Australian opal is hydrated silica. Its shifting colours come from light diffracting through regularly arranged microscopic silica spheres. The stone, the surrounding rock and the landscape have different histories: the age of an ancient seabed is not the measured age of an individual opal.
Tosca Mine, also called Tosca’s Hope, is a documented turquoise locality on Ammaroo Station, in the Sandover area of the Barkly Region, Northern Territory. A 1974 exploration report held by the Northern Territory Geological Survey describes turquoise production and the deposit’s claystone layers.
Variscite is a hydrated aluminium phosphate, valued for its green colour and contrasting matrix. The Gascoyne region of Western Australia includes the documented Mount Deverell and Mount Deverell East deposits near Milgun Station.
Rhodonite is a manganese silicate. The Australian Museum distinguishes the massive pink material found around Tamworth from rare transparent red crystals at Broken Hill, both in New South Wales.
Pāua is the Māori name used for New Zealand abalone. Haliotis iris, the blackfoot pāua, is native to New Zealand. It occurs around the country’s coasts, including the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and Chatham Islands; it is not confined to the South Island.
Many Australian desert sands owe their red and orange colours to iron oxide coatings on mineral grains. Sand is a collection of grains, not one gemstone or one mineral. Colour and grain size vary between locations.
Lapis lazuli is a rock made of several minerals, rather than a single mineral. Badakhshan in north-eastern Afghanistan, including the Sar-e-Sang district, is a historic source. It is one of two materials in our collection from outside Australia; the other is New Zealand pāua shell.
Australian opal from Coober Pedy and Mintabie in South Australia and Lightning Ridge in New South Wales; turquoise from the Tosca Mine in the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory; variscite from the Gascoyne region of Western Australia; rhodonite from Broken Hill and Tamworth in New South Wales; and red desert sand from our opal fields at Coober Pedy. Two materials come from outside Australia: pāua shell from New Zealand and lapis lazuli from Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Each has a story page with its sources.
How does the screw-back setting work?
Every stone sits in the same open-faced bezel, held by a backplate and two small screws. Undo the screws and the stone comes out, so one stone can move between a ring and a necklace (the bracelet is coming soon), and any Oli&J stone fits any setting. Desert Sands pieces are the exception: the sand is sealed behind glass on the front and back, with no screws.
Are the settings solid gold?
No. Settings are stainless steel, or stainless steel with a gold or rose-gold PVD finish.
Is the stone in the photo the one I receive?
Yes. Each Atelier stone is one of one: the stone picker shows the exact photographed stone, and once it is sold it is gone.
Is Mintabie opal still mined?
The Mintabie township closed at the end of 2019 and control of the land returned to the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) people. South Australian rules still allow authorised permit holders to mine the field under set conditions. Our Mintabie opal is cut from rough we have held since before the closure.
Who makes Oli&J jewellery?
Oli&J is Olivia and Juan. We cut every stone ourselves and trace each one to the field it came from.
Discover, play, collect
Get to know your next stone.
Explore the origins behind the jewellery, try Gem Trail, and find a piece that feels like yours.
I am very happy with my « collier », price and quality are spot on 🤩. It’s tailor made for my taste. Fast delivery and nice unpacking when you get your jewellery. …
Chantal Saladin
· Google
★★★★★
I met Olivia and Juan during a market last year and instantly loved all the variety of products that were timeless and classy. I finally purchased a Lapis ring and have been wearing it everyday. I love that they are so humble and willing to go above and beyond to what your needs are for the perfect piece. They are easy going and reply fast to any inquiries. I can’t wait to keep an eye out of what they do next and look forward to purchasing more products!
Hiba MAHDI
· Google
★★★★★
I LOVE my sand earrings and they have become a treasured favourite of mine. The quality is amazing as well as the customer service. Shipping was quick and the earrings were safely packaged. Beautiful jewelry from creative and kind people!
Lianna Murdoch
· Google
★★★★★
(Translated from French) A unique and wonderful experience! The piece is just perfect and of remarkable quality ... I'm delighted and happy to have shared this moment of happiness with you... Thank you Olivia and Juan😘🤗
Locathome
· Google
★★★★★
I have an Australian abalone ring from Oli&J and I absolutely love it!!! The ring is just stunning and every detail is perfect. The customer service was also amazing. Juan really helped me find exactly the ring I wanted and made sure it was shipped safely, even though I live in quite a remote area. I’m really happy to own one of their pieces and I would completely recommend them if you’re looking for beautiful, high-quality jewellery.
Maria Kinkina
· Google
★★★★★
My partner and I holidayed and explored Uluru last year. On our last day we found the Oli&J range in a gorgeous store and loved the red desert sand pieces. Needless to say we both bought a black necklace and bracelet each!!! What a perfect was to finish a perfect holiday and have a piece that will always remind us of where we have been, thank you xx
Sam Radford
· Google
★★★★★
Wonderful and unique jewellery. None of their works look the same. Juan and Olivia are easy and very helpful.
supachai S
· Google
★★★★★
Saw them on the xmas market in Geneva about 5 years ago (was working there myself) and they gave me a card for the ring i saw. 5 years later I orderd it, and the help i got was still the same as on the market. great people !!
This stone's photo is still being shot — check back soon.
Product details
Selected rough gemstone, ethically sourced
Not collected from any Aboriginal indigenous sacred sites.
Its deep red comes from a microscopically thin coating of iron oxide on every grain — iron released as the desert’s minerals weather, then oxidised over an immense span of time in one of the harshest, driest environments on Earth.
Hand cut and polished by Juan, then assembled and finished by Olivia — every piece made by us
This is the exact stone shown. Once you choose it, it's set aside for you and not offered to anyone else
Please allow up to 5 days for assembly before your piece ships
Included: description card about the meaning of the stone, warranty & care instructions, gift packaging
Accidental damage in wear — knocks, drops, scratches or water — is not covered by the warranty. Your statutory rights are not affected
Colour and pattern are natural and one of a kind — they may look slightly different on your screen than in person.
Adjustable ring band
Delicate zircon meticulously set on the elegant sphere of the ring
Plating made over surgical Stainless Steel 316
Delicate zircon meticulously set on the elegant sphere of the bracelet
55mm diameter (2.2 inches)
Plating made over surgical Stainless Steel 316
No-clasp adjustable chain: slip it over your head and adjust the length with a small metal bead, from 16" (40.6cm) up to 24" (60.9cm)
Tosca Turquoise
Gascoyne Variscite
Stewart Island Paua
Desert Sands
Badakhshan Lapis Lazuli
