My Newest Stone: Fire Opal

[ChrisA222]

I like this forum, and how people post the latest stones they have aquired...I did list this in the thread of stones you are expecting, but here's my first thread about a new stone.

This is a Mexican Fire Opal, my first fire Opal that isn't yellow. I really liked the color...its like a really vibrant reddish orange..or orangish-red...really hard to decide, as its on the fence between those two colors. That being said, it hasn't been sunny at all here in CT, so I've just seen it indoors under flourescent lights...it literally JUSt came! Its a very unusual cut...sort of like a checkerboard but it isn't a checkerboard. There is a small center "table" I guess, in a diamond shape, and the "checkers" go all around that diamond. There is a deep pavillion too, with no cutlet...a sharp point! So you get lots of sparkle from inside the gem AND the checkerboard from the "table" sparkles. I can't wait to see it in the sun!

The stats: It measures 12x12, and it weighs 10cts. I think its a great example. No, its not RED which I hear is the most valuable color, but itis a nice r'orange

These are vendor pics, they are better than my camera phone can do!

 

[ChrisA222]

A few more...

All opinions welcome....even the ones that don't love the stone..Im curious how it rates in the Mexican Fire Opal scale...for I was told it is a "fine" stone. It was around $100 but I was told it is worth more than that.

 

[innerkitten]

I don't know anything about fir opals but I like the color Is it going to be set?

 

[ChrisA222]

Thanks! I don't think I would set this..no. If I do a pendant for myself its going to be with a different stone...(Im a guy, this is too big for a ring). I could always have a pendant made for my Mom or something, but I think this one is going to be in my collection. I'm trying to figure out a way to display some of my stones where I can look at them. Right now, my desk faces a window out to the backyard, so Sun comes through there. So I have some of the stones sitting in those clear JTV gem jars on the windowstill...But I'd love to figure out a better way to see the gems, something lit...I dont know. I know that sounds weird...especially since some of the gems are only a ct or so..

I don't want to go off topic as I really would like to hear where this stone rates as far as Fire Opals, but I'd love to hear how everyone out there displays stones in their collection that are unset. I do have some ideas for a pendant or two, and maybe some rings I could alternate wearing, but a stone such as this, I wouldn't set but I'd love to look at it!

 

[Tanzigrrl]

That is fiery! Very nice stone. I like the shape and the color is very nice - I prefer the darker, redder tones for fire opals, myself.

 

[Enerchi]

Sorry Chrissa that I can't give you rating info since I don't know enough about fire opals, but visually, it sure is very appealing! I love the richness of that red and the faceting is lovely! Very nice!

Why don't you start a thread on how people display their gems?? I'd love to learn what others do, too!

 

[chrono]

First off, how accurate is the photography? Cutting looks great!

 

[RedSpinel]

Thats nicer than my yellow fire opal. Its pretty clear too, as often they are cloudy, and the color is good and the cutting seems good too. The problem with mounting it is that Opal is soft, so it will wear or scratch fairly easily, so even if you do mount it, dont mount it in a ring.

I dont know that it is the so called "perfect" Fire Opal color, but its cool! I kinda like it better than red.

Its a little odd that its 12mm x 12mm but weighs 10cts. Opal is one of the lightest gems(least dense), if not the lightest, so I wouldve thought a 12mm x 12mm would only weigh in at around 6-8cts.

 

[distracts]

Pretty! I love the vibrant, "fiery" colors of fire opals. I've only seen a few that actually have the opalescent play of different colors, but I love them even without that. They look like delicious candies.

And my general guideline for what a stone is worth is... what I paid for it. Based on my shopping for fire opals at the gem show last week, a 1 ct cab was $15, and a 2 ct pear was $35, so I think yours was a fair price and if you had bought it elsewhere you may have had to pay twice what you did.

 

[ChrisA222]

Thanks for the opinions!

Yeah, the stone has a very deep Pavillion...with a long "point" (what is that called?) There is no cutlet...its sharp! lol. I just weighed the stone for myself and you are right, it isn't 10cts..it is 9.75. You were right, its lighter than advertised, but not much...I guess it sounds better "10cts" vs "9.75cts" lol.

The cutting and colors of the pics are pretty accurate, Chrono. The pics are closest to the darker ones that I posted..the bright bright pic that I posted is under lots of lighting, I was only able to duplicate that shade under the bright halogen bedroom lights. I know, who has bright halogen bedroom lights??? I need to get new lighting! lol

Thanks distracts for the value info! I think the size and cutting make it stand out a bit, but like RS noted, the stone is kinda soft so it will be displayed somehow..

 

[jeffdvs101]

Chris, I have to agree with RedSpinel, it seems way to heavy to be Opal, as an example a 11 x 11mm trillion weighs just 3cts, and a 10 x 8 oval under 2cts, that's with ideal proportions, Fire opal is very light when compared to other stones

 

[chrono]

Chris,
How sure are you that it is a fire opal (with regards to the weight versus size issue)?

 

[ChrisA222]

I mean, I am not a gemologist...it seems like Fire Opal to me. It is a very deep stone...I didn't measure the depth but I will when I get home, as now I am scared...lol. I guess I will have to forward it on to someone who would check it out for me. Thanks guys for giving me this input as now I need to find out if I got screwed....the seller seems very trustworthy...he also sold me that sunstone pendant in that other thread "deconstructing pendant"..he has the rough and cuts it himself. He told me that the material is Mexican Fire Opal that he collected himself back in the 80s and is now starting to get back into cutting. Off the topof my head, I would say that the stone comes to a point at almost as deep as the stone measures...so I'd guess it is probably 100% depth. I dont know the calculations but assuming the stone is 12x12x12 what would the approximate weight be? Again, I came up with 9.75cts.

 

[ChrisA222]

The only other info I have right now is that the cut is called a "Hummer Twist", and that he is going to be cutting a 20ct stone fairly soon for sale. Ill attach the best pics that I have to show depth but I cant measure until I get home tonight...but you all have me nervous now!

 

[LD]

Chrisa a 10ct fire opal would be very very cheap for $100 with good cut so I'm afraid that I would urge caution (together with the weight issue).

To give you an indication, I bought this bracelet about 8 years ago (can't remember the total carat weight) but the stones are Mexican fire red cherry opals and I paid more than $100. Sorry for the horrible quality photo. Okay, I know it's probably a rubbish comparison but I buy opals reasonably regularly and I'm not sure that I've seen a 10ct that cheap (wish I had!!!!!).

I know you say that the seller seems genuine but sellers can make honest mistakes. Nobody's infalible!

 

[RedSpinel]

Its is a thick stone, and it really looks like a fire opal to me. Its mostly clear and transparent, but it still has that "ever-so-slight" haziness(if thats the right term) to it. In other words, it has a slight opaqueness that you can see through, but its there, slightly, and thats common for even clear fire opal, at least all the ones I've seen, so I dont know how someone would fake that.

Plus, I think that the overall thickness of it in the last 2 pictures probably helps explains the seemingly heavy carat weight too.

Check it to be sure, but I'd bet you its real.

 

[ChrisA222]

I am 99percent sure its real...Ive been looking online at similar weighted opals, and there are many that are in that size range...its all about the thickness and depth of the stone. I believe the vendors story. The stone looks very much like my yellow fire opal aside from the color. I will send it to my gemologist friend to confirm though.

He was saying all along that the stone is worth a lot more than what it sold for...he said the same thing about the Sunstone in that (ugly) pendant that I posted under the "deconstructed pendant" thread. If you didnt see...that really nice saturated red-orange Sunstone is 7cts and 11mm I think...I really think that he just didn't get " noticed" and I was the one lucky enough to get the deal. That is what I am hoping anyways, that I got two really nice stones way underrvalued...FINALLY lol. I've bought a lot of duds in my day, including 12 out of 14 Sapphires that I bought as a newbie that turned out to be lab stones. Only 2 were not..and you know, of course they were the smallest, least-saturated, lightest colored stones I had. Man was I upset. But the more I learned about sapphires the more I stayed away from them. Good thing, or I'd have much more than 14 lab stones!! I sent all my Spinels to be checked, and those were all real except for one that turned out to be rhodolite and one that turned out to be red zircon--no problems with those!

So hopefully yeah, the Fire Opal is real and perhaps I finally got a bargain. The same thing, hopefully, is that the Sunstone that most on here didn't think was a find any better than "good buy" or "fair", is also a much better find than that. I've been at this for a little while now, and I was looking for MY bargain. lol.

In one of those threads that involved TL, many spoke of her amazing finds...I was just trying to join that club

 

[ChrisA222]

LD, I don't know if this makes a difference, but my stone isn't red-red like yours in that bracelet...its definately red-orange or orange-red, depending on the amount of light I guess you could say. Its color is very much in line with one of my Hessonites in my collection...

 

[chrono]

I did a quick search on Uli's website since he cuts a lot of Fire Opals and based on the carat weight and measurement, it is likely to be spot on for a Fire Opal as his stones also have almost a 100% depth. Looking into the stone for the slight haziness and colour, it looks very much like a fire opal to me.

 

[ChrisA222]

Chrono are you an Osiris fan too!? OMG I love his stones so much! I have but one right now, a rhodolite in his trinity octagon shape..but Im about to get some more. I've been talking to him about having him recut three of my stones and I am so excited. So far, I am going to have him recut a 15ct Imperial Topaz Pear into his Liquid Flower...he says thats a good choice, its very pleocroic (sp) with reds,oranges,browns and Ill lose possibly more than 50% weight...so that works. I also want him to do another trinity..either a round or trillion, on my 8ct Moldavite..which is a princess right now so who knows, as long as I get back 3cts Im fine losing 5...his cutting is worth so much more to me. LAstly, I think Im going to send him one of my most prized stones...I have a golden grossular garnet..only special really because it is over 5cts and you never ever see them that size. At least I haven't. Its in a cushion and he told me he is going to find me a cushion cut that he will do that I will love. I cannot wait! And Im sorry that I hijacked my own thread but you got me so excited when you mentioned Uli. lol I am such a gemstone addict...this forum is enabling me...

 

[chrono]

Uli does very artistic designs which I admire greatly. In terms of material, they are quite ordinary with a few exceptions, especially his fire opals. Just remember, with such a drastic loss of weight, you are guaranteed to lose the current colour that you see. Perhaps you like it that way, but for the most part, the worth will be lessened. The sapphire/aquamarine thread broke my heart. The original stone had a lovely light blue shade and after the recut and at least 50% loss of material, it became an almost colourless gray stone with only a hint of blue.

 

[ChrisA222]

.Chrono, thats a good point...but yeah, I think Im pretty safe. I don't think Ill lose much weight in the Golden Garnet, since he's keeping it roughly the same shape..the Topaz and the Moldavite would look great if they became a little..or a lot...lighter. The Moldavite is not super dark but its on the dark side. Actually Ill post some pics of the three stones...

 

[minousbijoux]

Chris: Its great that you are as interested in having stones recut as you are, but I hope you are doing it solely because you want to have well cut examples of various stones in your collection - not because you think of this as an investment and believe you are consistently increasing the value. As you said in an earlier post, its value is whatever you can sell it for - no more and no less. Except for the touted Big Three (emerald, sapphire, and ruby) and maybe throw in spinel and some garnets, it is unlikely you will recoup your purchase costs (not even adding in the cost of cutting) unless you hold it for a long time as you, like the rest of us, are not buying wholesale and do not have an exit strategy for sale.

Please just enjoy your stones; don't worry about their value and worth!