Win, Lose or Draw
Win, Lose or Draw — Welcome to the World of Opal!
Even after decades of buying and cutting opal, I can still get it really wrong. But that is the risk you take when you work with Opal. The highs and successes can be exceptionally amazing and the lows are never too far behind. We are talking about a natural commodity that formed over 110 million years ago (or so they say), it’s allowed to be a little unpredictable. This video is the perfect example of how unpredictable cutting rough opal can be.
Breaking even ain’t so bad
As you can see by the results, we didn’t win, however, it wasn’t a complete loss. Breaking even is where we landed and I’m totally okay with that. We win some and we lose some and sometimes we land in the middle. It’s how you choose to navigate those losses or turn the losses into an even (if you can).
The Positives
- They’re all B3’s — nice and bright!
- All three have an array of vibrant rainbow colors
- Distinctive patterns of floral, broadflash and chaff
- Perfect sizes for a ring setting
The Final Result
Love the gems cut in the video? Get your hands on them before somebody else beats you to it!
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Jaymin Sullivan of the Young Guns Opal Hunters (from the Outback Opal Hunters) happened to drop by my workshop. With him, he brought one of the best rough opal pieces they have ever found while ...
When faced with a whopping 137ct nobby opal, my eyes pour over the rough gem to visualize the multitude of possible outcomes.Where does the best color seem to be sitting?Is there a better pattern u...