Australia’s enchanting and captivating national gemstone, opal, is undergoing a generational shift in perception.
What was once dismissed as a tourist curiosity is now embraced by leading designers worldwide. Recognition of Australian opal far outweighs any campaign run by an individual company.
The appetite is there, and the opportunity for Australian jewellers is immense. The real question is whether we are prepared to meet it.
Global distribution of the television program Opal Hunters, the rise of YouTube channels, including my own, and the continued use of Australian opal by elite jewellery brands year after year have repositioned the gemstone in the luxury conversation. This is not nostalgia, and it is not novelty. It is a sustained demand from sophisticated markets.
International designers understand something that Australians have often overlooked. Opal offers differentiation in a sea of standardised colour.
While sapphires, aquamarines, and emeralds are traded within relatively predictable colour parameters, opal resists uniformity. No two gemstones are alike. That individuality is not a flaw; it is its greatest commercial strength.
Historically, opal has been considered difficult to sell in retail environments. It requires explanation, confidence, and knowledge. For many retailers, consistent education has simply not been available; however, that is changing.
The development and increasing global acceptance of a recognised opal classification framework has laid the foundation for clarity and confidence in the trade.
From this work has emerged the Gemmological Association of Australia Opal Course, and soon the CIBJO Opal Guide, launching in September. These are not minor milestones, they represent the formal recognition of opal within international gemmological standards.
For retailers, this means additional tools. The benefits of language and structure are immense. Importantly, it means the ability to sell opal with authority rather than hesitation. This generational shift is more than a framework; it’s a matter of values.
Younger consumers are driven by authenticity and personalisation. They are wary of mass production and performative branding. They want objects with story, provenance and individuality.
What could be more personal than an opal that will never be repeated again in nature? Each gemstone carries its geological history, its own play of colour and personality.
Opal encourages conversation, and it draws people in. It creates emotional connection and rewards curiosity.
Several years ago, British Vogue named Lightning Ridge black opal the most ethical and sustainable gemstone. It is mined by individuals, often family operations, using small-scale methods. The supply chain is short, and the stories are real. In many cases, origin can be stated with certainty without the need for a laboratory certificate.
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digital manipulation and complex global supply chains, opal stands apart as something elemental and grounded. It cannot be engineered into uniformity, and it resists standardisation.
Consumers today are drawn to what might be called the ‘hyper niche’. They want to belong to communities built around genuine knowledge and shared fascination. Opal offers exactly that. It creates collectors, not just customers.
Anyone can signal ‘luxury’ and ‘status’ through a logo. Consumers can see through it. Not everyone has the confidence to choose a one-of-a-kind opal.
Within these opportunities lies a responsibility. If Australian retailers do not actively engage with opal’s resurgence, we risk watching international markets capitalise on our own national gemstone while we hesitate on the sidelines.
This is where industry representation becomes critical. The Australian Opal Association, alongside organisations such as the Lightning Ridge Miners Association, advocates for the long-term health of the trade. Ours is a small industry, fragmented by geography and traditionally individualistic in culture. That independence has shaped our character; however, it has also limited our collective influence.
Securing a seat at the table in discussions with the government on trade is not easy for an industry of our size.
Yet these decisions directly affect miners, wholesalers, manufacturers and retailers. Recent developments in global trade have placed Australian gemstones firmly within international negotiations. If we are not organised and visible, we will not be heard.
The opal business often flies under the radar; however, its influence extends far beyond what is captured on paper. It supports regional communities, and it underpins export income. It contributes to Australia’s reputation for unique resources.
Encouragingly, just as consumer perception of opal is evolving, so too is industry leadership. A new generation of miners, suppliers, and retailers is stepping into representative roles. The diversity visible within the broader community is increasingly reflected in our associations.
Collaboration is replacing isolation; however, representation requires support. As we navigate a shifting geopolitical, economic, and social landscape, opal offers retailers a rare commercial advantage.
It allows you to step away from commoditised products and return to what jewellery is meant to be: an expression of emotion, individuality, and human connection.
Australia’s gemstones, opal, sapphire and pearl, are currently in the international spotlight. Opal, in particular, is experiencing renewed global attention. This moment will not last forever.
If we want Australian opal to remain not just admired, but understood, protected and properly represented, the industry must stand behind the organisations doing that work.
Support is not abstract. It means membership, engagement, and participation in advocacy when trade, tariffs and policy decisions are being made.
Opal is having its moment. The opportunity is real, and so is the demand and global attention. Now the question is whether we, as an industry, will rise to meet it together.
Name: Ruth Benjamin-Thomas
Business: Australian Opal Association & Black Opal Direct
Position: President & Managing Director
Location: Queensland, Australia
Years in the industry: 25
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