About Us

I learnt the trade of opal cutting starting in my dad's cutting workshop when I finished school in 2006. My dad's experience of 50 years in the trade has given me the skills to turn these rocks into cut and polished gems. Highly respected in the opal industry, my father began working with opal back in 1968. Growing up my mother had her hands busy with opal as well as raising a family. My families passion for opals permeated through our household, leaving a mark on my own journey.

In 2016 I moved to California to study gemology at GIA and learn more about colourful gemstones. This was one of the best decisions I ever made and I soon realised that I wanted to provide quality, affordable and unique Australian opals to the world. It was during this time I met my now Canadian wife Danny and we moved to Coober Pedy in 2019. 

In 2020 we started our online business ‘Opals by Steed’ right from the comfort of our living room. Danny pursued a career in nursing, dedicating herself to healthcare, but also lends a hand in the workshop. Together we work together, nurturing our passion for opals and fostering the growth of our business. We travel often to Australia’s other opal mining locations - Lighting Ridge, Andamooka and White Cliffs where we can source opal directly from the fields.

While we initially launched our online opal business during the COVID-19 pandemic, we soon realised that something vital was lacking, the face to face human interaction that normally occurs in any business. In January 2023, we made a pivotal decision to exhibit our opals at the Tucson and Denver gem shows. This allowed us the opportunity to personally meet and connect with our customers from around the globe. It's through these personal interactions that we are able to make meaningful connections and share our passion for opals and the Australian outback with others. 

We see a lot of opal that comes through our doors and in August 2023 we decided it was time to start an opal jewellery line. We began hand-selecting unique opals that speak to us and design jewelry that is inspired by our remote landscapes that surrounds us in the outback. Our jewelry embodies a minimalist aesthetic, tailored to suit women of all ages effortlessly.

We hope you enjoy browsing through our website and that you also fall in love with Australia’s national gemstone. Please feel free to contact us for any further information or inquiries.