Few gemstones have inspired as much reverence as the opal. Worn by Roman senators and coveted by Victorian courts, it has occupied a singular place in the history of jewellery — and Australia holds the rarest chapter of that story.

Austral Stones is a jewellery house built on the belief that a well-made piece carries meaning beyond its materials. The brand has evolved into something deeply connected to Australia — to its light, its land, and the geological time it takes to produce something truly extraordinary. That belief guides everything, from the way stones are selected to the way they are set.

The Strand Arcade, with its Victorian heritage and its long history as a destination for considered, unhurried shopping, is a natural home for a house that thinks in those terms.

At the centre of the brand is Emanuel, whose passion for Australian opals has shaped its spirit from the beginning. For him, each stone is more than a gemstone

— it is a living reflection of the land, carrying colour, depth and individuality unlike anything else. That conviction translates directly into how Austral Stones works: every opal is selected by hand from the legendary fields of Lightning Ridge, the vast underground networks of Coober Pedy, and the remote regions of Quilpie and Winton, chosen for its rare beauty and character before a single tool touches it.

No two stones from Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy or Winton will ever be identical. That is precisely the point.

Under Emanuel's guidance, every piece is handcrafted to honour the uniqueness of the stone, allowing its natural play of colour to take centre stage. The collection spans solid opals, doublets, triplets, and the rare black opal — among the most prized gemstones in the world — set in gold and silver. Austral Stones is also home to Alexander Dauvin, a line of opal watches for men and women that places these extraordinary stones at the heart of Swiss-movement timepieces. What the house offers, in every form, is not simply adornment. It is the soul of a land, captured in its most captivating gem.