Any Opal lovers out there? Show and Tell please.

[mrs-b]

Acinom, thanks for sharing my opal. Very nice of you to include it.

As many of you know black opals are extremely difficult to photograph and never look as good in the photos. And though it still does not do justice to my ring this is one of my favorite photos I have so far. Taken with my phone. One day I will get my friend who has a real camera to photograph it.

Thanks for your lovely comments Minousbijoux and Bron357.

@missy - do you know the dimensions of your opal? I'd love a big piece like that.

 

[prs]

Love this opal. Love this setting. Absolutely crazy about this ring. This photo does NOT do this stunning opal justice; it didn't pick up any of the orange or red, which are the primary colors in it. It also has some bright violet.

mrs-b I have a photo of your extraordinary opal in my PS HOF, I believe I saved it from your vendor's website. Hope you don't mind me posting it.

I know opals are notoriously difficult to photo, maybe you should ask Justin for some tips!!

 

[missy]

@missy - do you know the dimensions of your opal? I'd love a big piece like that.

Hi @mrs-b I just measured it with calipers for you (including halo) and it is 15.5 mm by 22.3 mm. And of course I took the opportunity for a few photos lol.

Every time I take the ring out I am reminded of how freaking gorgeous she is but how almost impossible it is to capture its beauty in photos. It's snowy and dark here today and I did not use any artificial lighting.

To illustrate how different it looks in different natural lighting here she is in different rooms of the house.

In the living room hanging out with Tommy reading the instructions for Francesca's aero chamber. LOL Tommy loves to help us with everyone. He is a sweet baby.


Profile in the library.



and back near the dining room kitchen area. It's very dark here this morning but she still lights up the room.

 

[missy]

mrs-b I have a photo of your extraordinary opal in my PS HOF, I believe I saved it from your vendor's website. Hope you don't mind me posting it.

I know opals are notoriously difficult to photo, maybe you should ask Justin for some tips!!

Now that is a beautiful photo!

 

[mrs-b]

Hi @mrs-b I just measured it with calipers for you (including halo) and it is 15.5 mm by 22.3 mm. And of course I took the opportunity for a few photos lol.

Every time I take the ring out I am reminded of how freaking gorgeous she is but how almost impossible it is to capture its beauty in photos. It's snowy and dark here today and I did not use any artificial lighting.

To illustrate how different it looks in different natural lighting here she is in different rooms of the house.

In the living room hanging out with Tommy reading the instructions for Francesca's aero chamber. LOL Tommy loves to help us with everyone. He is a sweet baby.


Profile in the library.



and back near the dining room kitchen area. It's very dark here this morning but she still lights up the room.

Thank you for those dimensions @missy! And always happy to look at more photos of your gorgeous ring!

I totally hear you on how difficult it is to capture the beauty of an opal. If you look at my post a few back, and look at the photo I posted and compare it to the video - it's like it's a different stone.

I'm actually wearing it at the moment. It isn't as dark in real life as in the photo @prs posted; it has more lime green and is more pastel generally. In ambient lighting, tho, the colors POP and the orange leaps to the fore, and its constant look is tropical; the turquoise water and bright blue sky - but the tropical fruits, bright birds, green and lime lush vegetation, and flaming sunsets also - and in Massachusetts, it always reminds me of being on vacation in my favorite part of Australia (the Whitsunday Islands). In any lighting at all, tho, it's utterly gorgeous - with hints of purple and violet, touches of deep blue and flashes of red. This one really runs the gamut of color and I have to say, of all my rings, I think this one is the prettiest. I'd love to get a larger one, one day, tho I don't inspire to your raging beauty (or Cartier in general!!) - perhaps something in the 10-11 x 14-15mm range. We'll see!

 

[missy]

Thank you for those dimensions @missy! And always happy to look at more photos of your gorgeous ring!

I totally hear you on how difficult it is to capture the beauty of an opal. If you look at my post a few back, and look at the photo I posted and compare it to the video - it's like it's a different stone.

I'm actually wearing it at the moment. It isn't as dark in real life as in the photo @prs posted; it has more lime green and is more pastel generally. In ambient lighting, tho, the colors POP and the orange leaps to the fore, and its constant look is tropical; the turquoise water and bright blue sky - but the tropical fruits, bright birds, green and lime lush vegetation, and flaming sunsets also - and in Massachusetts, it always reminds me of being on vacation in my favorite part of Australia (the Whitsunday Islands). In any lighting at all, tho, it's utterly gorgeous - with hints of purple and violet, touches of deep blue and flashes of red. This one really runs the gamut of color and I have to say, of all my rings, I think this one is the prettiest. I'd love to get a larger one, one day, tho I don't inspire to your raging beauty (or Cartier in general!!) - perhaps something in the 10-11 x 14-15mm range. We'll see!

Thank you @mrs-b. Your ring is divine.

Opals are a true treasure. Ethereal, sublime and in some ways intangible. Their beauty is complex (as true beauty often is) and changes from moment to moment. They are true chameleons. No less beautiful but just different depending on the environment the lighting and the temperature. It is just one thing I love about opals in general. How they are beautiful under all conditions (IMO and unlike diamonds that way) yet vary in their moods and colors from moment to moment. I love the way my Cartier warms up when the temps warm up and cools down in the cooler air. Almost like a mood ring- remember from the 1970s? LOL my mood ring was always black because my hands were always cold .


I love the photos posted above and the ever changing colors. Thank you for sharing your beautiful opal. And I hope one day you do indeed find your larger dream opal. If there is one thing I have learned over the decades it is never to say never. You never know what might fall into your lap so to speak and what you might fall in love with and maybe one day you will have a big honking Cartier opal to cherish and enjoy. What I know for sure is you will find more gorgeous gems to love and adore. That is one thing I am confident about. The future is rich with possibilities.

 

[jordyonbass]

I know opals are notoriously difficult to photo

A good rule of thumb for lighting is to underexpose white and crystal opals to light to stop glare on the shiny polish from blocking the colorplay. With Black Opals it is the opposite and you need to overexpose them to light to get them to really show.

Macro lenses help too.

 

[prs]

A good rule of thumb for lighting is to underexpose white and crystal opals to light to stop glare on the shiny polish from blocking the colorplay. With Black Opals it is the opposite and you need to overexpose them to light to get them to really show.

Macro lenses help too.

Jordan, in one of his videos Justin suggested, somewhat light heartedly, that one could color the back of a crystal opal with black magic marker, and get the colorplay to behave more like a black opal. He demonstrated the effect, and it sure made a difference. What are your thoughts on that idea?

 

[GliderPoss]

Quick updated opal family shot
Left to right: Lightning Ridge black opal, Australian crystal opal (location unknown) & Cooper Pedy black opal ring (think maybe doublet, cannot remember!)

Sorry very overcast here today so pics are dull but these pieces are truly vivid in real life.

I love watching Justin’s (BOD) videos - amazing to see the transformation from rough to masterpiece!

 

[jordyonbass]

Jordan, in one of his videos Justin suggested, somewhat light heartedly, that one could color the back of a crystal opal with black magic marker, and get the colorplay to behave more like a black opal. He demonstrated the effect, and it sure made a difference. What are your thoughts on that idea?

I wouldn't recommend doing it as it will come off over time. I think I have seen that video and he was trying to show why Black Opal is worth more by coloring the back of a Crystal Opal with a magic marker. This same effect naturally happens when the Opal has black potch or when a doublet is made. I've had some Opal and silver jewelry made recently and the jeweler blackened and closed the back of the settings, another way to achieve this effect without doing anything to the stone.

So essentially, a black background and stopping light from behind an Opal will improve color.

 

[LittleRed]

What a fun thread full of beauties.... Opals have always mystified me, but I realized I wanted to give them a try. I’ve always been intrigued by white opals but didn’t know there was such a range.

After I ordered my opal, I read in the newspaper that “high quality opals can be more valuable than diamonds.” Nice! Maybe a growing collection is in order.

I’m amazed at how different it looks in different lighting! Here’s the little gem I got....

 

[Bron357]

What a fun thread full of beauties.... Opals have always mystified me, but I realized I wanted to give them a try. I’ve always been intrigued by white opals but didn’t know there was such a range.

After I ordered my opal, I read in the newspaper that “high quality opals can be more valuable than diamonds.” Nice! Maybe a growing collection is in order.

I’m amazed at how different it looks in different lighting! Here’s the little gem I got....

Beautiful opal. The types and variations are all amazing. No two are ever the same and to realize they come out of the ground with all that beauty (justba polish and shaping) is amazing.
Truly a magical gem.
Beware the slippery slope into “addiction”

 

[LittleRed]

Beautiful opal. The types and variations are all amazing. No two are ever the same and to realize they come out of the ground with all that beauty (justba polish and shaping) is amazing.
Truly a magical gem.
Beware the slippery slope into “addiction”

Thanks for the kind words (and warning ) These gems really are amazing! This one is from msopalworld and quite lovely.

Now to decide if it’s best suited for white or yellow gold..... Any opinions?

 

[Acinom]

@TL’s newest addition!

 

[Catmom]

@TL’s newest addition!

Gah! Love it!!

 

[Bluegemz]

@TL’s newest addition!

Such beautiful colors! That halo of pastel stones is magic, luminous and like a tropical sunrise !

 

[lambskin]

Missy, that opal is so
beautiful that it will never photograph poorly.

 

[lovedogs]

@TL’s newest addition!

Oh my goodness what a GLORIOUS ring!! Need so many more pics and details!

 

[Mondayschild]

I'm in heaven. Just discovered opals. I love the differences in each stone.

Not with me yet but got a crush on this vintage ring on Etsy (not as vibrant as many of yours)

Hoping it is genuine - assuming it is, fingers crossed !

 

[Catmom]

Early birthday present earrings and my vintage bracelet.....

 

[Bluegemz]

Early birthday present earrings and my vintage bracelet.....

Beautiful!! Those must look just amazing fun to wear. I love your vintage bracelet. That gold filigree with those swimming pool opals. It’s like fountains of cold, refreshing water in an ancient desert metropolis. The bracelet wakens the senses.

 

[lovedogs]

Early birthday present earrings and my vintage bracelet.....

Oh my goodness that necklace is TDF! Do you have a thread on it, or more pics? Of course the earrings and bracelet are spectacular as well. But the necklace is what my eye was drawn to right away

 

[Catmom]

Beautiful!! Those must look just amazing fun to wear. I love your vintage bracelet. That gold filigree with those swimming pool opals. It’s like fountains of cold, refreshing water in an ancient desert metropolis. The bracelet wakens the senses.

Thank you Bluegemz! I love the bracelet too. The opals seem to glow in any lighting. I love how you describe it!

 

[Catmom]

Oh my goodness that necklace is TDF! Do you have a thread on it, or more pics? Of course the earrings and bracelet are spectacular as well. But the necklace is what my eye was drawn to right away

Thank you lovedogs! Long story on that necklace. Here is the thread...….https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/art-deco-inspired-opal-pendant.240796/

It's also a pin but I don't have any pin pics with the new stone.

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you lovedogs! Long story on that necklace. Here is the thread...….https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/art-deco-inspired-opal-pendant.240796/

It's also a pin but I don't have any pin pics with the new stone.

Oh my goodness I'm so sorry the original was cracked! But I adore the new stone and it's perfect on the dbty chain. Do you have details about the chain ct weight? It's just lovely!

 

[Catmom]

Oh my goodness I'm so sorry the original was cracked! But I adore the new stone and it's perfect on the dbty chain. Do you have details about the chain ct weight? It's just lovely!

Initially I was sad but now I get the original idea I wanted and a good excuse for another black opal, lol. The chain is a vintage DBY with old mine cuts and OECs, 2.40 cts that I bought from JbG.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

I much regrettably do not have any opals to share, mostly because I have been quite intimidated by them. I do have two October babies though, and very much want some.

My question to the much more knowledgeable- what is your opinion of natural opals that have been dyed? Besides the obvious that they aren't 100% untreated and therefore less valuable, any more cons of this? Does it increase crazing? Thanks for anyone's input.

 

[NK2012]

Which color do you guys like better? I’ve always been drawn to the more pastel colors, but I’m also digging the black opal.

 

[Bluegemz]

Which color do you guys like better? I’ve always been drawn to the more pastel colors, but I’m also digging the black opal.

Oh, the black opal for me!! Love the dark mystery of them! That one is beautiful.

 

[lovedogs]

Black one by miles!!!! I love love love black opals. That one will be great in person (I think)!