About us
What do you get when you put a group of creative, passionate, and sensationally funny people in one room?
The BOD family. We say family instead of team because that’s exactly what we are. United by a love for opal (of course) and a shared passion for genuine connection, we bring stories to life through everything we do. When we’re not cutting opal, designing jewelry, filming in the workshop, photographing our goodies, helping customers, or shipping precious packages—you’ll find us sipping coffee, telling jokes, and cuddling our office puppy, Tipper.
This isn’t just a business to us—it’s a way of life. And we’re so glad you’re here to be part of it.
Justin
CEO (Cut Everything Opal) & Chief Opal Whisperer
Ruth
CEO & Head Designer
Saxon
Cutter, Videographer and Sponge
Tamika
Visual Storyteller & Office Humorist
Kylie
CXM (aka All Round People Helper)
Hayley
Product & Design Coordinator
Jane
Shipping Wizard
Borja
Ctrl+C Ctrl+V Expert
Tipper
Chief Happiness Officer
How Black Opal Direct Began.
In 2002 we found ourselves in Springfield, Missouri, close to Kansas but a long way from home! We had just delivered a day of presentations about opal to jewelry lovers at our friend Woody’s store. The mood was up, people were excited, and we were sitting in a restaurant having a celebratory drink when an older, well-dressed lady approached. Her name was Katherine. She had been at one of the presentations earlier in the day. This is her story.
“I’ve loved opal since I was a girl but my mother told me they were bad luck. I have quite a few jewels in my collection – all signifying a special moment in my life but no opal. The rare ones I saw in a jewelry store were always milky and didn’t have much play of colour. Not many jewelers seem knowledgeable when I ask questions” she said, sadly. “I once saw a black opal in a book but until today that is the closest I’ve ever been. I watched the video, listened to your stories and all the questions you patiently answered for everyone. I looked at the opals and wanted them all! It took me a while to decide what I really loved. Tonight, I am the proud owner of a black opal ring I shall treasure. When I looked at the opal it looked like the earth, like a world of wonderment and every time I look I see something else that amazes me. I bought it because I loved it on sight and also to remind myself to listen to my own voice – we know what we love!”
Katherine isn’t with us any longer, but her ring was passed to her daughter who wears it proudly in memory of her Mom. Katherine’s dilemma is not unusual. She loved opal and wanted one but had no access to achieve her goal until Woody made it happen. We exist because you asked us to. Back then in 2002, we needed to physically meet all the opal lovers. The internet was in its infancy and finding information was a treasure hunt which wasn’t always successful. Now we have access to literally everything at the touch of a button or voice command. Our challenge now is not, how do we find what we’re looking for, but more, who can we trust? Who is going to give us the right information and who has that gem that we’ve been dreaming about?
We might not be the answer to all your questions, but we welcome you to explore and learn about opal. We’re second-generation passionate gem merchants who believe in the power of information freely given – mostly with a laugh!
The love for opal began in 1961 when Jurgen Thomas (Justin's dad), a newly arrived immigrant from Germany, made his way by mail car up to Lightning Ridge. There he camped out at the 3 Mile field and commenced his quest of finding opal with a pick ax and a candle.