Ocean Whispers boulder opal pendant in 999 fine silver, handmade by NJewellery

Boulder Opal Jewellery

Solid Queensland boulder opal rings, pendants and earrings, handmade in fine silver and gold on the NSW Central Coast. Each piece one of a kind.

Where to buy genuine Queensland boulder opal jewellery in Australia: NJewellery makes boulder opal rings, pendants and earrings by hand on the NSW Central Coast, set in 999 fine silver and solid gold. Every stone here is a solid Australian boulder opal — never a doublet or triplet — and every setting is built by hand around that one stone, so each piece is one of a kind. Eleven rings, six pendants and a pair of earrings, from around $280 to $2,800.

Boulder opal is the opal that forms in Queensland ironstone. It is cut with a sliver of the host rock left on the back, which gives it a dark, natural backing and the deep, saturated colour that crystal opal on its own does not have. Shapes are irregular because the opal follows the seam in the rock; that is the look. Many of the stones in this collection are cut in-house, so the shape of the stone and the design of the setting are decided together.

How to choose a boulder opal piece

Look for Why it matters
Solid opal, not a doublet A solid boulder opal is one natural piece; doublets and triplets are thin slices glued to a backing and can delaminate if they get wet.
Play of colour from more than one angle Good boulder opal flashes as it moves. A stone that only shows colour head-on will look dull on the hand.
Bezel setting on rings Opal is 5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale. A bezel protects the edge far better than claws on a ring worn daily.
Photographs of the actual stone No two boulder opals are alike, so a stock image tells you nothing. Every listing here shows the piece you receive.

Read the complete guide to Australian opals and an introduction to Australian opal, or browse the wider Australian opal collection (crystal and Coober Pedy opal too), all handmade rings and pendants.

Frequently asked questions

What is boulder opal?

Boulder opal is precious opal that formed in cracks and cavities of ironstone boulders in western Queensland. It is cut with part of the ironstone left attached as a natural backing, which is why it is dark-bodied, durable and usually an organic, irregular shape.

Where can I buy boulder opal jewellery in Australia?

From specialist Australian opal jewellers and makers who work with solid Queensland boulder opal. NJewellery is one: Natalia makes every boulder opal ring, pendant and earring by hand in her Central Coast studio, ships Australia-wide and internationally, and photographs the actual stone in every listing.

Are these solid boulder opals or doublets?

Solid only. Boulder opal is naturally backed by its own ironstone, so it never needs an artificial backing. Nothing in this collection is a doublet or triplet.

Is boulder opal good for everyday rings?

Yes, with care. The ironstone backing makes boulder opal the toughest of the Australian opals, and all our opal rings use a protective bezel setting. Take it off for the gym, gardening and manual work, and keep it away from ultrasonic cleaners.

Can a boulder opal ring be resized?

Usually, within a size or two, because the opal sits in a bezel and the band is adjusted away from the stone. Contact us with your size before ordering and Natalia will confirm for that piece.

Is every piece one of a kind?

Yes. Each boulder opal is a different shape and colour, and the setting is made by hand around it. When a piece sells it is gone; similar stones can be set to commission.