Anticipation is building for the Australian Opal Exhibition which will soon celebrate 20 years of successful trade with a two-day show in Queensland.
The fair is scheduled for 2-3 August in Southport, bringing the country’s leading opal miners and wholesalers together with retailers.
Australian Opal Exhibition president Janice Evert said the success of the past year’s event led to organisers pursuing a new venue for 2023.
“The Australian Opal Exhibition is building on its very successful 2022 exhibition. It was the first one since the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, and the buzz was palpable,” she told Jeweller.
“The Australian opal industry loves to get together and it was very exciting to see old friends and colleagues. There were also quite a few new buyers present who were warmly welcomed into the opal family.”
» Add ‘2023 Australian Opal Exhibition’ to calendar
She added: “We hope to see everyone again at our new venue to celebrate 20 years”.
Australia is responsible for approximately 95 per cent of the world’s supply of gemstone quality opals used in fine jewellery.
The majority of Australia’s opals are found in NSW, Queensland and South Australia and come in a variety of types, including white, crystal and boulder. Black opals, the rarest, were reportedly particularly popular with buyers at Jewellery and Gem World in Singapore in September.
This year’s trade show will be hosted at the events space at Southport Sharks. For further information head to the Australian Opal Exhibition website.
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Boulder Opal – Madsen Opals |
Boulder Opal – Opalface |
Light Opal – Opals Australia |
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Opal Jewellery – Opal Corp |
Collectors Pieces – Opals Australia |
Black Opal – Opal Corp |
More reading
Singapore’s jewellery experiment produces pleasing results
The Gem Quarter: The distinctively elegant gemstones of Australia
Dealing with the intricacies of opal dealing
Unusual Opals Part III: Ethiopian Opal
Unusual Opals Part II: Boulder & Matrix Opal
Unusual Opal Part I: Fire opal
