Cutting Opal

After a week of fishing the Great Barrier Reef with mates, it’s time to fish for a gem! Can I cut a gem opal from this … Read more

No bigger than a dime; can I cut a gem out of this tiny opal? I thought I’d challenge myself this week by cutting this … Read more

Today, we’re cutting to win. And we’re doing it in Mum’s sweater. There have been a few let downs on the wheel lately; opals with … Read more

I have a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. I mean, I can’t swallow antiseptic or anything… but … Read more

Uncovering a beautiful black opal from this blue pea nobby? Yes pea-lease! Pea nobby?! Is that some sort of crude joke?! Thankfully not. A pea … Read more

Buying rough opal is one of the riskier parts of being in the opal business; how do I know this rough opal investment is worth … Read more

Ah, my precious blue rough opal nobby… I’ll be cutting a beautiful blue rough opal nobby with you today. Like always, some risks come with … Read more

My customer returned this tricky rough opal parcel after he decided he wasn’t comfortable cutting it himself. So, I cut it for him. I rarely … Read more

I like to keep it authentic with you guys and some days that means sharing my latest opal fail… That’s when it’s most important to … Read more

Do you know those days when everything just seems to work? As if the odds are stacked in your favor and things easily slide into … Read more

Even after 30 years of being in the business, I still get sand sucker-punched by opal. Just when you think you know your stuff an … Read more