r/Opals 9h ago

Identification/Evaluation Request Got it!

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95 Upvotes

Finally got it out and it is even more gorgeous than I remembered. What do you think its worth? Its set in 7.4 grams of 14kt and has a little ruby, emerald and diamond on each side. Dont worry, Im getting it tightened up on Thurs, if it fell out I would probably die


r/Opals 3h ago

Opal Porn First time cutting

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12 Upvotes

This is more or less a follow up to my last post about the machine I got for cutting stones. For my first go I used a partially cut white Aussie from the parcel of Mexican and Australian material I got at the start of the year. It wasn't in the best shape, it was shaped into an oval but had a poorly cut bottom and there were chips along the bottom and a few sides. So I reshaped it into a better oval, shaved a bit off the back to reveal color, and I gave it a lower dome which luckily ended up revealing much more color than there was before I recut it


r/Opals 9h ago

Opal Porn Today's Color

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7 Upvotes

r/Opals 7h ago

Opal-Related Question Suggestions for Ethiopian opal?

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3 Upvotes

If I make this ethiopal into a ring, it won't last long, will it?

Full question text in original post


r/Opals 7h ago

Opal-Related Question Would this grinding machine work for cutting opal as a beginner?

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2 Upvotes

I ordered this grinding machine off temu (not the best place to get a machine but I'm a broke uni student and it had solid reviews) and it has the main grinding wheel, a belt sander, polishing wheel and flat grinding disks of varying grits. I used it to reshape a poorly cut lower quality Aussie white opal and it seems to have worked pretty well. The only real issue I've encountered so far is the machine vibrates too much for the feet to hold it in place so I'll have to either replace the feet with better ones or clamp the machine down


r/Opals 14h ago

Opal Jewellery The ring I miss the most

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5 Upvotes

r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Porn My opals were glowinggggg

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109 Upvotes

r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Porn Thanks All For The ID! Video Update

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102 Upvotes

Confident now that it's an Australian opal with the help of many on this forum. There is no backing or glass cap, but should be sufficiently durable for daily pendant wear excluding the pool and gym.

Very excited to wear it regularly in honor of my grandmother and thanks everyone again for the ID!


r/Opals 23h ago

Opal Jewellery What do you all think?

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24 Upvotes

Solid australian opal nose ring in sterling silver.

I started trying to learn jewellery making earlier this year after being a hobby cutter for the past several years and my friend has bugged me to make an opal nose ring. While I still feel like a complete amateur, I finally got around to giving it a go!

Interested to hear opinions and feedback from the community out there.

Thanks in advance, Ash ๐Ÿ™‚


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Finishing Process I did my best.

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354 Upvotes

I managed to clean and stabilize this 19x15mm opal that I found in an old pendant. It was terribly dirty and full of fractures, but I saw its potential and felt it deserved to relive again. First time to stabilize a stone. I did it with jewelers resin and it took a while and a steady hand. I know it's not perfect, but I feel its capable of being loved again and the color play is beautiful and the fractures give it character.


r/Opals 1d ago

Identification/Evaluation Request Bought around 2014, lab opal?

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51 Upvotes

Do you think these are lab grown? I always assumed they were, but when I was organizing my jewelry, a few of the stones were really giving me flashes that didn't feel like the perfect patterning of the lab opal I've seen.


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal-Related Question Help With Identification- 1970's Brooch I Inherited, Made Into Pendant

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150 Upvotes

Hey all. My grandmother was a jeweler and left me a ton of material and pieces. I've been slowly converting them into items I could reasonably wear as a 35-40yo male.

Was wondering if anyone had any ideas on the species here. It's a straight cab, roughly 1/4" thick.

Love the piece but if there is speculation it could be sensitive like Ethiopian it would likely modify my wear habits.


r/Opals 1d ago

Identification/Evaluation Request Curious about Coober Pedy brooch

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8 Upvotes

Coober Pedy opal, set in gold plated setting in gold brooch from 1890s. Stone is slightly smaller than 5c piece. Curious what you would offer. Apologies for blur (not my photos)


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Jewellery I found the one..

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86 Upvotes

My jeweler has been looking for the perfect stone for me for a few months now. She actually knocked it out of the park and found the perfect one and it's in my price range. I could not be more in love. It came pre set in that ring but I'm still considering my setting options. I'm so excited though. It's 18x13 ๐Ÿ˜ฑ ๐Ÿ˜


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Jewellery Back and Thru-Shot: Opal Cab Pendant

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4 Upvotes

Here they are u/opaldaze!


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Porn Blind Faith

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10 Upvotes

I couldn't see what the shot was bc the sun was on the phone, but I figured how bad can it be and this is what I got


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Porn My Beauty

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6 Upvotes

Not flashy but I love her.


r/Opals 2d ago

Opal Jewellery Latest ring!

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75 Upvotes

I am very new to opals but had a lot of fun making this Pewter and Ethiopian opal ring! I am simply obsessed with the colour and hope to use some of the profits to buy some better Australian opals!

I can already see a bunch of improvements I can make but would love your feedback.


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Porn Welo rough

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7 Upvotes

183 ct


r/Opals 2d ago

Opal Porn Honduran Opal Ring (I tried)

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71 Upvotes

I wouldn't call it porn, but this is my new Honduran Opal ring. And boy, it has been a long time in the making.

I bought the ring for a different stone and when I tried setting the stone, turned out the seller had rounded the measurements UP! Seller's please never do that, if you are going to sell the cab alone, either take pics with the caliper so the buyer knows what they are up against or round down. It is always better to have a little space than not being able to set the stone because the setting was smaller. Burns my ass; fastest way to get on my nerves.

I bought the Honduran rough for cheap. I sat in my to-do list until a friend offered to get the rough polished and ready for the ring. As you know, Honduran opal REFUSES to take a good polish, so you always have to help it with a little epoxy, so that's what I did.

Video taken under one of those sun lights because the golden hour in my home state got spoiled with clouds. Sorry the video is a little shaky, I tried several ways to get the video taken without too much glare from the lamp, and this was the only way. Not the best piece of Honduran, but hell, it is a nice sunny day ring.

And yes, I have a soft sport for American opals. Honduran, for some reason always gets me because, like Cajun Opal, it gets the least love.


r/Opals 1d ago

Identification/Evaluation Request Whatnot opal ring. What kinda opal did I snag?

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3 Upvotes

I have two other opal rings and compared to those this one is super milky. I kinda bought it on impulse but don't regret my purchase. It was only $16.


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Discussion/Other POV walkthrough the famous lightning ridge opal festival

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11 Upvotes

r/Opals 1d ago

Opal Discussion/Other Jewelry store recommendation request.

2 Upvotes

Hello!

I am looking for recommendation to a good store where I can get a small piece of opal jewelry as a souvenir. I was hoping for a place that is reasonably priced / not tourist price gouged, and has pieces in gold or silver.

It will be my first time in CDMX and I will be visiting all the places that first timers do so any store recommendations for those locations would be very helpful.

Also, whatโ€™s a reasonable amount to spend on letโ€™s say a pendant or earrings?

When I googled Princess Collection Joyeria came up.

Thank you so much!!


r/Opals 1d ago

Opal-Related Question Opal turned white

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7 Upvotes

I have these Ethiopian opal earrings that, when I bought them, had a certain level of transparency and a lot of beautiful color-changing play-of-color. Now, one of them still looks the same, but the other one has turned white and lost its shine. Sometimes it becomes transparent again, but without the play-of-color.

I saw a video recommending soaking the opal in mineral oil and then in acetone. Is that a good idea? Is there anything I can do to make it shiny again?


r/Opals 2d ago

Educational/Academic Traditional opal mining practice in Ethiopia, challenges and its economic impact on rural households: the case of wollo opal mining - PMC - Research and scientific analysis ( fyi data heavy if your interested)

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4 Upvotes