Show 2500 PAID FOR OPEN FIRE OPAL Upset Unset Australian Gem Was Tas in Collection at Panama Exposition Chicago Ma May 31 31 U.-An U. An unset Australian Australian Austra Austra- lian opal has Just been sold old b by a n Chicago Chicago Chi Chi- cago firm for 2500 It is an oval o fir fire ir opal about an Inch and a n. half haJ long Ions by byan b ban an an Inch broad a spectacular ular Cular stone flaming with e every changing tint o of oC f the time rainbow The sale In Its way a was as an all event C The price Is said to have havo been the hl highest ever eyer paid for an opal in the west The stone was part of ot a collection I brought into into this country from Crom the tine theLi j I Li Lightning I d-c d mines of oC New South Wales Vales and exhibited at the Panama- Panama Pacific exposition It originally comprised comprised comprised com com- 00 opals all cut and polished but unset onset It was w rat rated d tho time most moat r val valuable al- al collection o of opals ever In AmerIca Amer Amer- ica rho The Chicago firm purchased it for tor Cert Certainly the collection Is th time the most gorgeous group of ot gems ems ever put on I display In Chicago In the mass the stones atones suggest u et a n. parterre of oC flowers in riotous bloom or a bed hed of live coals glowing glowing- with trade cent fires Every beautiful JI light ht effect of or dawn or sunset sun sun- sot set ft or or- of the sun shining on crystal Ico or w waterfalls Lt or purple tropic seas Is reflected In these resplendent Jew jew- cl els Most of or the stones are arc what are aro known as harlequin fire opals Sonic Some arc are black opals found round only In Australia Aus Aus- as as black as Jet but duskily radiant with red blue and green lashes flashes Mexican opals have ha given ien the public publican an idea that opals are ro cheap Thirty cents buys a n ncr cr very fair one along the Rio Grande The cheapest t opal In this collection Is valued at 01 It Is tho the I size of or opals usually seen In scarf I I Pins pin or rings A mine that produces such opals Is 18 little loss less valuable than thana a diamond mine One magnificent opal 1 found in Australia was presented to lane King Edward VII and before starting on its Journey to England was Insured for 4 Many fan of tho the opals in tho the collection have ha been mounted In gold old or platinum platinum platinum num and tricked ot off with diamonds sapphires and other st stones nl Some of ot the target larget pieces this of-this kind are arc priced at several thousand dollars ollars But nut most of tho time opals r remain romain unset upset until sold rhen Then the they are arc mounted In iii Individual 1 designs selected b by tine the purchaser This I unique method of ot merchandising Jewels has proved Immensely popular The worlds world's richest opal mines are aren Jn in n Hungary ar and have o been closed down during the war Opals are arc found In a number of districts of oC Australia and the tho stones are equal to the best Hun Hungarian garian arlan items gems ems but hut mining operations have o hc boon been n sporadic and desultory Experts Experts Ex Ex- h believe lIc that the Island continent contains enormous wealth in Opal and It Is reported reporter that plans held up b by bythe bytho tho the war var are arC now maturing for Cor the tho ex exploitation exploitation ex- ex of these treasure fields |