Little Opal Nobby, Hefty Profit!

Every so often, a little opal nobby comes along that reminds us why we love what we do.

Little Opal Nobby, Hefty Profit is one of those stories — a lesson in patience, instinct, and knowing when to trust what lies beneath the surface. What looked like a humble 12-carat piece of rough, bought for just $400, turned out to hold a world of color and a healthy dose of surprise.

Chasing the Bubble of Color

At first glance, this nobby didn’t look like much — a small, rounded piece with a promise buried deep inside. But Justin spotted something special: a “bubble” of color, a rounded color bar that hinted at the potential for a striking crystal opal. Armed with experience (and a fair bit of optimism), he hit the cutting wheel to see what this gem was hiding.

As the outer potch came away, faint flashes of color began to appear — green, blue, and a shimmer of brilliance just waiting to break through. The deeper he went, the clearer it became that this little nobby had something exceptional inside. The color transformed into an epic, translucent crystal with incredible brightness — the kind of find that makes every risk worthwhile.

A Big Win from a Small Gemstone

When the dust settled and the gem met the scales, the results spoke for themselves: a flawless 3-carat double-sided crystal opal valued around $9,000 — from a $400 rough. That’s what we call a hefty profit.

Beyond the numbers, this piece was a reminder of what makes opal cutting so addictive: you never really know what’s waiting inside. Sometimes, it’s a gamble that doesn’t pay off. But other times — like this — it’s pure magic.

Whether you’re an opal cutter, collector, or dreamer, Little Opal Nobby, Hefty Profit is proof that even the smallest stones can deliver the biggest wins.