On the edge of New South Wales, beneath the sun-scorched earth of Australia’s outback, lie some of the world’s rarest and most coveted gemstones—Australian Black Opals. Hidden within the rugged terrain of Lightning Ridge, this prized treasure is celebrated for its unrivalled vibrancy and intense play of colour.

For SARAH & SEBASTIAN’s latest collection, AURELIA, co-founder and creative director Sarah Munro journeyed here to source six one-of-a-kind Black Opals to create a series of extraordinary pieces for the collection. 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. 

“The opals I chose for some unique pieces in AURELIA seem to carry an otherworldly essence,” Sarah shares. “I was obsessed with the different patterns, each one inviting you to assign your own personal stories and meanings to them.”

“I was obsessed with the different patterns, each one inviting you to assign your own personal stories and meanings.”

An ode to the unrepeatable, solid 18 karat gold is crafted into monumental shapes; voluminous signet rings glow with sunset pinks shifting into milky blues. Bold bezel-set pendant necklaces highlight the opal’s natural play of colour; the Lightning Ridge Opal Necklace I features deep ocean blues and geometric flecks of aqua, while the Lightning Ridge Opal Necklace II is speckled with a painterly kaleidoscope of hues. Designed to elevate statement chains like our ever-popular Bar Chain, the Lightning Ridge Opal Carabiner pieces showcase mesmerising midnight-blue opals, evoking the depth and brilliance of a starlit sky.

While the allure of Lightning Ridge opals initially drew Sarah to this quiet town, another discovery deepened her fascination. Hidden beneath its soil are remnants of a prehistoric ocean: “During a recent trip to Lightning Ridge, I had the opportunity to see some stunning opalised fossil shells,” she recalls. “These incredibly rare opals, shaped like shells, were formed through a unique geological process over millions of years—I love that they are connected to our ancient oceans."

“These incredibly rare opals, shaped like shells, were formed through a unique geological process over millions of years—I love that they are connected to our ancient oceans."

Before much of Australia became the unforgiving desert we know today, it was submerged beneath a shallow sea, where marine life like mussels, sea snails, and now-extinct plesiosaurs thrived. When these animals died, their shells and bones became buried in the seabed, eventually dissolving as sand turned to clay. Over time, their skeletal voids filled with silica-rich minerals, creating stunning opalised fossils that preserved the intricate imprints of these ancient creatures.

AURELIA is more than a celebration of opals—it’s a tribute to each stone's rarity and rich history. The one-of-a-kind Lightning Ridge pieces embody the extraordinary, turning ancient treasures into modern icons. Shaped over millions of years, these opals carry a story of nature's artistry and transformation, from deep in the earth to luminous gemstones encased in gold—each one distinct and impossible to replicate.

Shop the limited edition Lightning Ridge pieces

Explore the AURELIA collection.

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Lightning Ridge Opal Necklace II

Lightning Ridge Opal Signet Ring II

Lightning Ridge Opal Carabiner I