A&S Opals: From Childhood Fascination to Gemstone Industry Leader

If you've ever seen opal up close, you've witnessed how mesmerizing and mysterious this stone is, and that is what caught the attention of A&S Opals’ owner, Adam Sawicki, when he was just a little boy. While watching a PBS special about a quirky little town on the other side of the world called Coober Pedy, located in the middle of Australia, young Sawicki was captivated by the dedication and perseverance of the miners who lived underground and worked hard day by day, often with only a slim chance of striking opal.

"What captivated me more than the Coober Pedy locals and their unique living situation was the gemstone itself. My interest in opal grew from its unique appeal; instead of a single color (or no color at all) and relying on facets to create beauty, opal could be polished into smooth, sleek, free-form shapes and cabochons containing not one but all of the colors in the spectrum. At this young age, I decided I would someday visit the opal fields of Coober Pedy," says Adam of this pivotal moment in his journey.

Fast-forward to adulthood, the spark of passion for opals was still burning in Adam’s heart, and it expanded to include other gemstones and fossils. When he finally made the dream of visiting Australia a reality, he spent countless hours researching and mapping out the best areas to visit. He decided to focus mainly on the Golden Triangle of Victoria. After flying across the globe, Adam immersed himself in the opal business, picking the brilliant minds of local opal shop owners, miners, and other experts in this vast and exciting world of opals. This time was an incredible learning experience, but the trip wasn’t over yet—Adam then headed north to none other than Coober Pedy!

"My visit there not only fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine but also solidified my enthusiasm for opals. The time spent in that unique outback landscape, talking with and learning from local shop owners, miners, and experts, fed my addiction and made me a true opal-holic! The contagious passion of the Coober Pedy locals first sparked my earliest thoughts of entering the opal industry." Adam reflects.

Upon returning to New York, Adam gained a renewed passion and the inspiration to turn his dream into reality. He set out to learn all the ins and outs of owning a business and the specific nuances of the gemstone industry.

After several years of devoted research, networking with miners, studying, honing his skills, learning techniques, and acquiring equipment, he officially opened A&S Opals in 2014. Since then, it has grown from a small operation into a successful and fast-growing business with a head-turning and vast inventory of high-quality Australian and Brazilian opals. Adam has been working in the business full time for over 10 years and is highly respected in the industry for his lapidary skills and extensive knowledge of opals.

The A&S team works directly with mining partners in the opal fields of Australia and Brazil. In their Saratoga Springs, NY, shop, A&S Opals offers a wide variety of opals, including Lightening Ridge Australian Black Opal, Crystal Opal, Opal Fossils, and Boulder Opal. For those looking to showcase their newly acquired opals, A&S provides custom jewelry services to create the perfect setting for their stones. Additionally, Adam enjoys teaching lapidary skills to the next generation of opal cutters.

Visit the A&S Opals profile page on Xpo for detailed information, show locations, dates, contact information, photos, and a link to their website.

A&S Opals can be found at the following 2025 shows: 

22nd Street Show – Tucson, AZ
January 30–February 16, 2025
New Booth Location
Main Tent, Blue Zone, Booths B60/C71

NY/NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Jewelry Show – Edison, NJ
May 14–18, 2025
NJ Expo Center, Booths 673/774

Gem World – Syracuse, NY
July 12–13, 2025
Center of Progress Building, NY State Fairgrounds

Herkimer Diamond Gem Show & Festival – Frankfort, NY
July 19–20, 2025
Herkimer County Fairgrounds

East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show – West Springfield, MA
August 8–10, 2025
Eastern States Exposition, Booth 157

The Milwaukee Show – Milwaukee, WI
August 13–17, 2025
The Baird Center, Booth 2210

The Denver Show – Denver, CO
September 5–14, 2025
Booth C46, Level 2, Events Center Concourse, National Western Complex

Colorado Minerals Fossils & Gems Show – Denver, CO
September 5–14, 2025
Booth C103, Concourse, Denver Coliseum

Gemarama – Oaks, PA
November 1–2, 2025
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Hall D

Gem Miner’s Holiday Gift Show – Lebanon, PA
November 15–17, 2025
Lebanon County Fairgrounds