Cutting and pricing $30K worth of black opal

Cutting and pricing black opal can be a challenging process—and it’s one of the most common questions we get at Black Opal Direct.

How do I know how much my opal is worth?
What’s the best way to cut it?
What factors matter most when pricing black opal?

In this video, Justin walks you through cutting and valuing three unique black opals, sharing tips, tools, and techniques along the way.

We’ve got one top gem and two other stones to cut and price today; let’s get into it!

Justin shows you how to make sure you put your roughed out opal on to your dop stick properly. Make sure the wax is never bigger than your opal, and heat your wax correctly before cooling.

Justin shows you how he cuts and polishes all three black opals. If you’re a cutter yourself, are learning, or you just love the process, I’d definitely recommend tuning in to the long version. Justin is a great teacher and shares a lot of his knowledge with you.

Now, for the tricky part… How do we price opal?

Justin talks you through what he looks for when valuing opal, delving into the details of each stone he’s cut as examples.

The first gem is a 28.65ct black opal with blue-green colors. The second is a 16.69ct top gem with bright color that is predominantly green-blue. Lastly, we have a black opal that doesn’t have a consistent body tone and some sand inclusions.

What Determines the Value of a Black Opal?

Valuing black opal involves more than just a quick look. It’s a balance of technical knowledge and experience. Key factors include:

• Pattern

• Colour play (brightness and hue)

• Body tone

• Carat weight

• Inclusions (like sand or potch)

Understanding how these elements work together is essential to cutting a gem in a way that preserves or enhances its value.

Cutting the Opal: 3 Black Opals, 3 Outcomes

In this video, Justin works on three opals:

1. 28.65 ct Black Opal – Features deep blue-green hues and strong potential.

2. 16.69 ct Top Gem Black Opal – High-grade with vivid green-blue colour and clean structure.

3. 8.52 ct Black Opal – Shows inconsistent body tone and some sand inclusions, making cutting and pricing more complex.

Dop Stick Setup: A Quick Cutting Tip

Before cutting, Justin explains how to correctly mount your opal on the dop stick:

• Make sure the wax is smaller than the stone

• Heat the wax thoroughly and allow it to cool gradually

• This helps with precision and stone security during cutting

Opal Cutting for Beginners and Experts

If you’re new to cutting opal—or just love seeing the process—you’ll enjoy this video. Justin not only demonstrates his technique but shares his thought process at each stage. He covers:

• How he decides where to face the opal

• What to watch for in fractures and inclusions

• How to maximize colour without sacrificing stability

How to Price Black Opal

Once the opals are cut and polished, the big question remains: How much are they worth?

Justin walks you through and explains the reasoning behind his valuation—what makes one a top gem and another a mid-tier stone. You’ll learn:

• How carat weight affects price

• Why certain colours and patterns command higher value

• What reduces a stone’s potential market price