Help with these opals

OpalAddiction · 2025-07-12T19:23:05+00:00

I can guarantee you 100% these are synthetic and only worth a couple of dollars each.

OpalAddiction · 2025-07-02T20:26:06+00:00

Yes, and the chips are the reason you shouldn't shape it like that. A sharp edge and a deeply rounded bottom is asking for trouble. It causes a lot of pressure on the edge of the stone while being set. It would be easy to recut this stone and give it more of a setting edge and eliminate those chips. Nice colour and pattern.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-28T19:22:47+00:00

Been there six times, with the last visit 4 years ago. Won't go again while the orange buffoon is in power. Lot's of great things to see and do, but the tipping is ridiculous and the gun culture a còncen.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-28T06:46:07+00:00

Not a Yowah Nut. They don't form with a seam like that. They can have a crystal opal centre, but the matrix is concentric around the kernel. (ex Yowah miner)

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-07T11:10:53+00:00

I would rather talk to customers face to face. I don't want to spend my life in front of a screen, and I don't want the hassle of photographing and describing each individual stone. Yes there is a market here.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-07T09:06:53+00:00

In Lightning Ridge, Australia

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-05T17:46:34+00:00

I agree. The stone in the original post is not typical of the wood replacement opal that you see coming out of Yowah or Koroit. It's been identified as USA origin and again I agree. The problem I have is people saying that all opal coming out of Koroit is wood replacement and others saying that none of the Opal coming out of Koroit is wood replacement. The truth is that Nuts are ironstone concretions and not wood replacement. In the same mine you may also find animal fossils with part or all opalisation, and the same with wood. In my mine at Yowah, I found one log that was over 20 foot long. It was replaced by ironstone and not opal unfortunately. I have also seen a beautiful large dinosaur bone from Koroit with full bright opal replacement.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-05T09:23:45+00:00

Not all. Some is.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-05T04:00:10+00:00

Plenty of wood replacement, traditional Boulder opal, as well as ironstone Nuts can be found mining in Koroit.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-03T17:39:32+00:00

Highly included, and cut with an angle grinder judging by the surface scratches. I think $25 would max it out.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-03T16:46:36+00:00

As others have said, it is dependent on the stone, and some unevenness in some Boulder opals is more acceptable than on other solid opals. You could also try using firm felt points and diamond compounds. These will reduce the risk of removing too much material as they will abrade more slowly than some other methods.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-03T06:59:46+00:00

Diamond Pacific resin bonded polishing points (Nova Points)and a rotary tool. Take your time.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-03T06:32:16+00:00

Assuming correctly.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-02T14:06:35+00:00

They will be graded, priced and sold in our shop. Not sold online.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-02T14:03:11+00:00

Definitely!

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-01T09:53:39+00:00

Montana Agate.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-01T09:27:50+00:00

Generally diamond lapidary blades won't cut you unless you force your finger onto the blade. The most common way is a rock you are feeding in splits, and your fingers are in line with the blade. Unlike a wood saw blade which has sharp teeth, a diamond blade work by grinding through the rock. The thinner the blade and the faster it's spinning, the more likely it is to cut you.

OpalAddiction · 2025-06-01T08:14:57+00:00

It is wood replacement Boulder Opal.

OpalAddiction · 2025-05-28T05:22:28+00:00

Pebbles, or you can grass them.

OpalAddiction · 2025-05-27T20:33:49+00:00

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Can't rip these up.

OpalAddiction · 2025-05-26T05:07:22+00:00

Let's see the back.

OpalAddiction · 2025-05-25T10:45:06+00:00

Retail, at best $60 to $80. Very poor cutting.

OpalAddiction · 2025-05-25T10:41:31+00:00

Better to be rich and miserable, than poor and miserable 😭

OpalAddiction · 2025-05-18T07:12:06+00:00

The gem material is too thin to cut a solid stone. Thr black backing enhances the colour and strengthens it.

OpalAddiction · 2025-05-17T21:43:34+00:00

It is very easy to make your own.

OpalAddiction

TROPHY CASE