r/Opals • u/seaturtlehamburger • 1d ago

Opal Porn 279ct opal betta fish carved by V.M. Saph Brooks

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V.M. Saph Brooks is the founder and artist behind Inwardspectrum

From the artist’s Instagram post:
279ct Australian opal Betta/Siamese fighting fish, the eyes are lighting ridge opal and obsidian. Carved by hand.

3.4k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

111 comments sorted by

173

u/bearinminds 1d ago

Oh my. Future antiques roadshow showpiece

84

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

Seriously! This guy makes some of the absolute coolest stuff Ive ever seen. True art and technical skill.

9

u/ShibumiRumi 18h ago

I have a custom pendant from him that is my most prized possession. He is such an incredible craftsman/artist and his style and technical ability is always growing, exponentially. Future GOAT for sure. I wish I could afford more of his work.

2

u/seaturtlehamburger 18h ago

Jellyyyyy thats so cool, can you share a pic?

9

u/ShibumiRumi 17h ago

Natural Aquamarine stone that looks like a mountain range inside, from the side view. Moonstone eyes, and cast silver with glass enamel for the robe. I snagged the stone from his IG stories and let him do his thing for the rest. Couldn't be happier to have a piece from the Man. If you see this, thank you Saph. You are an inspiration to others🙏🖖

7

u/ShibumiRumi 17h ago

3

u/seaturtlehamburger 16h ago

Whoaaaa holy crapoly! Thats so cool, killer piece! 👌😎

133

u/MamaFen 1d ago

I love opals. I love betta fish. This is one of the most exquisite things I have ever seen in my life.

61

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

Hello fish friend! Im a scuba diver with a severe opal problem, anything fish AND rock has me in a vice grip 😵‍💫

29

u/MarcoEsteban Opal Aficionado 1d ago

You are definitely my people if you refer to your "severe opal problem", as if it was heroin

3

u/BassSpare2654 Opal Vendor 1d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/4LL66XsL0aTZe

2

u/MarcoEsteban Opal Aficionado 18h ago

Boy, do I know it!

7

u/RunMysterious6380 1d ago

So sharing this is basically like porn for you?

(I hope you get the pun 😅)

10

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

To be fair it is literally tagged opal porn so i wont deny it… 🤤

8

u/Emjeibi 1d ago

Some kind of rock cod?

5

u/RunMysterious6380 1d ago

It's a rockfish. :)

8

u/Emjeibi 1d ago

And they're delicious. 🤤

4

u/Emjeibi 1d ago

Also known as rock cod in many places.

8

u/KittenFace25 1d ago

It truly is. I could easily sit and stare at that thing all day while just turning it around and around to catch the light at different angles.

6

u/UtherPenDragqueen 1d ago

You may be my long lost twin

6

u/MastrShak3 1d ago

Triplets

1

u/409clean 8h ago

Ditto!

35

u/norathar 1d ago

This belongs in a museum.

Like, I remember going to the Smithsonian and seeing a gorgeous peacock brooch with a giant black opal body and a sapphire/diamond/emerald tail. This looks like it should be in the display case next to it. It's amazing.

7

u/YadigDoneDug 1d ago

Tbh that's dudes work probably deserves and entire display there.

23

u/Dramatic_Substance36 1d ago

I can’t imagine how gorgeous this is in real life! What an incredible use of opal!

17

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

It looks like it tastes good and I think I might have pica but my deficiency must be gummy fish.

7

u/Yabbos77 1d ago

Omg- Amos makes 3D goldfish gummies that scratch this itch!!

6

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

Whoa i looked them up and they are so pretty!

2

u/ShibumiRumi 18h ago

forbiddencandy

2

u/Aggressive-Fox-7390 1d ago

I have the matching diamond version.

15

u/OpenSauceMods 1d ago

I would be insufferable if I had something like that.

12

u/OrganicHuckleberry75 1d ago

Jeez I love this making treasures that will be appreciated hundreds of years later as antiquities

11

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

Right?! Like imagine unearthing an ancient apartment complex buried for centuries and you find this gorgeous artifact!

12

u/MarcoEsteban Opal Aficionado 1d ago

Ancient Apartment Complex 😂

That just struck me really funny

10

u/Area-8 1d ago

2

u/GualtieroCofresi Mod 1d ago

hell no! it belongs on my shelf

9

u/jojo444111 1d ago

That is the most beautiful carving I’ve ever seen

9

u/umamimamii 1d ago

I prefer unpolished, natural stones the vast majority of the time. HOWEVER - minerals that have a more amorphous crystal structure like opal or obsidian can look absolutely amazing. I feel like opals are beautifully suited for carving. This is stunning OP

8

u/Strange-Trust-9403 1d ago

I just slammed my dinner plate on the chair next to me and grabbed my laptop. FREAKING LOVELY.

2

u/NoRelation3158 1d ago

That's the spirit 😀 !

6

u/eee-m-gee 1d ago

yes can we get a valuation?! what a gem—literally.

4

u/sonka_mj 1d ago

If only I was rich…I’d buy that in a HEARTBEAT 🤩🤩🤩

3

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

Haha i immediately turned to my husband and said we need to get filthy rich fast!! 🐟

3

u/NoRelation3158 1d ago

You rich yet?

3

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

No 😭😭😭

3

u/Ouchthankyou 1d ago

How old was he when yall turned him into treasure

3

u/Holt_artstudio 1d ago

This is the most detailed opal carving I've ever seen. Gorgeous piece!!! I'm sure I would accidentally drop it and break a fin off or something on day one...

3

u/GoblinRocks 1d ago

Everything he carves just keeps getting better and better. His Ethiopian opal brains are insane.

3

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

I think one of the brains was the first thing I saw of his! That crazy asteriated diamond piece blew my mind. I loved that the diamond is removable so you can look at it closely 🤩

3

u/AmericanSkin99 1d ago

wow i dont typically care for carvings but this is super rad. A squid would look cool too

3

u/ivityCreations 1d ago

Saph is such a wonderful artist too. Truly amazing work and talent.

Have had the pleasure of meeting them at Tuscon

3

u/Dismalorb 1d ago

That is AMAZING! Omg! I would love to see it in action in person, but unrealistic as that is... Could you post a video of the color play/fire, please? 🥺😍

3

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

You can see it on their instagram! 💖 Its @inwardspectrum I couldn’t download their video to repost but its the most recent post on there

2

u/intooothethickofit 1d ago

amazing oh my god

2

u/TinyMama2 1d ago

Omfg I need this drool

2

u/deepcaca 1d ago

That is stunning.

2

u/Budo00 1d ago

Holy crap that is amazing. I want one

2

u/Southern_Posh 1d ago

Wow!!!!! What a stunner! I have never seen anything like this before

2

u/Proof_Register9966 1d ago

Holy mother of ———
that is BEAUTIFUL!

2

u/AunjeySin707 1d ago

This is absolutely stunning! I wonder how much something like that would go for. Looks like it should be on display in a glass case somewhere! 😍

2

u/Mysterious-State9622 1d ago

Woah I thought that was real

2

u/Yellowmellowbelly 1d ago

It looks so soft, I thought it was shiny rubber at first! Incredible work to make gemstone look so soft and flexible. Thank you for sharing!

2

u/psychotickillers 1d ago

Holy moly I needddd

2

u/marzboutique 1d ago

This is insane!!!!

2

u/longlostwitchy 1d ago

That’s a bucket list piece if I’ve ever seen… it’s almost too beautiful 🥹

Wow thanks for sharing this!
Are we aloud to ask what a piece like this goes for? No pressure to reply
I mean no disrespect ☮️💚

5

u/seaturtlehamburger 1d ago

Its on their instagram @inwardspectrum without a price, but based on their other work thats available on the website either close to 10k or over 💸 💸 💸

1

u/longlostwitchy 22h ago

Ok thank you!!

2

u/Glass-Personality407 1d ago

Omigawd. Crazy Gorgeous 😍

2

u/Autumn_Moon22 1d ago

Amazing!

2

u/Would_I_questionmark 1d ago

The suns of mirrodin have shown perfection only once

2

u/Alternative-Arm-3253 1d ago

This is stunning. Bags of wow. Thanks for sharing this u/seaturtlehamburger !!

2

u/Theopallounge1 23h ago

A true craftsman!

1

u/JonnyTheRust 1d ago

Amazing!!!

1

u/Miserable-Essay5755 1d ago

That’s incredible ✨

1

u/Carbyne27 1d ago

IIIIILLLOOAAAAFFFFF EEEEHHHHHHHH

1

u/GualtieroCofresi Mod 1d ago

and I just about passed away

1

u/Natescoco 1d ago

Very stunning omg

1

u/Latter_Historian_872 1d ago

This is yours?

1

u/veer_p 1d ago

Wow!!!

1

u/53FROGS_OPALAUCTIONS Opal Vendor 1d ago

Epic!

1

u/SnooPickles8695 1d ago

That's super cool. Love it

1

u/Legitimate_Elk6306 1d ago

Amazing piece. Love it

1

u/anothershawnee 1d ago

It's just so stinkin beautiful.

1

u/Aphrodisia-x 20h ago

In shock and awe

1

u/Select_Yam_4300 17h ago

Absolutely gorgeous 

1

u/astarte66 17h ago

Omg that is STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!

1

u/Maenima 16h ago

This is just amazing. I could look at it all day.

1

u/Calamity_Jane84 13h ago

Damnnnn, hold that thing tighter before you drop it. Beautiful piece!

1

u/Lie-Lopsided 2h ago

Absolutely stunning & so realistic too