British Siblings Discover '1 Billion Won' Rainbow Opal in the Middle of the Desert

Published 28 Mar.2021 19:13(KST)

Updated 29 Mar.2021 11:14(KST)

The story of siblings who discovered 1 billion won worth of rainbow-colored gems in the Australian Outback. Photo by Daily Mail

[Asia Economy Reporter Nahana] British siblings hunting for opals, a gemstone extremely rare in the Australian Outback, have found several dozen opals valued at a total of 1.2 million Australian dollars (about 1 billion Korean won), foreign media reported on the 28th (local time).

According to foreign media, the main character of the story, Isaac Andreou, is originally from the UK and is a father of a five-year-old daughter who works as an opal craftsman and seller in New South Wales. He and his sister, Sophia Andreou, run an opal shop while teaching yoga and music.

One of the most spectacular opals the siblings have discovered so far is a rainbow opal as large as a man's fist, with quality good enough to be displayed in a museum. This opal even resembles a giant Easter egg, making it even rarer. Sophia described this opal as "containing every color of the rainbow you can imagine."

The siblings reportedly found the rainbow opal in the middle of the desert on the day they were returning home just a few days after they first started opal hunting. Sophia recalled, "When I found the first opal, I felt a mix of shock and amazement." Isaac added, "Words cannot describe the pounding of my heart or the goosebumps I felt."

More than 90% of the world's opal production is found in the Australian Outback, and its value is over 500 times higher than gold.

Recently, the opal craze in Australia has reached an all-time high, but the Outback where opal hunting is possible is full of various dangers. Sophia pointed out, "Australia is such a harsh and rugged country that all animals that have survived so far have evolved to be threatening to protect themselves. Therefore, to go opal hunting, you must prepare not only for the harsh environment but also for the world's most dangerous animals."

Meanwhile, the story of the Andreou siblings will be featured in detail in the local TV series "Outback Opal Hunters," which stars miners searching for opals. This series is broadcast in over 100 countries worldwide, including Australia and the UK.