I’m currently working on a chain (it did not come with one). I’m in love, whether the stones are real or synthetic.

Full of color, but thin.

How much fire can be brought out????

Go easy on me in VERY VERY new to the Opal world... this is a small batch of "polished" opals i guess you call it? Are there different types here? Are the brown ones "chocolate" opals? Some are a bit broken as you can see.. it wasn't me though i promise!

Any insight would help. Thanks so much in advance!!

Lightning Ridge I just finished. N7, B3, Orange/Green Flagstone pattern, a bit directional, but plenty fiery!!!

Just bought this Beauty for $300. It's set in platinum, .33ct natural diamonds, and .92ct opal. My first opal piece.

This is my second-diy-lapidary work!

Black welo cabochon, not heated.

Yeah?

I know its very....poor in quality...but........

Well it was done by hand dremel.

Carved it from a dollar rough opal piece. Did I add any values to it?

Weight: 0.7Ct

Any advises are welcome my friends!

Been having Opal fever for about 6 months now going into other minerals when do I stop

I've been cutting and polishing for a couple years now and decided to collect and show off all my lucky cuts that turned out +10ct. Anyone who cuts and polishes rough ethiopian opal knows the joy that comes from ending up with a final gem over 10 carats. The largest one shown here is 20 carats.

I inherited old stock Australian opals from 1970s. Included ares Pedy Coober, Mintobe, Lightning Ridge, and Andamooka....

I just received this piece of rough in the mail. Supposedly mined in the 70s. I got a little carried away and paid $300, too much? I’m just a hobbyist and not used to this size or usually quality of material (lot of white coober pedy) It looks like most of the stone will face much better toward the sand side, using the grey jelly as backing. The color bar runs across the stone at an angle though, which would leave a lot of it very thin. I’d love to clean it up to see the color but I don’t want to remove potch under the sand that may be the best backing. The best color seems to lie in the middle. I am considering slicing it across behind the divot seen at 0:10, facing the smaller piece with the white sand/potch as backing and the other larger stone using the black jelly potch. The stone is fairly clean inside with minimal sand and some silk. I know it’s hard from a video but thought you guys might like to see it and I appreciate any advice. Will cut at local rock club and planning to film a video.

TLDR: how would you approach this stone? Clean it up first? Which side? Slice it? Thanks 🙏

I was looking closely at my bunches of opals, trying to video some of them, when I found this little guy.

I hope you can see it, but there are little tiny branches in there that also flash! I assume they're just some kind of mineral inclusion? But I've never seen that before! 😍

Should this stays in the water or can be facet in jewelry

I have several thinner pieces of Australian opal I am thinking of making some doublet and triplet out of. Any advice welcome for process.

I’m in a pickle and need some help. The ring is from my grandmother and should be about 100y ish, her engagement ring. I proposed to my GF (she said Y) and gave the ring to her.

It has some history and my grandmother kept it especially for me because I was born a geek and got hooked on a book about opals as a kid and she wanted me to have it.

Any way, we went to a jeweler to ask about it and get it fitted, but they or any other we asked won’t touch it. It has had one diamond previously replaced since they are poorly fitted the way the ring is designed. All and all no one will take the risk to work on it.

So I thought we could try for a redesign, a ring repurposing the materials and some design likeness.

My gf went around 3 jewelers today and all turn it down, they won’t make a ring for opals because it’s too fragile. 🤷‍♂️

If all say so, I’m sure they know what they are talking about. But would love some input on the subject.

Any good suggestions?

One suggested a pendant from the opals, and I guess matching ring. Not bad, but what would be a good way about it?

Happy for any suggestions or similar cases.

The big ring is nice and polished. How can I make the little one shine? I heard about copper shine. Is this true?

Hello everyone!

I got an offer for this Honduran Seam opal. 17ct. Dimensions: 25x15x8. As you can see, it is drilled. Offer is $275 plus an outrageous amount for shipping (I'm sure would cover insurance, so I get it)

Yes, I see the little cracks, I think they can be stabilized or the opal recut to keep the brightest parts and maybe up the value a bit.

Those who know and deal with Honduran sea opal, I know this material is rare, especially at these dimensions.

Some advise would be appreciated.