Coober Pedy Opal: Australia’s Underground Opal Capital
A jeweler’s guide to Coober Pedy opal: the underground South Australian town that mines the world’s white opal, and how it differs from Andamooka.
Australian opal
Australian opal: opal from fields such as Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy and Andamooka.
Mining for Opals: Inside the Australian Opal Fields
Opal mining explained: underground shafts, noodling, and the miners I buy rough from directly, from a working goldsmith.
Lightning Ridge: Australia’s Black Opal Country
A jeweler’s guide to Lightning Ridge opal: where the town is, why its claystone ground makes black opal, and how the mining fields work.
Australian Opal: The Benchmark of the Opal World
Australian opal, the benchmark of the opal world: the great fields (Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy, Queensland), why it is so prized, and how it compares to Ethiopian.
Black Opal: Why Lightning Ridge’s Finest Is the Most Prized
Why black opal is the most prized opal: what ‘black’ really means, where it comes from, and how to judge body tone, brightness, pattern and color.
Ethiopian vs Australian Opal: What’s the Difference?
Ethiopian vs Australian opal explained by a jeweler of 50 years: origin, fire, hardness, water sensitivity, price, and which one is right for you.