Modernist Opal Ring by Louis Cadby | 15ct Gold | Australian c.1910

A rare and compelling piece by Australian goldsmith Louis Cadby, this c.1910 solitaire opal ring feels strikingly modern even over a century later.

Set in rich 15ct gold, the luminous cabochon opal is full of life, shifting from soft lilac and ice-blue to flashes of green and flame, depending on the light.

The setting is sculptural but spare: clean lines, subtle curves, and a sense of quiet confidence that prefigures later 20th-century design.

The wide tapered shank and simple bezel give the stone space to breathe, allowing the colour play to take centre stage.

It’s a ring that feels elemental, a study in light and colour.

Louis Cadby was working in Australia during a period of artistic experimentation, and this ring shows a maker unafraid to strip things back, letting the materials speak.

The result is timeless: elegant, wearable, and full of presence.

A piece for someone with a sharp eye and a love of understated and unmistakably original beauty.

Size U

Available exclusively at ELTONS, Grays Antique Market, Mayfair, London.