'Empress of Australia' was mined in 1915 from the same patch on Phone Line as 'Pride of Australia' by Urwin and Brown. First known as 'Kaleidoscope Queen', then 'Tartan Queen', this stone measured 3 x 2 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches in the rough. The Empress of 'Australia Opal was then cut and shaped in a beautiful way that the bright red patches in it were revealed at most, which makes it a wonderful jewel. She was shaped out and polished to reveal the glowing patches of red to best advantage, probably weighing 500 carats. The Empress of Australia Opal can claim of being one of the most colorful black opal. Later on, The Empress of Australia Opal was broken and almost same two matching stones were cut out of the original one. Two almost matching stones were cut out of the first piece, each measuring 2 inches long and weighing 20 carats. Ernie Sherman's daughter designed a beautiful pendant for one half. The second piece of 'Empress', measuring 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches and weighing 50-60 carats, was mounted in a gleaming necklet of brilliants. Check out a full list of Famous Opals