The central gemstone dominates the composition with green, yellow and orange reflections, while blades, shoots and fruits develop all around with irregular volumes and points of light.
Rubini, citrine, emeralds e diamonds they introduce splashes of colour that evoke the vegetation, flowers and fruit of the plant. The presence is prominent yet legible: the metal constructs an organic framework that accompanies the opal, distributes the colour and makes the subject recognisable from multiple angles.
Explore all the creations in this category or, if you are curious, discover the world of gemstones in the Gemstone Encyclopaedia. Dedicated insights into the characteristics, colour varieties and gemmological aspects of the stones can guide a bespoke project.
The initial discussion is to clarify symbols, materials and manufacturing possibilities, without requiring an immediate decision.
For forty years two prickly pears accompanied the client's entrance into her workplace. Growing season after season, they became the silent measure of time passed, of the tenacity and care dedicated to the agricultural world. In Opal Nopal that presence gathers around the opal: the pads protect, the shoots open the story, the fruits bring colour. The ring does not merely describe a plant, but holds within it the everyday landscape in which a professional life has recognised itself.
Opal Nopal belongs to my archive of completed creations and bears witness to how a personal memory can guide shape, structure and the choice of gemstones. It is not a design to be repeated: for a new project I start afresh from the person, the relationship with the hand, the materials, the intended use and the meaning to be safeguarded.
The project was born during a conversation, when the expression «a cool fig ring» (anello fico) reminded the client of the large prickly pear cacti (fichi d'India) placed at the entrance of her office. From that real-life reference, I derived the formal direction: not a generic decoration, but an everyday landscape to be made wearable.
The choice of the opal and the accent gemstones followed the same colour scheme, looking for greens, yellows, oranges and reds consistent with the plant and its fruit.
I made the 18-carat rose gold ring with a natural Ethiopian opal, rubies, citrines and natural emeralds, finished with orange diamonds. The hydrophane nature of the opal required a setting built to its proportions, capable of supporting and protecting it without covering its play of colour.
In my studio in Altamura I developed 3D modelling and prototyping; the manufacturing process then involved lost-wax casting, pavé setting, manual laser setting, polishing and final inspection.
Every review reflects a real commission: the initial consultation, the listening process, the definition of the project, the anticipation and the moment the finished piece becomes part of the client’s life.
Technical expertise, professional registrations and qualifications have accompanied the development of my work in the goldsmithing and jewellery field.
Since 2009, I have guided private clients and couples through the creation of their jewellery in my atelier. Over thirty years of goldsmithing experience guide every stage: listening, design, workshop, quality control, and delivery. Awards, mentions, and accolades tell the story of the artisanal, technical, and creative journey that underpins my work. Each badge links to an in-depth article on the blog.
Bring me a place, a plant or a passage that you recognise as your own: together we can translate it into a new narrative piece of jewellery, consistent with your personality and the way it will be worn.
The initial meeting is to clarify desires, materials, structure, timelines, and feasibility. It doesn't require an immediate decision.
