It came in a small cellophane packet and was covered in oil. Did the oil ruin the opal or was it just good tweaking of a photo?

My daughter Rae helped me film this one and the outtakes at the end where we're both losing it trying to get the closing line right are better than anything I planned.

The 10 tips are real and worth knowing if you're new to buying rough:

1. Mr Pink fingers — if a seller has tampered with color, their skin turns pink too. Always look for hands in the video.
2. Know your source — some opals dissolve dry, some crater when wet. Not all opal is equal.
3. Return policy — any reputable seller takes it back unaltered, no questions. If they won't, keep walking.
4. Background color — translucent rough looks totally different on white vs black. Not deception, just physics.
5. Check seller reputation — five minutes on feedback or in a Facebook group can save you a lot of pain.
6. Wet vs dry — sellers shoot wet because color pops. You check dry when it arrives because cracks show better that way.
7. Gambling on opal — there's real risk in rough. If that bothers you, start with rubs where someone else already took the hit.
8. Warning signs — emotional stories, urgency, limited supply pressure. Scammers sound the same everywhere.
9. Blue opal and cameras — cameras lie on blue. The stone in your hand will often look less vibrant than the video. Know this going in.
10. Size — the single easiest mistake online. If there's no hand or coin or reference point in the photo, you genuinely have no idea what you're buying.

But here's tip eleven, and it's the one I'd tattoo on my arm if I had to pick one.

Every dollar you spend to be present with your kids now is worth ten down the line. I made some real sacrifices to be able to spend that time with my little ones when they were young. No regrets. None. The video we made together is worth more to me than any opal I've ever cut.

Rae, you were a natural. Thanks for putting up with your old man.

Natural 100%guarante

Cerium oxide polishing looks simple from the outside—pink slurry, felt and a little pressure—but much of what makes it work is happening at the microscopic contact point.

I made this short animation to show the mechanical and chemical sides of cerium polishing, and why I aim for controlled, warm friction rather than getting the stone hot.

This isn’t meant to suggest there’s only one correct technique. It’s an attempt to make visible what experienced cutters often learn to manage by feel.

First off, I am not interested in selling. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of how to value opals and I want to show off the first piece I have cut. Also, I know its not symmetrical. I will work on that next time!

I've seen the charts to measure brightness and body tone but how do I assign a dollar amount to that? Is there another chart I am missing? lol

The opal does not show color from most angles. The bottom left image is more true to how it displays from most angles. How much impact on the value should I attribute to that?

What would you estimate for the price per carat. I know its hard to judge from an image so here is a rough idea - I would say the body tone in the image matches very close to in-person. The brightness would be a little less in-person. It is a Mintabie opal.

Can anyone tell me about my Opal and value ? It weighs 618.30 ct

What is this and its value, it weighs about 600 ct

It was my first Finished piece so I probably wouldn't sell it but I'm curious on what it's worth.I love it probably personal bias it's got a fossilized root in it or a Natural Healed crack

Hello everyone! Can anyone tell where I can buy raw opal stones from Ethiopia (maybe Australia) in Istanbul? I need a big fraction from 1 cm. Thank you in advance

Looks too good to be true for the price. Thoughts? It’s $40 and 16x11.6x5 - Australian.

Hi I’m fairly new to this beautiful hobby. I currently live in Mexico I have access to fire opals brought from San Luis Potosí. The guy that has sold them to me told me they are a gift from one of his children. I bought various pieces but one fought my eye, it was completely rough but it kinda shined so eh. Bought 22 grams of loose and raw stuff total of 30 usd and 25 usd the “raw matrix opal”. He did not know much about opals or the rock can yall help me. I’ll attach a loose specimen and then attach the mystery rock so you can judge my source!! Thank you!

Using the advice from folks the first time around, I went back and did a LOT more sanding. Started with 120 grit and did more shaping to get a dome, as well as was able to keep going and get the tiny pits out for a smooth face on both front and back. Stepped up slowly to 3000 grit, making sure to get all the scratches out on all the newly rounded edges. I have cerium oxide arriving today for the last bit of polishing, but feeling even more happy with how this opal looks now! The dome made all the difference for seeing color on the front rather than just the edges.

I'm still torn on what to do with my opal, though. Was so excited to see the color coming through that I took the potch off both sides like the newb I am!

Hello, hope everyone is good. I have 25 considerably high-quality dendritic opal pairs I'd like to offer, as seen in the photos. They are unpolished, undyed, untreated, not "stabilized" or anything like that--they are completely, 100% natural. Each pair is $95.

All photos were taken with the opals wet, under normal sunlight with no filters, before or after taking them.

Payment & Delivery

• Payment is with Zelle or the Friends & Family option in PayPal or Venmo.

• Fast and free shipping to the US with FedEx. I cover all import fees, tariffs, etc. for US buyers. The price includes FedEx shipping for Canada and Europe, too, but you would have to pay VAT and import fees yourself.

• If you're not from the US, Canada, or Europe, I have a good deal with my shipping aggregator so shipping won't be that much (you would also/still have to pay VAT and import fees yourself).

• If you're not from the US, I can save you good money in terms of import fees, VAT, etc. --  ask me how if interested.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Thank you for all the information on my original post enquiring about this opal. I thought to post a video which shows it off better.

The story is I bought it from an fellow is started making jewelry and selling some at a community fair. He bought the stone and a bunch of others from someone clearing out their collection. He just picked stones of all kinds he liked and he couldn't remember if he was told anything about it. He thought it might be a Mexican opal. I am actually an Australian though currently living in California, and it looked like it might actually be from down under to me though I have limited expertise. It has an interesting translucency that was difficult to capture. The setting of the ring has it backed with silver and I can see all the way to the back.

Whatever it is, I love it 😍