Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - buying opals and/or pearls in Australia

My wife wants to buy opals and/or pearls when we visit Australia (SYD and CNS) in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations where to shop; how to get good price; whether will save over buying in the States; etc.?

(BTW, how much are we talking for nice opals and pearls? Yes, I know price will vary considerably depending on various factors, but can we ballpark it, especially for opals? Saw recently in WSJ that the price of pearls has come down considerably in past few years, maybe 40% less than before.)

Any opal or pearl that you are likely to be able to buy is not investment grade, so buy it for the beauty and not as an investment. In terms of value you are more likely to do better buying it in LA or NY than anywhere in Australia. So view it more as a memento and you'll be fine.

Any opal or pearl that you are likely to be able to buy is not investment grade, so buy it for the beauty and not as an investment. In terms of value you are more likely to do better buying it in LA or NY than anywhere in Australia. So view it more as a memento and you'll be fine.
Wasn't thinking "investment," was thinking "beauty," since it is about my wife's satisfaction, not financial gain, which is so unlikely for amateurs in these sorts of things. (I saw that 3 years back you advised another FTer who wanted to buy opals in Melbourne that she probably could do as well or better back in California, and it seems that is still your advice, which I expect is correct.) Hard to shake the notion that one will do better buying at or near the "source" than back home, but "gems" will go where they will find the best price, won't they.

Anything else to purchase in AU or NZ, e.g., aboriginal art?

[QUOTE=itsme]My wife wants to buy opals and/or pearls when we visit Australia (SYD and CNS) in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations where to shop; how to get good price; whether will save over buying in the States; etc.?

My wife and I traveled to SYD not long ago - we found great shops in the Sydney area called The Rocks. Touristy, yes, but we found quality stuff and the shopkeepers are willing to bargain - especially since there are a lot of shops in the area. @:-) @:-) If you're wife can wait, when you go shopping, bring your passport and have the shopkeeper place your ring inside a sealed bag - and keep it sealed until you leave Australia - this way you don't pay GST. (but you can always apply for a refund of GST when you depart Oz at the airport)

...Anything else to purchase in AU or NZ, e.g., aboriginal art?NZ has some of the most beautiful wood in the world (Kauri, including petrified kauri that is thousands of years old). You can get gorgeous woodwork products (trays, plates, pipes, etc.). There is a place in Melbourne that does the same with red gum trees which were girdled by the original settlers but left in place (so the tree died but was left standing). This wood is very hard (requires diamond blades, which is why the pioneers left it standing) and makes beautiful furniture (but that is a bit heavy to ship home). Aboriginal art is a great investment and is quite beautiful, but prices are up by an order of magnitude or more in the past decade. Still worth getting, though. As for opals in Australia, my own opinion is that pricing within Australia is very ragged (so you find the same thing for 3x the price, of course identifying that it is the same thing is also tough with opal). I've looked at a dozen stores in SYD and MEL and cannot recommend any of them in good conscience. They are all over the place, so easy to find, just don't expect a bargain or even good value.

I bought a large opal ring in Melbourne in '02 --- and a beautiful inlaid ring in Cairns in '04. Both are set in 18K gold ~

The large opal is just beautiful in its' simplicity ~ it is about 1" long and 1/2" wide oval set in a simple claw setting. I wear it when I want drama! I paid $1100 AUS and got the GST refunded in Brisbane on my way home ~ final cost: approx $800 CDN

The second ring is slivers of black opal (I am sure I couldn't afford much else than 'slivers' ~ lol ) inlaid into a simple gold band. I bought it for $350 AUS, at a 60% clearance price. I love it and wear it on my right pinky finger.

Educate yourself on opals ~ there are many kinds and artisans do beautiful work with them. Most shops will do sizing immediately and on premises.

If you have time, when in Australia head over to Coober Pedy and deal direct with the mining companies. Coober Pedy Opals (http://www.cooberpedyopal.com/) for example have some great stuff, but the town itself (http://www.cooberpedy.sa.gov.au) is full of opal mines and history, plus jewellers who specialise in the local merchandise.

Hottest place on earth, some would say, but worth the trip.