See a gem emerge from rough opal: how to cut opal video

A customer bought a rough piece of opal and was unsure how it should be cut. He decided to send it back, so Justin cut it… tune in to watch a black opal emerge.

Normally, we would re-list any stones that are sent back to us but Justin just couldn’t back down from this challenge.

This episode is a long one but a great one so grab yourself a cup of something and enjoy watching the magic unfold.

You will see the whole process as well as tips and advice on the following:

Assessing rough opal for colour
How to decide which way an opal should be cut
How the dome is formed on an opal
What grades of diamond wheels are used when
How to achieve that final perfect polish

For those not keen on cutting opal themselves you will still find the video fascinating as a gemstone is revealed layer by layer – and you will be well on your way to understanding how to cut opal at an expert level!