HOPKINS OPAL | Contact | About Us

GENERAL INQUIRIES

MAIL TO

HOPKINS

PO BOX 2513

WESTERLY, RI 02891

ASKED QUESTIONS

CONTACT

SAM

HOPKINS

OUR STORY

OPAL IS OUR FAMILY BUSINESS

Samuel Hopkins moved from the U.S. to Melbourne, Australia in the 60's as an economics and business teacher. His interest in opals began when he visited Coober Pedy in the deserts of South Australia. In the following years, he became a hobbyist opal cutter and distributor. In the late 70's sam sold his house for a payment of half cash and half opal and moved back to the United States. He had various business ventures in the U.S., even including work as an opal importer. Realizing his passion for opal was so great, he returned to Australia permanently in the 90's to mine.

His sons, Matthew and Daniel Hopkins first learned opal lapidary at the ages of twelve and ten. Matthew went to school to work in product design. Following a career in commercial jewelry design, Matt paired up with his father and brother and took to the road selling opals. Dan joined the navy and later worked on a commercial fishing boat in the Atlantic while mining and prospecting in Australia during the off-season.

Together they established the Hopkins Opal family business in the late 90's. Hopkins opal is an opal wholesaler focusing on mining, cutting, sourcing, and distributing Australian opal to the global market. With a specialization in Lightning Ridge sourced material, Hopkins Opal carries both black and crystal opal of all grades, from commercial to top collector quality. Matt lives in the United States and operates our U.S. office. Dan is based in Australia and operates mining, purchasing, and cutting operations there. Sam is now in retirement after decades of mining and prospecting in the local opal fields in Lightning Ridge.

MEDIA & FEATURES

Our opals have been featured as exemplars of fine black opal in numerous major publications such as: Lapidary Journal, AGTA Source Directory, CIBJO Reference Guide, Renee Newman's Gemstone Buying Guide

Hong Kong Jewellery Magazine - Promising Future for Australian Opals

Angie Crabtree - Opal series and exhibition, “Lit: Opals, Diamonds and Light,” featuring Hopkins Opal's opals as inspiration for her works Cove, Phoenix, and Skye. To commission a custom oil painting to pair with your favorite opal or gemstone contact Angie here.

All The Brilliants - The Skinny on Opal

All The Brilliants - Opal Buying Guide

Jewelry Navigator Podcast - The Not So Scary Truth About Opals with Matthew Hopkins

Thesis Gems & Jewelry - Lightning From Heaven: Opals

Llyn Strong Fine Art Jewelry - October Opal Show

JCK - Must-See Stone Dealers: Gemology Geek’s “Tucson Top 5”

JCK - Top 5 Takeaways From the 2016 Tucson Gem Shows

JCK - Flash Dance Redux

JCK - Flash Dance: The Opal Resurgence

NY Times - A Treasure on Every Table

National Jeweler - Rocks On: Opal's Essence Continues to Delight

Gemological Institute of America (GIA) - Washington DC Alumni Presentation