As light passes through a precious opal, it bends and scatters into iridescent rainbows known as play-of-colour, making it one of the most visually striking gemstones. Unlike other coloured stones that emit fire and sparkle, opals come alive with a luminous, ethereal glow, revealing a kaleidoscope of patterns that morph with every change of perspective.
“Opals are like fragments from another world—they have this incredible depth and energy that you just don't see in any other type of stone,” says Sarah Munro, co-founder and creative director of SARAH & SEBASTIAN. “I’m fascinated by their interplay of colour and light. Their blue hues remind me of the ocean, their patterns of celestial constellations.”
“Opals are like fragments from another world—they have this incredible depth and energy that you just don't see in any other type of stone.”
Aurelia Earrings
Sunflash Ring
Swirling oceans, neon bursts, mosaic patchworks and cosmic galaxies—every opal holds a miniature world within, frozen in time. “The Harlequin opal is one of my favourites,” Sarah adds. “They are extremely rare and have this painterly, expressive quality, with flashes of red, blue, yellow and green that look like brushstrokes. I remember holding one up to the light for the first time and it transformed in my hand… the colours shifting between fire and ice.” 
AUSTRALIA: THE HEART OF THE OPAL
While opals can be found across the globe, Australia is home to 95% of the world’s reserves and produces some of the most extraordinary varieties. Thanks to their uniqueness, many Australian opals have been given nicknames: Painted Lady Opals are linked to Andamook in the South, exhibiting a dynamic play-of-colour and linear or swirling patterns resembling brushstrokes on a canvas. Pineapple Opals are unique to White Cliffs in New South Wales, featuring a sculptural, crystalline silhouette akin to the spiked head of a pineapple.
Petrified Wood Opals can be found in Queensland, a fascinating occurrence where organic material like roots and branches are replaced by opal silica over millions of years, creating a fusion of the original wood grain and the iridescent characteristics of opal stones. In Coober Pedy, South Australia, Light Crystal Opals are renowned for their creamy body colour and spectral translucency.
"Swirling oceans, neon bursts, mosaic patchworks and cosmic galaxies—every opal holds a miniature world within, frozen in time."
THE LEGEND OF LIGHTNING RIDGE
On the edge of New South Wales near Queensland’s border, lies the remote outback town of Lightning Ridge, famed for being the birthplace of prized Australian Black Opals—one of the rarest and most sought-after specimens. Revered for their intense colour and vibrancy, these opals are only extracted through sustainable, small-scale mining practices, ensuring minimal environmental impact and the preservation of surrounding ecosystems.
This is where Sarah sourced opals for six one-of-a-kind pieces in SARAH & SEBASTIAN’s latest collection, AURELIA. Hand-selecting them for their unique colour arrangements—pinfire constellations, ribboned waves, and translucent glimmers—each piece in this limited offering is a tribute to the rarity of these stones. A celebration of the unrepeatable, solid gold is crafted into monumental shapes, including voluminous signet rings and bold necklace pendants.
