A $15K gem black opal cut from rough
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
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This opal transformed but not how I expected
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
Cutting for carats! (cutting unconventional shapes)
Is it better to cut opal into common shapes or to cut for carats? Can cutting unconventional shapes work? I get asked this question a … Read more
Smashing gemstones with a mallet!
As a kid, I thought that diamonds were the hardest thing in the world. Having the typical tyrannical tendencies that young boys have, all I … Read more
Polishing 2.2kgs (5 pounds) of Andamooka opal
My biggest challenge ever doesn’t seem to be getting any easier! This massive chunk of Andamooka opal is the opal that finally beat me. I … Read more
The transformation of this half rough opal!
Millions of years ago, on the border of an ancient inland sea, a gem was born. This is the tale of the half rough opal… … Read more
The value of this gem went through the roof!
Do you like surprises? I do. Well, good ones, that is. Let’s cut a beautiful black crystal opal from a gorgeous ocean blue opal nobby! … Read more
The dream opal comes true!
Some days at the cutting machine are good and others are mediocre. Then there are days like this. Watch me get caught off guard while … Read more
My biggest challenge ever! A massive chunk of Andamooka opal
What do you get when you cross a huge piece of Andamooka opal and a lot of very hard quartz? My biggest challenge ever! (literally!) … Read more
From rough to riches! Cutting, polishing, and valuing an opal
Sometimes all you want to do is watch some therapeutic opal cutting without some dude talking the whole time. Well, today’s your lucky day! We’ve … Read more
What is an Opal Doublet and how can I tell?
How can you tell whether an opal is a doublet or completely natural? There are a lot of opal and opal jewelry sellers out there, … Read more
Workshop tour! What’s in my opal cutting workshop?
What do you need to start cutting opal? Join us this week as Justin takes us on an opal cutting workshop tour! We get asked … Read more
