Do you like opals?

[Harriet]

Rick,
Does Lightning Ridge have signature material too?

 

[katebar]

Its funny Opal is my birth stone but I have loathed opals since I was a child. I think that here in Australia they were so over commercialised in they way they were set that it was almost "tacky" to wear one.
But after seeing these beautiful stones unset and the gorgeous pieces that Glitterati posted I am looking at them in new light.
I think I would love a Victorian piece

 

[Harriet]

Wouldn''t you like a ''roo pin with an opal pouch?

 

[AGBF]

mochi,

I just love that opal. I love everything about it, its color and its shape and its size. I had a ring made for my daughter (by Rick), but she lost it. I'd love to have that stone, especially to use for someone young! Nice to see you here again, Rick. If anyone can set us straight on our opals, it is you!

Deborah

 

[katebar]

Date: 1/24/2009 5:07:22 PM
Author: Harriet
Wouldn''t you like a ''roo pin with an opal pouch?

No this is more my thing

 

[Harriet]

What kind of opal is *that*?

 

[katebar]

Date: 1/24/2009 5:51:11 PM
Author: Harriet
What kind of opal is *that*?

A hideously awful ''chip'' that is in every souvenir shop from Cairns to Alice Springs

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 1/24/2009 3:23:06 PM
Author: Harriet
Rick,

Does Lightning Ridge have signature material too?

Lightning Ridge is famous for its black opals, so they would be it''s "signature." All opal fields in Oz produce all types of opal -- Coober Pedy (aboriginal for "White Man in a Hole''), Andamooka, Mintabe, L.R., White Cliffs and others except the boulder opal sources. But each field seems to produce one type that predominates over others.

Most white (or light) opal comes from Coober but the field produces other types of very fine gem opal. Andamooka is largely played-out but in its day it produced amazing green/orange stones along with outstanding seam opal of the highest quality. It''s now mainly known for production of opal matrix, a quartzite that can be artificially blackened to highlight bright specks of opal contained within. It''s pretty but it''s often misrepresented as black opal.

Mintabie is famous for its incredibly bright multicolored light crystal opal and a valuable form of black seam opal. White Cliffs produced mostly light opal and it''s now largely inactive. Lambina yields some very lovely stones, both light and dark. There are other fields.

Most boulder opal originates in Queensland, from places with names like Yowah, Kyuna, Koroit, Quilpie, Bulgroo, Jundah, etc. Boulder''s a very different game although fine boulder stones can rank in value with the best blacks from Lighting Ridge, which are the world''s most valuable opals. They often bring as much per carat as fine rubies and other colored gems. I have stones from nearly every field and love them all for their distinctive beauties.

Don''t forget the other big player in opal these days: Brazil. Some incredibly beautiful stones are coming from Boi Morto which means Dead Ox, not an overwhelmingly romantic name! and the region surrounding Pedro Segundo in Piaui State. These fine stones have been sold as Australian for some years but the source is now coming into its own.



Richard M.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 1/24/2009 5:06:04 PM
Author: katebar
Its funny Opal is my birth stone but I have loathed opals since I was a child. I think that here in Australia they were so over commercialised in they way they were set that it was almost ''tacky'' to wear one.
But after seeing these beautiful stones unset and the gorgeous pieces that Glitterati posted I am looking at them in new light.
I think I would love a Victorian piece

Kate, thats exactly what I said recently - its like we''re programmed to think they''re tacky here.
But I have literally fallen hard for nice opals, and would like to buy a nice Lightning Ridge one, or better a Harlequin one.

Does anyone know of decent ebay vendors for opals, something not too pricey where I could "cut my teeth" so to say?

 

[cinnamon013]

Date: 1/24/2009 7:35:46 PM
Author: arjunajane

Does anyone know of decent ebay vendors for opals, something not too pricey where I could ''cut my teeth'' so to say?

Dan Stair has several on ebay right now.

 

[mochi]

This a like ebay but for opals:

http://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/

Opals are so fun, they look different each time it''s moved.

Rick, I love that opal avatar! it''s absolutely gorgeous.

 

[arjunajane]

Thanks Cinnamon and Mochi - I think I''ve also found a couple Aussie ebay sellers that look reliable.
I know this is a silly Q - but what are doublets and triplets?

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 1/24/2009 7:59:09 PM
Author: mochi


Rick, I love that opal avatar! it''s absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks Mochi. It''s a Mintabie crystal gem. Wish you could see it in person: the avatar doesn''t even begin to show it off.

Richard M.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 1/24/2009 8:07:34 PM
Author: arjunajane
Thanks Cinnamon and Mochi - I think I''ve also found a couple Aussie ebay sellers that look reliable.
I know this is a silly Q - but what are doublets and triplets?

http://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/articles/doublets-triplets.php

 

[Harriet]

Date: 1/24/2009 7:18:35 PM
Author: Richard M.

Date: 1/24/2009 3:23:06 PM
Author: Harriet
Rick,

Does Lightning Ridge have signature material too?

Lightning Ridge is famous for its black opals, so they would be it's 'signature.' All opal fields in Oz produce all types of opal -- Coober Pedy (aboriginal for 'White Man in a Hole'), Andamooka, Mintabe, L.R., White Cliffs and others except the boulder opal sources. But each field seems to produce one type that predominates over others.

Most white (or light) opal comes from Coober but the field produces other types of very fine gem opal. Andamooka is largely played-out but in its day it produced amazing green/orange stones along with outstanding seam opal of the highest quality. It's now mainly known for production of opal matrix, a quartzite that can be artificially blackened to highlight bright specks of opal contained within. It's pretty but it's often misrepresented as black opal.

Mintabie is famous for its incredibly bright multicolored light crystal opal and a valuable form of black seam opal. White Cliffs produced mostly light opal and it's now largely inactive. Lambina yields some very lovely stones, both light and dark. There are other fields.

Most boulder opal originates in Queensland, from places with names like Yowah, Kyuna, Koroit, Quilpie, Bulgroo, Jundah, etc. Boulder's a very different game although fine boulder stones can rank in value with the best blacks from Lighting Ridge, which are the world's most valuable opals. They often bring as much per carat as fine rubies and other colored gems. I have stones from nearly every field and love them all for their distinctive beauties.

Don't forget the other big player in opal these days: Brazil. Some incredibly beautiful stones are coming from Boi Morto which means Dead Ox, not an overwhelmingly romantic name! and the region surrounding Pedro Segundo in Piaui State. These fine stones have been sold as Australian for some years but the source is now coming into its own.



Richard M.

Thanks, Rick. Is that the Yowah of 'the Angel of Yowah'? I'd love to see your collection.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 1/24/2009 8:46:53 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 1/24/2009 8:07:34 PM
Author: arjunajane
Thanks Cinnamon and Mochi - I think I''ve also found a couple Aussie ebay sellers that look reliable.
I know this is a silly Q - but what are doublets and triplets?

http://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/articles/doublets-triplets.php

Thats great info, cheers Harriet.

 

[Harriet]

You''re welcome.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 1/24/2009 8:44:45 PM
Author: Richard M.

Date: 1/24/2009 7:59:09 PM
Author: mochi


Rick, I love that opal avatar! it''s absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks Mochi. It''s a Mintabie crystal gem. Wish you could see it in person: the avatar doesn''t even begin to show it off.

Richard M.

Rick,
Where is that stunning sapphire that you were using as an avatar some time back?

 

[daniiopal]

katebar this one is for u... i just wish i was a better photographer but its still beautiful....riiitttteeee?

 

[daniiopal]

Date: 1/24/2009 2:01:55 PM
Author: glitterata
Pretty opals, everyone!!


Here''s my black opal ring:

i would love to get my hands on one of these one day. u have one beautiful opal glitterata.

 

[katebar]

Date: 2/23/2009 3:46:48 AM
Author: daniiopal
katebar this one is for u... i just wish i was a better photographer but its still beautiful....riiitttteeee?

daniiopal. That''s gorgeous thanks

. I think we call them milk opals here and that sure is purty!

 

[Sharon101]

Date: 1/24/2009 8:07:34 PM
Author: arjunajane
Thanks Cinnamon and Mochi - I think I''ve also found a couple Aussie ebay sellers that look reliable.
I know this is a silly Q - but what are doublets and triplets?

Doublet has a backing layer but the front is a layer of opal. You can tell by touching the stone and looking at the side where it is joined.

Triplet has a backing layer and a clear resin front layer. When you touch the front it feels like plastic and of course you can see the joins from the side like with the doublet.

These items are usually quite lively and of good color with a much lower price bracket than a similar coloured solid opal.

eg. low hundreds for a large doublet compared to thousands for the same in a solid.

 

[Sharon101]

My husbands family have been in the opal industry since my husbands great grandfather came here from India as a young man.

I can tell you that in the twenty years that I have been together with my husband.....only now do I appreciate the beauty of the opal. Until now I would walk into his shop and not see a thing because my eyes were not interested in opals...even his museum quality ones. To me they were sooooo boring and useless, not even good enough to borrow for a function (although I have had the odd time of wearing some spectacular pieces...but not with my whole heart).

But now, having hit the magical age of 40 and finding PS has made me appreciate these precious things that come from the earth. And I think I have more respect for these precious stones that are so rare and amazing. You know how as you get older you start appreciating the finer things in life like colored stones in general....and the wonder of how they came to be.

 

[daniiopal]

thank u Katebar, jus wanted to kick the skeptic out of u concerning opals

... i had a hard time working with it too... free forming takes a lil more time than the traditional cabochons.


Sharon, better late than never...

 

[Gailey]

Date: 12/29/2008 6:04:41 PM
Author: TheDoctor
We don''t do many of these, but that''s the beauty of this kind of rarity. This was a boulder, very intense.

That is a very nice pendant Doc.

Note to self: Must make and appointment to see the doctor one of these days!

 

[Sharon101]

Date: 2/23/2009 8:58:53 AM
Author: daniiopal
thank u Katebar, jus wanted to kick the skeptic out of u concerning opals

... i had a hard time working with it too... free forming takes a lil more time than the traditional cabochons.


Sharon, better late than never...

Daniiopal, your opals are amazing!!!!!!

 

[FrekeChild]

Not particularly...

 

[T L]

I found this photo of an opal by a gem cutter on flikr. It''s not my stone, but I wouldn''t mind if it was.

 

[daniiopal]

Date: 2/26/2009 9:26:08 AM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I found this photo of an opal by a gem cutter on flikr. It''s not my stone, but I wouldn''t mind if it was.

 

[mercoledi]

Does anyone know if there''s an advantage to faceting opals? They look funny to me when faceted, but maybe just because I''ve seen so many cabbed. Does it change their performance?