Black Star Opal Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a question about opal gemstones or opal jewellery, payments, shipping, returns and refunds, or just want to know if we offer gift wrapping (we do)?
You can find answers to all this and more in our Frequently Asked Questions below. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Don't hesitate to contact us for a quick response.
OPAL GEMSTONES AND OPAL JEWELLERY
Where does Black Star Opal source its unset opals and opal jewellery?
What determines the price of an opal?
How do I know I am purchasing a piece of genuine Australian opal?
Will my opal look exactly as it does in the picture?
How do I purchase the correct size ring?
How do I clean and care for my opal?
PURCHASING AND PAYMENT
Who pays international taxes and import duties if applicable?
When will my order be processed?
I'm having problems completing an order. What do I do?
Does Black Star Opal offer secure credit card processing?
Are my personal details secure?
SHIPPING AND DELIVERY
Where does Black Star Opal ship items and what is the cost?
What shipping service does Black Star Opal use?
Is my purchase insured during delivery?
How long will it take for my purchase to arrive?
Am I able to deliver an item to someone else?
What can I do if my purchase has been damaged during shipping?
RETURNS AND EXCHANGES
Can I return an item I have purchased?
How soon will I receive my refund or exchange?
How should I pack and send the item I wish to exchange/return?
GIFT CARDS AND GIFT WRAPPING
I would love to give someone a gift from Black Star Opal but I’m not sure what to buy. Do you offer gift cards?
Does Black Star Opal offer a gift wrapping service?
OPAL GEMSTONES AND OPAL JEWELLERY
Where does Black Star Opal source its unset Australian opals and opal, gemstone and crystal jewellery?
All unset solid opals come directly from Australia’s world-famous opal fields renowned for producing beautiful, high-quality natural opals, including Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs in outback NSW; Coober Pedy and Mintabie in South Australia; and Winton in Queensland.
Black Star Opal has long-term relationships with many opal miners as well as jewellery manufacturers, suppliers and skilled jewellery designers, both in Australia and around the world
Our jewellers either handcraft or we hand select our jewellery pieces, ensuring only the best quality, and most affordable, items are available from our online store, as well as our retail store The Opal Centre, located at The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour.
What determines the price of an opal?
Like all gemstones, the value of an opal depends on several factors including the type of opal (solid, doublet, triplet, black, white, crystal, boulder, etc), body tone, brilliance, pattern, colour bar thickness, and play of colour.
Other key factors that affect an opal's price are the size (carat weight), cut and polish of the stone. For more information about how opals are valued, please read our article The Value of Australian Opal.
How do I know I am purchasing a piece of genuine Australian opal?
Black Star Opal only sells 100% natural, ethically sourced Australian opals and opal jewellery, and we guarantee our collection for authenticity and quality.
In addition to solid opals, we sell doublet and triplet opals, which are opal composites that feature natural opal as the main component. Doublet and triplet opals are sold throughout the world, mainly as an affordable alternative to natural black opal, retaining the beauty of this precious gemstone without the higher price often associated with the rare and precious black opal.
Black Star Opal does not sell synthetic opal, which contains no natural opal and is man-made and created in a laboratory.
We also retail all our products via our retail store The Opal Centre, which is located at the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. Our retail store has been operating for over 35 years, and we have been involved in the Australian opal industry for more than 50 years.
Upon request, we are able to provide a Certificate of Authenticity for unset solid opals and opal jewellery, which provides a detailed description and value of your purchase for insurance purposes.
We are also a proud supporter of the Australian Opal Centre ,as an AOC Founder, which is dedicated to showcasing rare opalised fossils and Australian opal.
Will my opal look exactly as it does in the picture?
We always try to capture the most accurate photographic representation of the colours and patterns of the opal gemstone or opal jewellery you are purchasing. However, you may be pleasantly surprised when receiving your purchase that the opal may showcase a broader colour palette and brighter pattern than you thought!
Please note: As we have multiple items in stock, some opal jewellery images are representative of the item's style and design only. Opals in these products may differ slightly in colour or pattern.
All opal pendants come with the gold plated or silver plated display chain pictured.
How do I purchase the correct size ring?
All rings sold through Black Star Opal are sized according to Australian and USA jewellery standards. To determine your correct ring size, we advise you print and refer to our convenient ring sizing guide and international conversion chart before placing your order.
Where possible, Black Star Opal is able to resize most 9K, 14K and 18K gold opal rings. Just let us know upon purchase if resizing is required and we will let you know if it’s possible.
Silver or gold-plated silver rings cannot be resized. However, if you find a design you like but the correct ring size is not available, please contact us and we will do our best to source one for you.
How do I clean and care for my opal?
Treat opal as you would any other precious gem. When handled with care and cleaned in the correct way, your opal will last throughout time. To clean opal, simply wipe lightly with a damp soft cloth and mild detergent. Take extra care not to immerse doublet and triplet opals in water for extended periods of time.
Also, we strongly advise avoiding bleach, chemicals and harsh cleaners, including ultrasonic cleaners, and recommend removing your opal jewellery before using pools or spas.
Want to know more? Read our Top 5 Tips for caring for your opals.
PURCHASING AND PAYMENT
Who pays international taxes and import duties if applicable?
Black Star Opal does not cover international taxes and import duties for international purchases, which are the responsibility of the customer. Each country has different tax and customs rules. We recommend checking your local tax/duties and customs rules to ensure you understand if any additional fees must be paid in your country after shipping.
Do I need to pay the Australian GST if I am shipping to another country?
In Australia, GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a value-added tax of 10% added on to most goods and services transactions. If you are shipping to an address within Australia, you will need to pay the GST on your order. If you are shipping outside of Australia, you do not need to pay this tax, as exported goods are tax-free.
Please note, if shipping outside of Australia, the recipient may be liable for international taxes and import duties, which will need to be paid in the country you are shipping to. We recommend checking your local tax/duties and customs rules to ensure you understand if any additional fees must be paid in your country after shipping.
When will my order be processed?
We try to ship orders as soon as we can! Most orders made before noon AEST are processed the same day, with orders made later usually shipped at the start of the following business day. Orders received on the weekends are usually processed on the following Monday. At peak times such as Christmas, we can take several trips to the post office daily to ensure your order is shipped as quick as possible!
I'm having problems completing an order. What do I do?
Please contact us as soon as possible and we will be happy to assist you.
Does Black Star Opal offer secure credit card processing?
Our site is powered by the e-commerce platform Shopify, which provides a secure shopping cart that is certified Level 1 PCI DSS compliant and uses industry standard 128 SSL certificates - this is the same level of encryption large banks use to keep information secure.
Rest assured, your Black Star Opal online shopping experience is encrypted and safe from hackers.
Black Star Opal accepts most methods of payment including Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit and debit cards, PayPal, Afterpay, Google Pay, Apple Pay and Shop Pay.
Are my personal details secure?
We will never pass on any of your contact details or personal information to any third party, ever. These are kept highly confidential and in a secure and safe location.
SHIPPING AND DELIVERY
Where does Black Star Opal ship items to and what is the cost?
We ship items quickly and securely to most addresses in Australia and around the world. We offer free standard worldwide shipping for all orders over AUD $200. Orders under AUD $200 incur a AUD $15 delivery charge within Australia and a AUD $20 delivery charge outside Australia.
We also offer domestic and international Express Post. Express shipping under AUD $200 is AUD $20 within Australia and AUD $40 outside of Australia. Express shipping between AUD $200 and AUD $1500 is AUD $10 within Australia and AUD $20 outside of Australia.
We ship all orders over AUD $1500 express free of charge.
Which shipping service does Black Star Opal use?
Worldwide standard shipping is provided through Australia Post, which offers a range of convenient delivery solutions.
Parcels sent within Australia are shipped via Standard Post, and outside Australia via standard Air Mail, unless expedited shipping is requested. Once shipped, customers receive a confirmation email with a tracking number for their parcel, which can be checked via the Australia Post tracking web page.
We can also ship globally through FedEx upon request, however this will incur an extra cost that will vary dependent on your location.
Please note: Black Star Opal is not liable for any extra duties or taxes your country may charge on an imported item.
How long will it take for my purchase to arrive?
Once your order is sent, you'll receive an email with your tracking number so you can follow your order’s progress to your door.
Standard delivery to most countries is usually around 10 working days, while delivery within Australia is usually between two to eight working days. Please note: Due to current global Covid-related shipping issues, Black Star Opal cannot guarantee the above delivery times.
For more information on international shipping and estimated delivery times, please visit Australia Post.
Please note: International customs agencies may hold your parcel for a period of time for processing. Black Star Opal has no authority over, or involvement with, this processing time, and cannot provide an estimate of how long customs will hold your parcel. We recommend if you are shipping outside Australia to keep an eye out for notices from the local customs or postal agency regarding any import duties or taxes that must be paid.
Am I able to deliver an item to someone else as a gift?
Yes, if you would like an item delivered as a gift, we are able to send the package to the recipient - even gift wrapped if you like. Please note, there may be a requirement for a signature on delivery.
Is my purchase insured during delivery?
All domestic and international parcels are insured free-of-charge through Australia Post against theft, loss or damage during delivery.
What can I do if my purchase has been damaged during shipping?
In the unlikely event there is damage to your purchase upon delivery, please contact us immediately.
RETURNS AND EXCHANGES
Can I return an item I have purchased?
Black Star Opal is dedicated to ensuring you are satisfied with your purchase and with our services. If you are not 100% satisfied, please contact us immediately.
If for any reason you would like to return the item(s), your purchase must be sent back to us within 30 days of purchase for a full refund or exchange. You must provide the original invoice, and all original certificates and accessories, as applicable.
Items must be returned unworn, unaltered and in the original condition they were sent, including the original jewellery box packaging. Returns or exchanges are not allowed on customised items including resized gold rings.
Please note, the original shipping and handling fees, any shipping and handling fees the customer incurs, and any international import duties or taxes are non-refundable on returned items, unless the item is faulty.
How soon will I receive my refund or exchange?
Once the returned item has been received by Black Star Opal, please allow two to four (2-4) weeks from the shipping date for your refund to be processed and your account to be credited. It may take one to two billing cycles for the refund to appear on your credit card statement. Your refund will be credited to the same form of payment used in your original purchase.
Due to the time involved in receiving your return/exchange and attending to the amended order, we recommend placing a new order immediately for the item you want. We cannot guarantee the item will still be in stock.
How should I pack and send the item I wish to exchange/return?
You can easily pack and send your exchange/return to us in just a few simple steps:
- Ensure you repack your item securely, in the original packaging.
- If you would like an exchange, place another order online as soon as possible. We will credit you as required for your return once it is received. (Unfortunately we cannot accept requests for exchanges to be shipped before receiving your return.)
- For your protection, we recommend that you use FedEx, UPS or Insured Parcel Post for your return.
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Please send returned items to:
Black Star Opal, P.O. Box 242, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia - Please keep and email us the return Tracking Number from the package you are returning to ensure we receive the package.
Please note: We are not responsible for packages lost in transit. All return shipping charges must be prepaid and we cannot accept COD deliveries.
GIFT CARDS AND GIFT WRAPPING
Do you offer gift cards?
Unfortunately, Black Star Opal does not currently offer gift cards, however this will be on offer in the near future. In the meantime, if you need help with selecting the perfect gift please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Does Black Star Opal offer a gift wrapping service?
All opal gemstones and opal jewellery products are packaged in a durable and attractive box that will keep your item safe and secure during shipping and delivery. If you would like the item gift wrapped, please add this instruction to your order or contact us with your order number and we will be more than happy to gift wrap free of charge.
For more information on our Terms of Service, please click here