Opal and jewelry store

I just found this article on Opal:
http://jewelry.about.com/od/birthstonefactsandfolklore/ss/Interesting-Opal-Facts.htm
It is a well known fact that I like to learn more on stones.  I never saw that gemstone up close and personal.  Looking at the photos, it seems a gemstone that fall in what I like.  It is an original stone that shimmer.  There was none when I was going to the Gems and Mineral shows I go.  Opal seems to be nice looking on the photos.  I don't know if it will be different in my hand.  Sometimes, I felt there was a difference between the photos and a contrete gem.  Did I expected too much from stones?  It is a possibility.

I wonder where I can have a piece of that gem.  I know most of the Opal comes from Australia.  I don't know if a jeweler's store have some.  I usually don't go into a jeweler's store.  I have been into one when I was a child, with my mom but since then, I didn't go there on my own.  Strange how thing happen.  So, I feel like a novice.  I don't know what that kind of store have or don't have.  It can be paradoxial that I make some jewelry but I don't have any experience dealing with a jewelry store.

I wonder if an opal is too much exotic for a jewelry store  I think it wouldn't be exotic in Australia but I live on the other side of the world.  I don't know everything about gems' trade.  I don't know everything about all the gems.  So, I still have a lot to learn.  It's only since a few years that got really interested in gems and jewelry.  I have learned a lot but I still have to learn.  Maybe the next step is to have more experience with the jewelry store.