A Neon Green Opal

There is something about picking up a rough opal and having absolutely no idea what pattern is waiting underneath the skin. You can see the color. You can see the potential. But the pattern? That stays hidden until the wheel does its work.

This blue green nobby had all the same traits as a gem I cut about a month ago that completely blew me away. Clean when looking through with a Gemfish, a nice potch back and color showing up everywhere you looked. On paper, everything was pointing in the right direction.

What I didn’t know going in was whether this gem was going to stay dark, go crystal, or land somewhere in between. And that uncertainty is what makes it fun. As I worked through the sand and shaped the dome, the answer slowly began to reveal itself, and what came through that color bar was truly impressive.

Watch the video to find out.