Lightning Ridge Update
Well, I’ve clocked up a few miles in the past week with a trip to Lightning Ridge. Being winter, the weather was gorgeous with sunny … Read more
Matrix Opal
Matrix opal is a treated opal that comes from in Australia. It is defined as opal in host rock. The main field that produces this … Read more
Lightning Ridge Opal
There are many types of rough opal from many parts of the world. Rough opal comes in many forms, shapes and sizes. In Ethiopia, opal … Read more
Lightning Ridge Gem Show 2009
The Lightning Ridge gem show went off without a hitch, the sun was bright but cold at night, with many people coming from all over. … Read more
Lightning Ridge
Lightning Ridge is a tiny opal-mining town about 70 kilometres south of the Queensland border in New South Wales and 700 kilometres north-west of Sydney. … Read more
Learn how to spot a synthetic opal
Watch the video link as Justin from Black Opal Direct gives you an invaluable insight and learn how to spot a synthetic opal. In a … Read more
Learn how to cut an opal!
What type of opal cutting machines can I use? There are many cutting machines and ways to cut and polish opal. Finding the opal-cutting machine … Read more
Green Blue Opal
There are many categories of opal when it comes to grading them out. Opals of all different colors are and have different values depending on … Read more
Crystal Opals
Crystal opals are found in almost every area where gem colored opal is formed. Lightning Ridge has produced some of the best crystal opals I … Read more
Cooceran Opal Tour
Welcome back to Black Opal Direct! This week I want to take you to the heart of the opal country. To see where the best … Read more
White Opals
White opal is a more common opal heavily marketed in the early days of opal trading, which is what most think about when they think … Read more
