Australian Opal jewelry

Australian Opal jewelry

Boulder, crystal, and black opal jewellery — every stone Australian-mined, every piece set by hand on the Central Coast.

Handmade Australian opal rings and pendants, set in 999 fine silver and solid gold. Twenty-one rings, seven pendants and a pair of earrings, each one made by hand by Natalia in her Central Coast studio around a solid Australian-mined opal. Because every stone is different, every piece here is one of a kind.

These are solid opals — cut from a single piece of opal, never doublets or triplets glued in layers. That matters for durability and for value: a solid opal can be worn normally and does not delaminate if it meets water.

Boulder, crystal or black opal?

Type What it looks like Where it forms
Boulder opal Bright colour on a dark ironstone backing; often irregular, organic shapes Queensland — cut with the host ironstone still attached
Crystal opal Translucent, light passes through it; colour appears to float Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge
Black opal Darkest body tone and the brightest play of colour; the rarest Lightning Ridge, New South Wales

Most pieces here are boulder opal set in fine silver, with a smaller number in 9ct and 18ct gold. Prices run from around $280 to $2,800 depending on the stone.

Read the complete guide to Australian opals, or browse the wider opals, sapphires and gemstones collection. See also gold rings with gemstones and all handmade rings.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between boulder, crystal and black opal?

Boulder opal forms in ironstone and is cut with the host rock attached, giving deep colour on a dark backing. Crystal opal is translucent and lets light pass through it. Black opal, from Lightning Ridge, has the darkest body tone and the brightest play of colour, and is the rarest and most valuable of the three.

Are these solid opals or doublets?

Solid opals only. A doublet or triplet is a thin slice of opal glued to a backing, and sometimes capped with quartz; they are cheaper but can delaminate if they get wet. Every opal in this collection is cut from a single solid piece, so it can be worn normally.

Is an opal ring durable enough to wear every day?

Solid Australian opal sits around 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale — softer than diamond or sapphire, but perfectly wearable if you do not knock it against hard surfaces. Take it off for manual work, gardening and the gym. A protective bezel setting outlasts a claw setting on a ring worn daily.

How should I care for opal jewellery?

Do not soak it, and do not store it somewhere very dry for long periods. A wipe with a soft damp cloth is enough. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners. Because these are solid opals rather than doublets, incidental contact with water is not a problem.

Where does the opal come from?

All the opal in this collection is Australian-mined — chiefly Queensland boulder opal, with some Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge material. The jewellery is handmade in Australia on the New South Wales Central Coast.

Is every piece one of a kind?

Yes. Each opal is a different shape, size and colour, and the setting is built by hand around the individual stone, so no two pieces in this collection are the same. When one sells it is gone.