Where to Buy Opal Jewellery in Australia
If you’re looking for where to buy opal jewellery in Australia, one of the most important things is choosing a specialist you can trust. Australian opal varies enormously in type, quality, origin and value, and buying from an established opal business gives you the opportunity to understand exactly what you’re purchasing.
At The Opal Centre, Australian opal has been part of our family business since 1969. From our beginnings mining, cutting and exporting opal in Lightning Ridge to almost 40 years operating our retail store on the Coffs Coast, we have spent decades working with one of Australia’s most extraordinary gemstones.
Today, you can visit us in person at The Opal Centre at the Big Banana Fun Park in Coffs Harbour, or shop our Australian opal jewellery online through our online boutique Black Star Opal.
Where is the best place to buy Australian opal jewellery?
An established Australian opal business is one of the best places to buy opal jewellery, particularly if you want confidence in the origin and type of opal you are purchasing.
Look for a business that:
Has long-term experience with a wide variety of Australian opal gemstones and jewellery
Has genuine expertise working with and selling opal and jewellery to customers
Clearly identifies whether an opal is a solid opal, doublet or triplet when you shop
Provides information about where its Australian opals originate
Clearly describes the metal and materials used in each piece
Provides realistic information about opal care
Has established contact details, customer service and return policies
Has memberships with reputable opal gemstone and jewellery associatoins
Australian opal is a natural gemstone, so two stones can differ considerably even when they are similar in size. Colour, pattern, body tone, brightness, transparency, origin and rarity can all influence the appearance and value of an opal. That makes specialist knowledge particularly valuable when choosing a piece.
Visit The Opal Centre in Coffs Harbour
For those who would prefer to see Australian opal jewellery in person, you can visit us at The Opal Centre at the Big Banana Fun Park in Coffs Harbour, located on the NSW North Coast. Entry to The Opal Centre is free and we are open seven days a week, excluding Christmas Day.
Our family has been involved in the Australian opal industry since 1969, beginning with opal mining, cutting and international export in Lightning Ridge, the NSW town famous worldwide for its rare black opal.
Our Coffs Harbour store has operated for almost four decased and today offers one of the largest selections of opal jewellery and opal gemstones between Sydney and Brisbane.
You can explore Australian opal rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets and loose opal across a wide range of styles and price points, including:
Lightning Ridge black opal
Australian crystal and white opal
Queensland boulder opal
Opal doublets and triplets
Gold, gold plated silver and sterling silver opal jewellery
One of the biggest advantages of buying opal in person is being able to see how an individual stone responds to light and movement.
Opal is famous for its play-of-colour, and while our online photographs capture our opal jewellery very well, they can never completely reproduce the experience of turning an opal in your hand and seeing different colours and patterns appear.
In our store, our team can also help explain the differences between the various types of Australian opal and help you compare pieces according to your preferences and budget.
Where can I buy Australian opal jewellery online?
You don't need to visit an Australian opal field or jewellery store in person to buy quality Australian opal jewellery. The Opal Centre's online boutique, Black Star Opal, allows customers throughout Australia and around the world to shop our wide range of genuine Australian opal jewellery online.
Shopping online can be particularly useful if you are searching for a particular opal type, design or price range. You can compare pieces at your own pace and view detailed information about the opal and setting before choosing.
For one-of-a-kind pieces, the individual opal is especially important. Natural Australian opal has its own colour, pattern and character, so when a product is identified as one-of-a-kind, you should be able to clearly understand whether the stone photographed is the stone you will receive.
At Black Star Opal we offer free postage and shipping insurance to any address in Australia and can offer express shipping options if you need your package sooner.
Why buy opal jewellery from an Australian opal business?
There are now thousands of opal products available through online marketplaces, jewellery stores and social media sellers. Unfortunately, the quality of the information accompanying them, and the quality of the opals and jewellery, varies considerably. As do the prices.
Terms such as “Australian opal”, “genuine opal” and “natural opal” can also be confusing if the seller doesn't clearly explain what the product actually contains. Buying from an established opal specialist gives you somewhere to ask questions before and after your purchase.
Experience matters with opal
Opal is different from many traditional gemstones. There is no single price per carat that can reliably tell you what every Australian opal should cost. Two opals of identical weight can have very different values depending on factors including their colour, brightness, pattern, body tone, origin and rarity. So experience helps when assessing those differences.
The family behind The Opal Centre has worked with Australian opal for more than five decades, including mining and cutting opal as well as supplying and retailing finished opal jewellery.
Know what type of opal you're buying
One of the first questions to ask when buying opal jewellery is whether the stone is solid, doublet or triplet opal.
Solid Australian opal
A solid opal is cut from a single piece of natural opal material. Australia produces several important varieties, including black, white, crystal and boulder opal.
Opal doublet
An opal doublet contains a layer of natural opal attached to a dark backing. The backing can enhance the appearance of the opal's colour. Doublets can provide beautiful colour at a more accessible price than many equivalent solid opals.
Opal triplet
A triplet also contains a thin layer of natural opal, with a dark backing beneath it and a clear protective cap above it. There is nothing inherently wrong with buying a doublet or triplet. They simply need to be described accurately and priced appropriately. A trustworthy opal retailer should make the distinction clear rather than leaving the customer to guess.
Where does Australian opal come from?
Australia is famous for producing some of the world's most sought-after opal, with different mining regions known for different varieties.
Lightning Ridge, New South Wales
Lightning Ridge is internationally renowned as the home of Australian black opal. Black opal is distinguished by its darker body tone, which can create a striking background for its play-of-colour. Lightning Ridge is also a commercial supplier of crystal opal.
Coober Pedy and South Australia
South Australia's opal fields are particularly well known for beautiful white and crystal opal, ranging from soft pastel colour through to bright multi-colour displays.
Queensland
Queensland's opal fields are famous for boulder opal, where precious opal naturally forms within ironstone. The host rock remains part of the finished gemstone.
The Opal Centre's collection includes opals sourced from Australian mining regions including Lightning Ridge, South Australia and Queensland.
What should I look for when buying opal jewellery?
There isn't one “best” Australian opal. A beautiful opal is ultimately one that appeals to you. However, there are several things worth considering.
Colour and brightness
Look at both the colours present and how strongly they appear as the opal moves. Some people love vivid blue and green opal, while others specifically seek red, orange or broad multi-colour flashes.
Pattern
No two natural opals form in exactly the same way. Some show broad flashes of colour, while others have smaller pinfire patterns, rolling colour or unusual natural formations.
Opal type and origin
Black opal, boulder opal, crystal opal and white opal each have their own appearance and characteristics. Understanding what you are buying makes it much easier to compare pieces fairly.
The setting
The jewellery itself matters too. Consider whether you prefer sterling silver or gold, a simple design that keeps the focus on the opal, or a more detailed setting incorporating diamonds or other gemstones.
Your budget
Australian opal jewellery can range from affordable silver and gold plated silver pieces through to rare black opals set in high-carat gold. You don't necessarily need to buy the rarest opal to find something beautiful. A reputable retailer should be able to help you understand what you are getting at different price points.
Is it better to buy opal jewellery in Australia?
Buying from an Australian opal specialist has some obvious advantages.You are buying in the country where the gemstone was mined, with greater access to businesses that have direct experience with Australian opal and established relationships throughout the industry.
More importantly, you can choose a retailer with a genuine history and physical presence. For customers visiting the NSW North Coast, The Opal Centre provides the opportunity to see a large collection of Australian opal in person.
For customers elsewhere in Australia or overseas, our online store provides access to that same opal expertise from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy genuine Australian opal jewellery?
You can buy Australian opal jewellery from our specialist opal retail store The Opal Centre at the Big Banana Fun Park in Coffs Harbour, NSW. If you can't visit in person, The Opal Centre's online boutique, Black Star Opal, offers Australian opal jewellery online for customers around Australia and internationally.
Where can I buy opal jewellery in Coffs Harbour?
The Opal Centre is located at Shop 2B, The Big Banana Fun Park, 351 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour, NSW. The store specialises in Australian opal and opal jewellery and is open seven days a week, excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day.
How do I know if Australian opal jewellery is genuine?
Look for a seller who clearly identifies the opal type, including whether it is a solid opal, doublet or triplet, and provides information about its origin where known. Established opal specialists should also be able to answer questions about the stone, setting and appropriate care. The Opal Centre and Black Star Opal are both members of the Australian Opal Association.
What type of Australian opal should I buy?
That depends on your preferences and budget. Lightning Ridge black opal is particularly rare and sought after, while white, crystal and boulder opals offer their own distinctive colours and patterns. Doublet and triplet opals can also provide beautiful Australian opal colour at a more affordable price.
Can I buy Australian opal jewellery online?
Yes. Australian opal jewellery can be purchased safely online when you buy from an established retailer that provides clear product information, photographs, contact details and transparent purchasing policies. The Opal Centre's online jewellery boutique is Black Star Opal.
Is every Australian opal unique?
Yes. Australian opal is a naturally formed gemstone, and variations in colour, pattern and formation mean no two natural opals are exactly identical. This individuality is one of the qualities that makes Australian opal jewellery so special.
If you have any questions about shopping with The Opal Centre or Black Star Opal, email us at info@theopalcentre.com