What is the opal season in Australia?
Yep! And it usually lasts about three months. Given the location of Australia, opal mining season is March 1 through the end of June. Opal mining season in Australia is three months long because the time frame correlates with the season.
Can you find opal in Western Australia?
Very little precious opal is known to be found in Western Australia. The only known source is ‘Williams Opal Mine’ near Coolgardie.
Where are the best opals found in Australia?
Australia’s Opal fields lie in the three states of Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia, along the site of the ancient ‘Great Inland Sea’, or ‘Great Artesian Basin’. White, or ‘Milky’ opal, is found in South Australia, Black opal is found in Lightning Ridge, NSW, and Boulder opal is found in Queensland.
Is opal cheaper in Australia?
Why? The reason is because this bustling city is the world’s leading opal market, with prices per karat of opal about 30% to 40% less than in Australia, 50% less than in the United States. Some superstitious people think that opals are unlucky–unless they’re your birthstone (October) or are given to you as a gift.
What is opal worth?
Once categorized, opals are sold in price per carat, or weight. Because there are so many opal fields in Australia, there really is no singular form of opal. This means that opal costs can vary from about $10 per carat to approximately $6,000 per carat.
Where can I find opals in Australia?
The best chance is to head for one of the many opal fields where opal has been found. There are many of these and almost all are very accessible. Andamooka, Coober Pedy, White Cliffs, Lightning Ridge and Yowah all have sealed roads leading to them and good camping facilities and so are easily accessible.
What rock is opal found in?
Opal is found as two types: volcanic opal which infills vesicles and cracks in igneous rocks, and the more familiar sedimentary or sandstone type which is found in Australia’s main fields. Most deposits in other countries are volcanic opal, much of which is prone to crazing.
Are opals precious stones?
There may be more semiprecious gems such as opal, but that doesn’t mean they are any less lovely, expensive, or rare than precious stones. Opals are an excellent example of this concept. So, while opals are sometimes classified as precious, they are definitely mostly considered semiprecious gemstones.
Who is Fremantle Opals?
Established in 1985, Fremantle Opals is a family owned and operated business specialising in hand-crafted opal jewellery and fine unset opals, sourced directly from the mines. Our store is home to an exclusive range of designs, settings and stones, including a selection of rare black opals.
What is Australia’s national gemstone?
Known as Australia’s national gemstone and the birthstone of October, every opal is both iconic and unique; no two stones are alike. Opals are as diverse as the people who wear them. For the perfect gift or a lasting souvenir from down under, choose a one-of-a-kind piece from Fremantle Opals.
What is an opal gemstone?
Few gemstones can compete with the beauty of a quality opal.Known as Australia’s national gemstone and the birthstone of October, every opal is both iconic and unique; no two stones are alike. Opals are as diverse as the people who wear them.