How to cut opal – see a gem emerge from a rough opal
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 … Read more
What not to do with opal
We love opal, and we love that you love it too! Opal is fun; it’s about discovery and very often joy. We all need much … Read more
The difference between white opal and crystal opal
Is white opal the same as crystal opal? Although these two opals can look very similar, there’s a big difference that boils down to two … Read more
The difference between black opal and crystal opal
How is it that opals from the same place can be so different? In today’s video, I explain the difference between black opal and crystal … Read more
Donald Trump’s $399 opal cutting challenge
A few weeks ago, we posted about Blue Opal and some new parcels we had in stock. One of our subscribers commented and set us a … Read more
Even more opal patterns: Part 2
This is part 2 of opal patterns explained (you can catch up with part 1 here). Now that you are familiar with the differences between … Read more
Five Opal Patterns Explained
Every opal is unique but with my help, there are a few common patterns that you’ll be able to recognise! Today I’m going to take … Read more
Giving back with Room to Read.
There are so many ways to pay it forward and at Black Opal Direct we are passionate about children’s education. Did you know there are … Read more
Lightning Ridge 2013 Opal Festival
Last weekend was the Lightning Ridge 2013 Opal Festival. A celebration of all things opal from all around Australia. The town population swells to double, … Read more
Maintaining a good polish on opal
Many of you have been asking about maintaining a good polish with opal. In my opinion, the polish on a stone makes or breaks it. … Read more
Video: Teaching Kids to Cut Opal
Kids love messing around, and if there is water involved, they seem to enjoy it more. So today, we thought you might like to see … Read more
Which opal is a natural black opal?
Only one of these opals is real. So have a go at trying to pick the right one. There are three different types of opal … Read more
