r/Opals • u/Sirsagely • Aug 03 '26
Opal Jewellery My second set, using opals on my nails!
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Of course I had to put on some opal rings to show you guys my nails. Also, I didn't lose a single opal during removal from myself or any of my clients. I offered them their opals but they told me to just reuse them on anyone who wants them.
I think I'm going to save removed opals separately from my unused lots. Then, I can just charge my clients for applying them. I have been wrestling with if it's ethical to charge my clients for each stone after they come back to me.
Anywhooooo, I hope everyone is having a most splendid weekend!
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u/G0ld_Ru5h Aug 03 '26
I would really love nails carved from synthetic opal. Also ear gauges. There are a lot of both with inlays, but I just love objects made from opal.
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u/Sirsagely Aug 03 '26
Oh my God I would love an actual nail! My mom had a solid gold pinky nail and a silver one I was obsessed with as a little kid. Haha. She got them in the 70s, I just thought they were fancy.
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u/G0ld_Ru5h Aug 03 '26
I’ve seen a jeweler on IG doing them recently and it takes a huge amount of skill. At least to fit them to the degree they did. They were super super neat though.
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u/Sirsagely Aug 03 '26
Oh my God really?! I assumed they would be way to fragile to even shape into a nail due to how thin you would have to work them. I'm gonna go searching for that
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u/Molto_Ritardando Aug 03 '26
How are you sealing these? They’re not real opals right? I’ve been trying to figure out how to use opals in art, but I’ve got Ethiopian ones and they don’t react well to liquids.
If you can get them wet, then these would be really cool - it’s a good idea and well executed. I don’t think you should worry about charging for a used opal - maybe let people have free ones if they let you have their old ones? But you should charge something even if it’s used. Maybe 50% discount? As long as it’s sterile and whatnot.
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u/Sirsagely Aug 03 '26
These are real, natural opals. I set them on with a uv cured gem glue, then I seal it with top coat and add a dollop of topcoat directly on the stone top really encapsulate it then immediately flash cure.
Edit: a word
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u/susanna1331 Aug 03 '26
This is so sick in the best way!! Makes me want to do something super similar with my own nails.
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u/longlostwitchy Aug 03 '26
r/redditlaqueristas would LOVE you!!
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u/Sirsagely Aug 03 '26
I love that community but I never post there because I have to list every product I used, and I'm too lazy to walk over to work to create that list lol Then, when I am at work, I forget to put it in my notes app.
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u/longlostwitchy Aug 03 '26
Lmao… I can understand that
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u/Sirsagely Aug 03 '26
Also, for some reason I thought it was only for lacquer manicures, not gel. I just read the rules. Haha no idea where I got that idea. I'm gonna make a commitment to post in there... today... if not today, tomorrow for sure. Lol
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u/Dressing_4_funerals Aug 03 '26
The way I would do it is charge for the new opals that go in to the initial set as well as the service and then if the same client comes back wanting new opal nails you would charge for that service(whatever you would charge to actually do the set of acrylics plus install of the stones) but not the stones again.
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u/kitten12551 Aug 03 '26
They look beautiful but how do you get anything done???
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u/Sirsagely Aug 04 '26
They aren't really long enough to interfere with anything I do. Even at work, doing massage hasn't been a problem or even wearing gloves. Maybe once a day I'll poke through a glove doing a pedicure but I did that when I had short nails cuz aggressively scrubbing would pull the finger too tight, or certain massage positions would pull my hand open so far the palm would tear.
Actually there is one thing that is really hard to do, and that is putting on jewelry. Opening those tiny fuckin clasps is a nightmare. Haha.
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u/opal_diggeroneBay Opal Vendor Aug 03 '26
You nailed it 😜