Featured Opal question... modern craft jeweler or something else?

What do you all think of this pendant. Stone seems to be an opal, sterling setting. Pendant measures 2", stone measures just under 3/4". The stone doesn't have a lot of "fire", more milky looking. I couldn't find anything from the signature, wondering if this was just a craft piece or similar. And mostly wanted to confirm that this an opal.
Thanks.

Shown in full sun:







Could use a polish but you get the idea.

 

Opal made by hobbyist,student,artisan.

 

Thank you, Holly.

And as far as Opals go, is this just an average one? (Above average? Below average?)

Are ones with more fire more desirable? Looking for some keywords to sell this, and didn't know how to describe the sort of subtle (and milky) look. Thanks!

 

It has always been my impression that the more fire, the more desirable. Are you sure this is opal? Does it flash brighter from certain angles? Just thinking it might be Madagascar labradorite.

 

Thanks for taking a look MOS. In the hand, it doesn't look like labradorite. As I move it there are little flashes of green (not many, but some). You can kind of see a tiny green flash in my 2nd photo, just in that one spot. A few green spots like that when you move it.

 

Certainly others know more about this stuff than I do.

 

It's good to check these things! Thank you.

 

Agree, it is an opal. Stones with these lines of colour are sometimes called 'banded opal'.

Yes they are. And darker colours too, usually.

That could be the banding, which you don't see that often in opals. Usually the colours and fire are much more random.

 

Yes it's definitely an opal.
I love this piece, so very cool, but the top of the setting isn't filled out with the stone. I'm not sure if this would ever become a problem or not?

 

I think that is an optical illusion, because the top band is darker.

 

Stab in the dark?
https://gallery-9.com/gallery-nine-artists/michael-kenney-jewelry/

 

Quickly checking email, then I'm out for the rest of the day. Going to definitely follow up on this later and see if this might be a match! Thank you, KSW.

 

I couldn’t find any examples to show the backs or signatures but I see he is very much still active and has an Etsy shop so you may be able to message him to ask?

 

Oh yes, I think you're right, thanks, AJ
I think it's a lovely, may be a one of a kind piece.

 

The top of the bezel wasn't rolled over at the top of the stone leaving a gap. Points and square corners of bezels can be a pain with sterling,many people use fine silver for the bezels as it does not work harden when hammered or burnished.

 

I think the artist ( @KSW seems to have it right!) cut the opal transversally instead of following the parallel colorbars, to get a more interesting piece from a faintly colored opal.

 

Could be, but I think it is more likely to have been cut from a naturally banded thin layer of opal. Thin layers of banded opal occur more often than thick pieces that can be cut so banding shows.

 

You all are amazing. Thank you.

(I still haven't done proper research on the jeweler, crazy night has turned into crazy morning. Maybe will wait until Monday. Definitely an idea to email the Etsy site and ask.) Thanks!