Are you an inspiring independent?

4000BC: The year opals date back to. They are most likely to originate from Ethiopia
90%: Australia has dominated opal production since the 1800s with more than 90% of the global output coming from down under
19th: The century when the opal was considered bad luck in Europe. However, Queen Victoria was quite a fan of opal and wore her personal collection throughout her reign
15,000: Black opals, the most rare and prized, can cost more than Aus$15,000 (about £8,750) a carat

Retail Jeweller is looking for the UK and Ireland’s most inspiring independent jewellery retailers. Do you have a store design to die for, staff that give impeccable service, unique touches of brilliance in your product range or just a strong suit of business ideas that keep your tills ringing? Then we want to hear from you.
Sponsored by DMJ Distribution, the listing of the top 30 best independents in the country will appear in a supplement sent out with the June issue of Retail Jeweller. Vote for your favourite independent jewellery retailer now by sending your top four favourite stores to Retail Jeweller, Inspiring Independents, emap, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London NW1 7EJ or email Retail.jeweller@emap.com. The deadline for receipt of entries is April 15 and you could win £200 worth of DMJ jewellery. Only one vote per person please.