[citation needed] Featuring 28 precious opals weighing a total of 1486.34 carats and custom mounted in 337.5 grams of sterling silver and 18-carat yellow gold, Deep Blue Sea had a retail value of over $1 million.
[5] Deep Blue Sea is made of Australian wool felt on a wire armature and features 26 carved natural precious opals set amidst feathers.
The opals are mounted in custom-made settings engineered and manufactured by Gerd Gerald Schulz using metals including sterling silver and 18-carat yellow gold.
[citation needed] Deep Blue Sea's primary innovation is in incorporating more than 1400 carats of high-value precious Australian opal, in a full spectrum of colors and hand-carved into sculptural shapes, into couture millinery and fashion.
[citation needed] Deep Blue Sea drew media attention for its extravagance and its high value both as a hat and as wearable precious opal.