Australia Domestic shipping
We offer FREE, complimentary postage for our customers on any orders worldwide!
International shipping & Taxes
We offer FREE, complimentary postage for our customers on any orders worldwide!
Regarding Australian taxes, we Opal Earth do not apply additional charges to our customer. The product prices are 100% inclusive of GST. Whilst we make every effort to assist our customers, Opal Earth is not liable for foreign import/tax duties which may be imposed by customs in other countries. All costs for export charges over $500 AUD are paid for by Opal Earth. Postage costs apply for orders under $700 AUD.
Returns & Exchanges
We aim to look after our customers with the best possible care and are confident in the products and services we provide. Please insure you choose the Jewels you assuredly love. We can offer you an exchange or full credit on another item of your choice minus postage costs if applicable, if the product is faulty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of Opal Earth’s Opals Australian?
Roughly 95% of our vast collection features rare & highly sort after Australian Opals. As lovers of all things Opal - we now also feature an international collection of Opals including Mexican fire opal, South-Sea Opal & Ethiopian Opal.
What are the different kinds of Opal?
Boulder Opal
The explanation of Boulder Opal is found within the name. Mined from Queensland, Opal forms in seams of large boulders. Boulder opals are usually mined from large ironstone boulders under the ground. Thin veins of colourful opal forms in cracks and fissures in these boulders. Because these veins of colour are so thin, opal cutters need to leave the ironstone on the back of the opal to form a full sized stone.
Black Opal
Black opal is characterised by a dark body tone which can range from dark grey to jet black. ... Often a black opal will have a natural layer of potch (colourless opal) left on the back of the stone, which can give the stone an extra darkness and vibrancy of colour. Commonly found in NSW. Black Opal was known to be the rarest Opal, until the Yowah & Koroit Opal because more well-known.
White Opal
Also known as 'milky opal', white opal features light white body tones, and is mined in South Australia. White opal is more common and because of its body tone, generally does not show the colour as well as black opal.
Coober Pedy (South Australia ) is the main source of White Opal. This tone of Opal is also found in various mines throughout Australia including Mintabie & Andamooka.
Yowah & Koroit Opal
Yowah Opal nuts are precious opal found in siliceous ironstone nodules. The most unique of all Opals in Opal Earth’s grand collection; each one is distinctively different and holds its own unique character value.
Brilliant patterns are commonly found within the “skin layers”. In rare occurrences, the Opal silica has pooled in the centre of the nut, creating a rare “Eye Kernal”.
These nuts range from about 5mm to 200mm across, have a spherical or ellipsoidal shape, and show alternate concentric rings or bands of light- and dark-brown siliceous ironstone. There is sometimes a kernel of precious opal, which is the main source of the gem.
The nuts are found in layers (150–600mm in thickness) at depths up to 20m in a ferruginous sandstone, and are commonly associated with mudstone fragments or clay pellets.
Similar yet unique in its own way is the Koroit Opal. Often featuring rich black ironstone and displaying distinctive, individual patterns & colourations.
Do we have a black opal? Why is it so expensive?
Yes, of course. We have a number of Black Opals from Lightning Ridge. We are finding however, that once the customer sees all varieties of Opals, most are choosing Queensland Opals for their vibrancy of colouration, their natural ironstone backings (making them less fragile) and their affordability compared to the blacks.
Black Opals have become quite valuable mostly due to marketing vs rarity. For this reason, we intend to convert most of our collection to Queensland Opals in the future years to come.
How do you find Opal?
Our Opal operations involve large excavators, mostly open-cut mining, and a lot of man-power! As part of our core-philosophy and our commitment to sustainability, ethical mining & land re-generation projects, we no longer mine with explosives. This is not only damaging to the Earth, though also creates trauma to gem-quality crystal Opal. This can incur cracking & damage over time.
Can I get a ring resized if it doesn’t fit?
While this mostly depends on the kind of ring you are purchasing, yes. In almost all cases any competent jeweller can resize our rings worldwide. If you are local we have a jeweller that can resize in about 1-2 week turnaround.
What grade of Silver do we use?
We use 925 Sterling silver.
Are the chains we use solid gold and silver?
The chains we use are display chains, they are a gift from us. They are gifted at no extra charge so that the items can be worn straight away. We recommend the separate purchase of a secure, solid gold/silver chain- and do not recommend the prolonged wear of the gift display chain.
What would I do with the loose stones?
The loose stones make the perfect gift, so that you may gift your love oe with the choice also of their ultimate design. They are also perfect as investment items, as Opal continues to rise in value each year as they are a highly limited resource.
Does Opal Earth only sell Opal?
Heavens no. We truly have it all. Our collection features a number of gemstones in our International gem collection including: Emeralds, fine Rubies, Diamonds, Tourmaline, Tahitian, Australian & south-sea Pearls, every kind of Sapphire, Zircons, Aquamarine, Topaz, Amethyst, Citrine, Peridots, Garnets and much, much more.