Natural
Opal

No other gemstone does what opal does. Its play of color — the shifting, dancing flashes of spectral light within the stone — is caused by the diffraction of light through microscopic spheres of silica arranged in a three-dimensional grid. The effect is unique in the gem world: every angle reveals a different burst of red, blue, green, or violet. No two natural opals are alike, and no synthetic has ever truly captured the depth and surprise of the real thing.

Australia produces over 90% of the world's gem-quality opal. The legendary Lightning Ridge fields of New South Wales yield the most prized variety — black opal — whose dark body tone makes its play of color appear almost impossibly vivid. The white and crystal opals of Coober Pedy in South Australia and the boulder opals of Queensland are equally celebrated. Fine opal also comes from Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil, each with its own distinct character.

At Hemmingmoore's, every opal we offer is natural and solid — no doublets, no triplets, no synthetics, no lab-created imitations. We carry loose natural opals — from subtle white specimens to fiery black opals — plus select original opal jewelry. If the play of color has ever stopped you in your tracks, come see what we have.