The Crystal Edit – Opals Under $1000
Mothers, like crystal opal, have a way of adding beauty to the everyday; fresh cut flowers on the dining table, delicious aromas that drift to … Read more
What’s inside the nobby opal: Part 2
Last week I explained in detail the features of rough opal nobbies and what to look out for. This week I’ll show you exactly what we … Read more
The Australian Opal Centre becomes a reality
FANTASTIC NEWS! The Australian Opal Centre (AOC), an icon for outback Australia and the home of all things opal has been funded! The local, state … Read more
Three unique features of nobby rough opal from Lightning Ridge
I’ve been cutting some new nobby rough opal from Lightning Ridge. I thought it be good to share some of the unique features of these … Read more
Watch a rough opal piece transform and then be appraised.
So many times now I have taken a video of a rough opal that I’ve cut and polished. For once I wanted to show you … Read more
Opal Edition: InColor Magazine
The latest edition of InColor magazine is here with not one but two articles by Black Opal Direct! InColor is the magazine produced by the … Read more
Synthetic opal or not? These opals need testing!
While I was in Tucson this year I cam across some opal that had me stumped for a while. At first I thought it was … Read more
Slicing Opal Without A Slicing Machine
So often we have to buy expensive cutting equipment to do certain jobs with opal. But there is a shortcut when it comes to slicing … Read more
Making decisions on what shapes to create with rough crystal opal: Part 2 video
In todays video Justin shows us the results of the rough crystal opal which he sliced instead of polished. He decides to cut several pairs … Read more
Finding the best color and pattern in a rough opal: Part 1 video
Watch Justin make the most of a very large piece of rough opal. Finding the best way an opal faces and pattern quality. A very … Read more
Trusted Trader Accreditation
We are now accredited “Trusted Traders” – YAY! But the real question is – who trusts us and why is this accreditation important? Customs agencies … Read more
Nucleus of an opal like the beginning of time: Asteria Pattern
Sometimes we see the world in things that you never would expect. This opal has a nucleus at the bottom of the piece that expands … Read more
