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- Black OpalAustralian Black Opal Black Opal is the rarest opal in the world and the most valued. Its darker body tone brings brightness to the play of colour. This Opal also comes in a wide range of patterns, some being extremely rare. Learn more about black opals. Australian Black Opals are gemstones mined in an area called Lightning Ridge in NSW. Opal Shop owner, Robert Short, frequently visits this area to renew our available stock.
- White OpalWhite Opal Australian white opal, also known as milky or milk opal, is recognised by its light body tone. The play of colour can be a little less vibrant than in Black Opals and this means that they are comparatively less expensive. However, each stone’s play and display of colours drive the value of this beautiful precious gemstone from Coober Pedy, South Australia. Within the region, you will notice some specificities: Andamooka opals are famous for their beautiful matrix, whilst Mintabie opals display a greyer body tone.
- Boulder OpalBoulder Opal Boulder Opals are the second most valuable opals in the world after Black Opals. They are characterised being a natural combination of solid opal and ironstone or in some cases fossilised wood. The opal formed within the cracks of the ironstone boulder, which when split shows a shiny and deep coloured opal faces against the dark brown stone. Australian boulder opal come several opal fields within the wide area of outback Queensland, many have been given a unique name (eg. Yowah, Koroit, Quilpie, Opalton), which then relates to specific set of characteristics observed on the stone, like patterns, let it be a seam, or a networks of opal veins forming a matrix. Host Boulders can vary in size from mm to meters, so an Opal boulder can be a cut of a very large boulder, however what we call Yowah nuts are mini boulders 5mm to 20cm which host an opal and specific to that region. To help with selective viewing, you will find Koroit opals and Yowah Nuts in their own category due to their uniqueness. We also created a region filter to select areas like Yowah, other smaller opal fields may be mentioned in the stone detailed…
- Koroit Opal / Yowah NutKoroit Boulder Opal and Yowah Nuts Koroit Opal is a type of Boulder Opal, named after the area it is mined from, the Koroit opal field, in Paroo Shire in South West Queensland, not far from Yowah which produce a similar Opal. Koroit Opal has a distinctive and unique pattern which is why we have categorised it aside from the other Opal Boulders. This opal is also known for its hardness, diversity and value for money and is in high demand locally and overseas, noticeably in Germany and the USA. Like Boulder Opals, Koroit Opals are characterised by being a natural combination of solid opal and ironstone or in some cases fossilised wood. The opal formed within the cracks of the ironstone boulder, which when split shows a shiny and deep coloured opal faces against the dark brown stone. Yowah nuts are mini boulders of 5mm to 20cm which host an opal. They are specific to the Yowah region, hence the name. Other host boulders from Queensland can vary in size greatly, and even reach meters, meaning that Boulder Opals are generally a cut from the host, making Yowah nuts a rare gemstone for its entirety. Patterns and types can…
- JewelleryAustralian Opal Jewellery Welcome to OpalShop’s jewellery section. As expert retailer of unset Australian Opals, we thought we would also offer you set opals so you can wear them straight away. All our jewellery pieces are made from our solid natural Australian Opals (not doublets with black backing or triplet with glass or quartz capping), so you can rest assured of the rare quality of the opal jewellery you are purchasing. Our Jewellery is made out of all types of Australian Opals, such as the rare Black Opal from Lightning Ridge, the Boulder Opal from Queensland, the amazing matrix like Koroit Opal or the White Opal from Coober Pedy. We have gathered varied pieces and styles, such as an unset boulder gemstone pendant on a leather cord or a formal amazing Gold and White Opals earrings. Price is commensurate to the rarity and beautifulness of the Australian Opal it is made of, and the value of the material that surrounds it when set ( eg yellow and white gold in grades such as 14ct, 18ct, 9ct, silver …) Use our “refine” and “sorting” options to find your favourite piece. All our jewellery pieces come in a jewellery box and for…
- BooksBooks Our collection of books on Opals and its different Australian regions are items of rare quality. Out of print, these will exhaust and have been purchased a long time ago by Opal Sahop owner who is a collector, now ready to be sold on. Each book contains photographic illustrations. All our books are brand new. The Author, Len Cram, an Opal Cutter, Writer, Photographer and All Rounder, is highly respected in the Opal industry for his achievements, notably a Ph.D. Len Cram ran an opal research laboratory and has cut such a path through the wilderness of amorphous silica science, that scientists from Australia and around the world continue to make contact with him He has unlocked many of the mysteries of the origin of Australian opals and so much so that professors of science have written to him seeking his knowledge on certain aspects of opals. Len is recognised as a world authority on Australian opals. He is a fine cutter and judge of opals, especially the many complex forms of the Queensland Boulder Opal. He has been involved in every aspect of the trade and industry from mining to exporting, but the biggest impression, I feel, is…
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