Opal Classification – the FINAL STRETCH
Dear Members,
After hibernating for most of 2020, it’s time to sort out the high level opal classification for CIBJO once and for all. There are some international trends that could impact Australian Opal and so we need to be proactive before anything is forced on us.
As I send this, the GAA Opal Committee are meeting to discuss these final documents attached. These will form our submission.
The GAA has committed to come back with their response by next Wednesday 17th March.
I would like to call a Zoom meeting for 5.30pm (Sydney/Melbourne time) next Thursday 18th March to discuss and resolve this.
Please take the time to read the documents over (it will take no more than 10 mins). IF you have ANY questions or concerns, this will be the time to bring it up as I’m hoping we can draw a metaphorical line in the sand and MOVE ON!
Following is the excerpt of the email I just sent Katherine Kovacs and Terry Coldham.
“1. Categories of Opal
This is the main document outlining the 8 categories of opal. As discussed, it was decided at the GILC meeting in Tucson in Feb 2020 to remove the numbers of the categories, thereby ensuring that no one category was elevated above another based on numerics.
There are two outstanding points on this document outlined in red. I would appreciate your response to these so I can take it to our Opal Association meeting.
2. Opal Terms
This document outlines the definitions used for each of the terms. You will note that unlike prior versions, we have very much stuck to high level terms and have not entered into detailed discussions about types of opal ie. black or light or crystal.
3. Flowchart to determine opal category
This flowchart is yet to be updated and will be done so once we reach a final consensus. It is my belief that this flowchart should form part of our submission as it clearly outlines our methodology and thinking around the classification. Getting people to think as a series of questions is, when it is presented clearly, a superior communication device understood across language differences.
As per our telephone discussion, please communicate to the committee our commitment to provide CIBJO something that they can work with in the near future. We have kept the document intentionally high level.
The Opal Association will convene a meeting late next week to ensure we review and resolve and will come back to the GAA Opal Committee to finally present a joint offering to CIBJO.”
Thanks everyone!
Cheers,
Ruth
Any members who may be in a similar situation as Damien Cody please contact the number below
One of our members, Damien Cody, is currently fighting his insurance company, Lloyd’s of London, over their refusal to pay his Business Interruption insurance claim.
Damien runs retail opal stores in Melbourne and Sydney which have been shut down because of Covid-19.
They have Business Interruption insurance which covers them for loss of gross income due to certain events, including human infectious diseases. Unlike other insurance policies, this does not exclude pandemics.
Despite this, Lloyds have followed the lead of other insurers and denied the claim.
The Lloyds policy was marketed to the jewellery industry and others in the industry have apparently either had their claims rejected or not yet claimed.
Damien’s lawyers are looking to bring a class action (with Gordon Legal) against Lloyds to force them to honour the policy and they are interested in talking to any other jewellers and opal retailers.
They are also looking at cases against other insurers for Business Interruption claims.
If you are happy to speak to them, please contact John Berrill on 0408 322 979 or [email protected].
The advice is free and confidential.
Kind Regards
Paul Sedawie
President of the Opal Association
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