Australian Opal Awards 2025

The countdown is on with only six weeks to go before entries close for the prestigious opal jewellery and carving competition, the Australian Opal Awards.

Entries close Friday 5 July 2024.

There are four jewellery design sections, two carving sections and one jewellery hand sketch section. Entrants also have the opportunity to win the People’s Choice award and an opal carver with potential will win a free carving workshop. Jewellers who are unable to mail their manufactured piece have the opportunity to enter the digital section.

The Open Prestige Jewellery category is open to all shapes of Australian opal including cabochon cut, freeform and undulating opal and is heavily supported by the Australian opal industry with over AUD$15,000 for first prize. Every other category will feature freeform or undulating Australian opal.

The entry form and details of the competition are on the website www.australianopalawards.com and further information can be sought by emailing iojdaa@bigpond.com.

Selected entries will be on display during the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival – 24-27 July 2024. Winners will be announced during the gala dinner to be held in Lightning Ridge on Friday 26 July 2024. Tickets for the gala dinner will be available in the very near future.

The 2024 Australian Opal Awards are sponsored by: –

• Opals by Emmanuel Christianos Pty Ltd
• True Blue Opals Pty Ltd
• Cody Opals Australia Pty Ltd
• Iris Opals Pty Ltd
• Down to Earth Opals Pty Ltd
• Austgems Pty Ltd
• Black Opal Direct Pty Ltd
• Absolute Opals & Gems Pty Ltd
• Lahoud Opals Pty Ltd
• Australian Opal Association
• Walgett Shire Council
• Lightning Ridge District Bowling Club
• Lightning Ridge Miners’ Association Ltd

AUSTRALIAN OPAL AWARD CATEGORIES

• Open Prestige Jewellery – featuring any shaped Australian opal including cabochon
• Freeform Prestige Jewellery – featuring freeform/undulating Australian opal
• Masterpiece Australian opal carving
• Freestyle Australian opal carving
• Designer Wear for Men – featuring freeform/undulating Australian opal
• Digital Jewellery Entry – featuring freeform/undulating Australian opal
• Jewellery Hand Sketches
• People’s Choice

The Australian Opal Awards is the award section of the International Opal Jewellery Design Awards Association (IOJDAA). The Association is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2000 to promote freeform or undulating Australian opal.