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Stories

A Blue Vein of Opal
Cutting OpalMar 17, 2026
A Blue Vein of Opal

There's a moment every opal cutter knows. The wheel is spinning, the rough is in your hand, and you genuinely don't know what's about to happen next. This week, I'm putting a 300 carat seam opal fr...

Ring Size Conversion Chart
Opal JewelryMar 12, 2026
Ring Size Conversion Chart

Choosing the right ring size is just as important as choosing the perfect opal. Whether you're buying a ready-made ring or having one custom made, knowing your correct size ensures a comfortable fi...

Truth About Coober Pedy Opal
Classification and GradingMar 5, 2026
Truth About Coober Pedy Opal

Recently, I’ve heard that some people on the outer edges of the opal industry have been putting words in my mouth saying that I don’t buy or sell Coober Pedy opal because it cracks, or that it’s so...

Saxon's First Purchase
Cutting OpalMar 3, 2026
Saxon's First Purchase

For the first time ever, Saxon went out and bought a piece of rough completely on his own. No safety net and no second opinion. Just a 250 carat nobby from the Wyoming field and a bit of courage. O...

Copyte Needle Nobby
Cutting OpalFeb 17, 2026
Copyte Needle Nobby

The Copyte Needle Nobby we’re cutting today is not your average piece of rough. This half nobby is missing the classic cap you’d expect to see — and in its place? A web of copyte needles running th...

Top Gem Crystal Opal Cut
Cutting OpalFeb 3, 2026
Top Gem Crystal Opal Cut

Top gem crystal opal cut moments don’t come around often, but this gemstone delivered the kind of excitement cutters live for. From the moment the 23-carat nobby hit the wheel, there was that feeli...

A High Profit Opal Cut
Cutting OpalJan 20, 2026
A High Profit Opal Cut

A High Profit Opal Cut is the kind of session every opal cutter dreams of — strong instincts, a few obstacles, and a result that proves why experience matters. From the moment this 28-carat Allawah...

An Aussie Christmas
Community and EventsJan 8, 2026
An Aussie Christmas

A very merry Aussie Christmas was had by the BOD team, spanning from the Southern Highlands to the Gold Coast and up to far north Queensland. Here's a peek at how we spend our holidays down under. ...

984 carat opal rough | Black Opal Direct
Cutting OpalJan 6, 2026
Opal Cutting Recovery Effort

Opal Cutting Recovery Effort doesn’t get much more real than this — one final chance to claw back a $25,000 investment from a brutal 4,500 carat opal parcel that simply refused to cooperate. After ...