Being asked to value opal for someone is a daily occurrence. Opal is a notoriously hard gem to value because there are no specific rules you can apply to every opal. The drawing card of opal is the...
While I love a quirky tale as much as the next person, opal myths can start to sound like facts if repeated often enough. I’ve gotten consistent emails for years now questioning an opals strength; ...
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 wanted to do was smash one. Now I’m an adult and quite fr...
Black crystal opal is a rare and captivating variety of opal known for its translucent body tone and rich play-of-colour. While similar to black opal in appearance, black crystal opal allows light ...
What exactly is play of color? Is it unique to opal—and how can you tell? This week, Justin dives into what play of color means across different gemstones, and why opal’s version is truly one of a ...
Justin’s back this week and he’s got something on his mind… welcome to the opal color rant. In the early days of opals discovery, when someone stumbled across a gorgeous gem that resembled a rainb...
I’ve been cutting some new nobby rough opal from Lightning Ridge. I thought it be good to share some of the unique features of these type of formations. I’ve selected an example to work on in the i...
Sometimes the universe reveals itself in the most unexpected places. This opal holds a tiny nucleus at its base, radiating outward like the moment of creation—the Big Bang. The imagery this opal...
The rough and unpolished gem weighs a massive 568.69 carats and measures 95 x 59 x 25 mm. For more on the origin and story visit the Part 1 post. Next week, we will reveal the equally amazing stor...