Category: Crystal Opal

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Polishing 2.2kgs (5 pounds) of Andamooka opal

andamooka opal

My biggest challenge ever doesn’t seem to be getting any easier! This massive chunk of Andamooka opal is the opal that finally beat me. I have developed my skills in cutting opal over the last 30 years but I’ve never met an opal that’s challenged me like this one. Sometimes it’s not that we don’t have the skills or the knowledge but that we just don’t have the right equipment! The opals I’m used to cutting are, at maximum, the size of a Ferrero Rocher (and just as delicious, in my opinion) so the tools I use just can’t cope with this megalith-like Andamooka opal. So how will I tackle…

Read More
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Opal Stories

Justin and Melinda sit down to chat about the opal stories of some of our stock. You asked and we listened! In our last video on Justin’s Personal Opal Collection you asked us to go through the opals on our site and tell more stories of their origin. Nine different opals, four different fields. Their opal stories brought to you by Justin, Melinda, and two cups of coffee. Wyoming opal field, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales Justin and Melinda lead with six opal stories from a field called Wyoming in Lightning Ridge. As you drive in to Wyoming opal field you are greeted by a horse and cart from the…

Read More
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Crystal Opal is Not Crystal

Justin clears up confusion and let’s us in on his simple technique of telling what is, and what isn’t, a crystal opal. How can we tell? Do you need the body tone and brightness scale? Is white opal crystal? Help me Justin!! In this video, Justin tells us that the way to tell whether an opal is crystal actually has nothing to do with the body tone and brightness scale! Crystal opal has a body tone and brightness that is measured using this scale, like all opal, but the trick to telling whether it is considered crystal is by using a flashlight. How do I tell whether my Opal is…

Read More