Swore off opals, but you are all incorrigible enablers...

[Bron357]

I’d only recommend BlackOpalDirect.
Justin also has a fabulous You Tube channel where he cuts opals. Very entertaining and educational. He’s your typical down to earth Aussie guy. His opals aren’t cheap but they are exactly what he says they are.
Opal buying can be hit or miss if you don’t understand the nuances that affect pricing. Yes, Black Opal is most expensive but there’s Black Opal Hoo hum and Black Opal to die for.
Red is the most desirable colour (rarest because it requires the largest size silica spheres) blue and green the most common.
The bigger % of the face that shows colour, in any stationary position, the better.
The more colours the better, though the more red the better.
Patterns. There’s a range of “patterns” pin fire is most common, broad Rolling and changing flash is better but harlequin is top. There are others.
My big crystal opal is (ring) a good example of lots of red / orange and being “broad flash”. Photo alongside my opal pendant which is much more subdued. Also about 90% colour face up.

 

[LilAlex]

So here is another video Michael sent me of the opal... he tried to film it at its worst. No light on in the room or on the opal, and he's not near any windows.

Have him do that at night why don't you

I love it, @Autumn in New England -- and I also love the back-and-forth with @yssie that is educational for the uninitiated like me and also helps me appreciate the opal stratosphere (!) in some of those side posts. I hope you love it in person!

 

[Autumn in New England]

@yssie I see what you mean about that 8.36ct. stone (which also has a flash pattern). I think we can all agree it's excellent quality (you thought enough of it to share), and Justin (an opal connoisseur) has given it his top brightness grade. At that size, it's probably a word-class stone. Mine's only half the size.

But if I were being knit-picky, I'd like to see a slightly darker body tone and a bit more red, as you pointed out. I also think that area where there is a large loss of color play is too prominent from too many angles. In that respect, I vastly prefer the stone I posted (size aside). Of course, that's if we can rely on both vendor videos. I'd need to study them both in person, side-by-side, for a true comparison. Maybe Justin will "lend" the 8.36ct. to me in the interest of science.

The 3ct. one is stunning... with the price tag to match. It's unassailable with no drawbacks, IMO. And even with that stone, it loses and regains color as it's scintillated. It has a smaller, scattered (less broad) pattern. Nature of the beast with opals that flash! I think it's what makes them special... the stone looks different from every angle.

 

[lovedogs]

Yes! OMG. Fortunately or unfortunately - I figured out how to alter the VCA letterwood search line you once sent me to find some other things. And now I regularly trawl Rakuten for branded bling, pearls, opals, and gigantic packs of matcha Kit Kats

Matcha kit kats are one of the best things on earth

 

[Autumn in New England]

Have him do that at night why don't you

I love it, @Autumn in New England -- and I also love the back-and-forth with @yssie that is educational for the uninitiated like me and also helps me appreciate the opal stratosphere (!) in some of those side posts. I hope you love it in person!

I'm going to ask him to film it under the bed at midnight, and see how we do!

Thank you! I'm enjoying the discussion as well!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Matcha kit kats are one of the best things on earth

We've come to the portion of the thread where we transition into food-talk, and I couldn't be more pleased.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Lovely crystal opals, @Bron357! Big, broad color play patterns. Yes, pinfire opals are my least favorite. It seems no matter how crisp the colors might be head-on, they never hold up at arm's length. If possible, I want to see the colors from across the room. lol

True harlequins are in a league of their own. When I asked Michael about them, he laughed. He said he maybe gets 2/year, that they carry a huge premium, and are gone before being listed. Many vendors list their stones as harlequin, when they most certainly are not. They tend to be flagstone patterns instead. True harlequins must have repeating diamond-shaped or square patterning. It's all so interesting... which is why I imagine opals are so beloved.

 

[icy_jade]

I love this one

https://item.rakuten.co.jp/ains1/ik0210014/

 

[2Neesers]

Your opal looks gorgeous @Autumn in New England !
I hope you’ll share pictures once you have it in hand. Do you have any ideas on how you’ll set it? I can picture it accented with CS like one of the fabulous Omi Prive opal rings, or all diamonds would look amazing too!

 

[cocotate]

Opals under ideal lighting especially under the sun can look breathtaking and spectacular, but pretty much all of them can look drab in everyday indoor light. I purchased a lot of opals but in the beginning, I managed to get constantly disappointed until I learned better to set proper expectations.

I agree with @yssie with her informative posts that should be heedful for any novice buyers.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Your opal looks gorgeous @Autumn in New England !
I hope you’ll share pictures once you have it in hand. Do you have any ideas on how you’ll set it? I can picture it accented with CS like one of the fabulous Omi Prive opal rings, or all diamonds would look amazing too!

Thank you, friend! I was actually thinking rubies to compliment the red, but ugh, I'd have to wait awhile to replenish my funds.

 

[Eli22]

So mesmerizing @Autumn in New England !!! I, too, am enjoying the back and forth here - learning so much about opal. I have opal earrings from loooooooooong ago that I recently reset with DK. I know they are not “top grade” but sentimental to me! Would love to own a black opal someday

 

[Autumn in New England]

So mesmerizing @Autumn in New England !!! I, too, am enjoying the back and forth here - learning so much about opal. I have opal earrings from loooooooooong ago that I recently reset with DK. I know they are not “top grade” but sentimental to me! Would love to own a black opal someday

I'd really love to see them, @Eli22! I was thinking about having some black opal/diamond halo studs made one day. My issue is that I have these really obese earlobes. lol I LOVE studs, but they never seem to sit right. Perhaps a dangle would be better. I don't know!

Meet my "thicc" lobies...



My favorite turquoise drops. Hi everyone!!

 

[Eli22]

I'd really love to see them, @Eli22! I was thinking about having some black opal/diamond halo studs made one day. My issue is that I have these really obese earlobes. lol I LOVE studs, but they never seem to sit right. Perhaps a dangle would be better. I don't know!

Meet my "thicc" lobies...



My favorite turquoise drops. Hi everyone!!

I don’t think your lobes are thick! We are our own worst critics! You (and your earrings) are beautiful!

I get it though when you don’t feel something sits right, maybe a different style will do? Dangles are always a good option! I’m a fan of “convertible” earrings too, where you can mix and match the danglers.

I’ll share photos when I get around to taking them!!

 

[stracci2000]

I'd really love to see them, @Eli22! I was thinking about having some black opal/diamond halo studs made one day. My issue is that I have these really obese earlobes. lol I LOVE studs, but they never seem to sit right. Perhaps a dangle would be better. I don't know!

Meet my "thicc" lobies...



My favorite turquoise drops. Hi everyone!!

Hey paisana, you and your earlobes are fabulous! Opal earrings would look great!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I'd really love to see them, @Eli22! I was thinking about having some black opal/diamond halo studs made one day. My issue is that I have these really obese earlobes. lol I LOVE studs, but they never seem to sit right. Perhaps a dangle would be better. I don't know!

Meet my "thicc" lobies...



My favorite turquoise drops. Hi everyone!!

Wow. You are stunning! I knew you were nice from your posts but you are also beautiful.

 

[CBianco]

I'd really love to see them, @Eli22! I was thinking about having some black opal/diamond halo studs made one day. My issue is that I have these really obese earlobes. lol I LOVE studs, but they never seem to sit right. Perhaps a dangle would be better. I don't know!

Meet my "thicc" lobies...



My favorite turquoise drops. Hi everyone!!

You are absolutely gorgeous! Your earrings are too

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

@Autumn in New England you are ALL gorgeousness!!! I have nothing to add abut opals...LOL

cheers--Sharon

 

[Autumn in New England]

I don’t think your lobes are thick! We are our own worst critics! You (and your earrings) are beautiful!

I get it though when you don’t feel something sits right, maybe a different style will do? Dangles are always a good option! I’m a fan of “convertible” earrings too, where you can mix and match the danglers.

I’ll share photos when I get around to taking them!!

Well they're fat front-to-back, if that makes sense. So they flip up a little, and certain earrings can look silly on me. Sure... no pressure. If you see fit to take some pix, I'd love to see them.

Actually, I was thinking about the opal in my OP and how we view them. Most folks post a still photo of their opal at its best (like we do with most gems). I posted a video, which shows it at its brightest, but also at its worst angles. Anyway! Just thinking out loud, like Ed Sheeran.

Thank you for commenting, Eli!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

@stracci2000, @CaseyLouLou, @CBianco, and @canuk-gal,

Aww... you guys are incredibly kind.

Thank you for making my day!!

 

[cloud_less]

Off-topic but you are gorgeous!!!

 

[bling_dream19]

Echoing gorgeous! Opals will be fabulous!

 

[Autumn in New England]

@cloud_less and @bling_dream19

That you all took the time for such generous compliments touches my heart. Thank you!

 

[Brigid]

You are absolutely stunning @Autumn in New England as is your opal! Looking forward to seeing the masterpiece you create.

 

[yssie]

Actually, I was thinking about the opal in my OP and how we view them. Most folks post a still photo of their opal at its best (like we do with most gems). I posted a video, which shows it at its brightest, but also at its worst angles. Anyway! Just thinking out loud, like Ed Sheeran.

You are beautiful. Such dramatic colouring. You could wear absolutely any jewel tone you pleased.


Highlighted this portion because I found it to be an unexpected comment… I just did a few searches here on PS, out of curiosity, and turns out most *PS* opal owners share photos from many angles, and often videos as well (although compression is a bit of a drag without a paid-for service - my own included, no knocks on anyone else). Many of us also share vendor photos/videos/listings. I really love that for the most part PSers are so honest about our own stones. It’s certainly not the consumer norm.

On page 5 of the SMTB thread I linked earlier I shared still photos and videos using both a phone and a camera… Same time, same opal, same place, different photographic devices. Those might be of interest to you if that’s the sort of thing you like to explore. I remember being quite surprised by some of the nuances that using a phone camera creates: The pictures that resulted were nontrivially different. All phones have visualization enhancing software - some models do more, some less, but they all do it, and in my experience a camera’s capture is closer to what my eyes see in nearly every lighting environment.

 

[Autumn in New England]

@yssie Oh yeah, absolutely! I mean, we all want to post the very best photos of our gems. It's just much easier to capture a gem's best qualities in a still, as opposed to a video (which is why they're so helpful when buying). And I think that's especially true of opals. Thank you for the lovely compliment!!

 

[icy_jade]

I actually think that opals looking quite different in different lighting and angles makes them more fun to wear. Recall playing with that quite a bit and taking so many pics when I first got this black opal.

Played with the opal ring this morning as a quick pick me up before the daily grind...



Clearly am still finding the play of color quite fascinating

Indoors while trying to capture the neon flashes

 

[Autumn in New England]

You are absolutely stunning @Autumn in New England as is your opal! Looking forward to seeing the masterpiece you create.

Many thanks for saying so, Brigid!

Is that a Mikimoto pendant in your profile pic? It's glorious.

I actually think that opals looking quite different in different lighting and angles makes them more fun to wear. Recall playing with that quite a bit and taking so many pics when I first got this black opal.

I agree! What a fun stone, icy!!

 

[yssie]

I actually think that opals looking quite different in different lighting and angles makes them more fun to wear. Recall playing with that quite a bit and taking so many pics when I first got this black opal.

Can I just take a moment to appreciate that you appear to have simply screenshotted your camera roll

I have to be honest, I think I’m still working toward genuinely enjoying gemstones’ different personalities! My first reaction is still… Low key kind of irritated that they won’t pick a character and stick with it… I’m getting there though. Slowly. I will confess to having some similar camera roll screenshots

Those blues and teals work on you icy!! I know we’ve talked about that!

 

[yssie]

Autumn I haven’t any idea what your ring preferences are but I have to share one more creation. From Sako. It’s not my personal style, and I’m a bit scared of combining tons of colours to be honest, but this combo looks so glamorous here. Just for fun

Cicada Jewelry Design, Inc. on Instagram: "That rainbow skittles halo for that abstract like painting of a black opal. Perfect combo. . . . #jewelry #jeweler #gems #gemstone #gemcutter #lapidary #custom #bespoke #highend #luxury #fashion #designer #b

896 likes, 33 comments - cjd_sako on September 2, 2018: "That rainbow skittles halo for that abstract like painting of a black opal. Perfect combo. . . . #jewelry #jeweler #gems #gemstone #gemcutter #lapidary #custom #bespoke #highend #luxury #fashion #designer #bridal #cjd #diamond #antique...

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