At the CIBJO Congress held from 2-4 November 2024 in Shanghai, China, a delegation of Australian gemstone, mining, and jewellery representatives called for international collaboration on a new Opal Guide. Meeting with the Coloured Gemstone Commission, the Australian delegates outlined their efforts to create a standardised system for classifying and describing opals worldwide. They urged traders in major opal-producing regions around the globe to contribute to the development of this document, which aims to establish a unified reference for opal categorisation.
Invitation for Submissions from Global Traders
Ruth Benjamin-Thomas, President of the Australian Opal Association, addressed the Congress, stating the need for international contributions. She highlighted that most input so far had come from Australia, with initial drafts produced in collaboration with the Jewellers Association of Australia, the Gemmological Association of Australia, and local mining groups.
Benjamin-Thomas invited traders from opal-producing countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Brazil to contribute, saying, “I would like to invite people in opal centres such as Mexico, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Brazil, to contribute to this important work.” She explained that the Opal Guide aims to establish a clear and standardised system for opal classification across regions.
Progress and Future Development of the Guide
The foundation of the Opal Guide, including a classification system and glossary, was first presented at the 2023 CIBJO Congress in Jaipur, where it received approval from the Coloured Gemstone Commission. A dedicated working group was then formed to continue this work, and the guide is expected to be a document that can be updated to reflect industry changes.
“We don’t currently have a way of classifying and describing opal clearly, within the worldwide community, and so this Opal Guide is really going to be the start of that process,” Benjamin-Thomas said. She noted her intention to present further updates at the 2025 CIBJO Congress and invited interested contributors to reach out to her via LinkedIn.
Broader Community Involvement and Industry Impact
In a related appeal, Damien Cody, President of the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA), encouraged CIBJO members to support the “Gems Keep Giving” charity initiative, which supports resource projects in mining communities. Recent projects have included providing clean water to a tsavorite mining community in Kamtonga, Kenya. Cody noted, “We want members to tell us about projects that are needed, and we require donations.”
Implications for the Jewellery Industry
The development of the Opal Guide represents an important initiative for the opal industry, aiming to bring consistency in classification standards across markets. Jewellers, gemstone traders, and valuers will benefit from a standardised reference that could enhance communication across the supply chain and support consistent pricing of opals.
