Australian opals, the country’s national gemstone, are celebrated worldwide for their vivid play-of-colour created by unique arrangements of microscopic silica spheres.

Australia produces around 95% of the world’s opal, sourced mainly from fields in South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Notable varieties include Black Opal from Lightning Ridge, White Opal from Coober Pedy, and Boulder Opal from Queensland.

Formed from silica-rich solutions in ancient inland seas, Australian opals are prized for their beauty and relative stability, though they should be handled with the same care as glass.