Our Family's Passion Is Australian Opal
Sam Hopkins, originally from Rhode Island, United States, relocated to Melbourne, Australia in the 1960s and became captivated by Australia's national gemstone. His three children, Matt, Dan, and Hannah, were raised in Australia until the family moved back to the United States. Before leaving Australia, Sam sold his home for a payment of half cash and half opal.
In their preteen years, Sam started teaching Matt and Dan the art of cutting turquoise, jasper, and agate, paying them 50 cents for each completed stone. Once they became proficient cutters, he gave them a parcel of light opal to cut, and they too became enamored. Sam eventually returned to Australia permanently to pursue his passion for opal mining in Lightning Ridge. After a number of initial failures, he finally came upon some fruitful ground. He gave his now adult sons parcels of the opal he mined and cut, and asked them to distribute it.
Together, they established the Hopkins Opal family business. Over the course of the last several decades, all of the immediate Hopkins family, with the exception of Matt who still resides in Rhode Island, have moved back to Australia. Matt operates the U.S. office, where he spearheads opal cutting, distribution services, and international trade shows. Sam eventually retired, and Dan is now the driving force behind Hopkins Opal operations in Australia.
The Hopkins Opal team is passionate about mining, cutting, sourcing, and distributing beautiful Australian opal to the global market. With a specialization in Lightning Ridge sourced material, Hopkins Opal offers both black and crystal opal of all grades, from commercial to top-gem collector quality. Along with Matt and Dan, the team includes Stacey, Matt's longtime staff member who manages sales and our virtual presence, Matt and Dan's sister, Hannah, who assists in opal cutting, and Dan's daughter, Rebecca, who has taken a great interest in the family business. When visiting us at a trade show, you are also likely to interact with the Hopkins Opal extended family, our dear friends Barbara, Sandi, and Dick.