Watch me cut a $100 rough opal into a $2000 gem

[@networkg]

I am not a gem cutter and I don't even wear jewelry but I find your videos to be a fascinating display of creation, beauty and skill. Thank you for sharing.

[@jessandrews833]

Same ! Thank you

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you! 😊

[@shaneyule3484]

me too

[@jessandrews833]

@@blackopaldirect I’ve watched every single video haha my gf thinks I have a problem bc I binged watched them all in a week; about a year ago, and have been watching ever since !

[@judithfairchild8620]

I don't wear jewelry either but watching Jason cut the opals just satisfies something in me.

[@JFANDHISPEOPLE]

Opals just put diamonds to shame. Its just awesome to see the opal come alive, were all lucky to enjoy such natural beauty

[@blackopaldirect]

Yea I agree. thank you

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

Diamonds are overpriced costume jewelry.

[@riyaazarendsefwfs7220]

@@blackopaldirecthi Justin Why don’t you make a channel showing your jewler create what he does with the opal you sell?

[@carolharris2357]

​@@TomsBackyardWorkshopDeBeers keeps the price artificially up but they're like water almost.

[@joshuahunter8194]

I agree. When I first discovered opals I was in total shock and awe. Where were these stones all this time and why didn't anyone tell me about them. Some of the most beautiful out there.

[@michaelpw97]

Justin, just want to say it’s ok to promote your website more often! It’s not bothersome. We are here for you and your content, hearing about your business isn’t really offputting in the slightest. Don’t sweat it, and feel free to let the people know about your website near the end of your videos! Cheers

[@blackopaldirect]

I wholeheartedly appreciate your kind words and will listen to your advice.

[@rinna3719]

@@blackopaldirect I would also like to add, I'm super happy to have found you and that you have an online store. I'm thinking about buying myself an opal at some point and it's hard to find places you can trust. Especially online from another continent.

[@trumpatier]

Agreed with Michael! It's not bothersome at all. I'm actually surprised you don't mention your website more often.

[@oldnick4707]

Glad I picked this one out on your site Justin. 😊 I like the stone and the post. Very nice and 'soulful', both.

[@tamarafarnsworth5049]

As others have said before me, I don't have the kind of life where it would make sense to own a gemstone, but to be allowed to almost touch such throat aching beauty is a gift for which I thank you. You make me smile.

[@tdstellar5218]

I’ve never appreciated opals before…simply can’t imagine how it’s not more valuable than diamonds. These precious unique gems make diamonds look like glass

[@BLynnE]

Love the outro. It absolutely is a lightening strike of color

[@cathifamjourney469]

Justin, that chaff pattern! Love how the yellows pop in this. All the rolling flash, wow just wow!

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you Cathi. Yeah I love it too

[@78LedHead]

It's always a nice surprise to see a new BOD vid. It's so amazing how opal mimics colors you see in nature, especially in the ocean. You can see the colors of a mandarin fish or a mantis shrimp in that stone. Spectacular, especially for a $100 piece of rough. Excellent job, Justin.

[@blackopaldirect]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nancypiros9133]

Good to see you back cutting opals again Justin. I’m sure you had a wonderful time in Tucson and on “Holiday” vacation as we would call it. This opal is absolutely gorgeous❣️❣️❣️ Have a wonderful day.

[@Darryl_Frost]

Let's not ignore the quality and production of that video !!! And the beauty of that opal.

[@subvertedworld]

Stunning gem. Been following you since the beginning and have learned SO MUCH about opal. One thing I can say is that this NEVER gets old! I fall in love all over again every time a new gem is revealed.

[@BrentEdwards-r7p]

That editing in the final seconds was phenomenal!

[@louyeo6571]

Couldn’t you just play with that stone for hours, the way the colours change and flash as it’s rotated. Mesmerising. Thank you for sharing your love of opals and the skill that conjures such beautiful gems.

[@michaelprue9024]

Wow what a pretty little gem. Just beautiful. I had no doubt it would reach its full potential in your hands. Thank you for the video sir.

[@cyclonicsilver2773]

Stunning!!! I started watching your channel because my wife is a lapidary artist and the more I watch the more I want to try it. Thanks for the Inspiration and if I do any opals in the future I will definitely show you!!

[@blackopaldirect]

Go for it!

[@mariannwalsh8759]

I've watched a lot of your videos. This particular opal is so beautiful. I'm blown away by it.

[@helendreyer5710]

Awesome! Gorgeous gem. Enjoyed watching you bring this gem to life. Beautiful play of color.

[@summersands8105]

Love the orange, red and yellow. When the light hits those colors just right, it looks like the stone is on fire.

[@liquidelectrum]

Well worth the little wait to see you again. Glad you are back at it. Great little gem, and can’t wait for the live!

[@jimmygrant3151]

The sound effects nailed it.

[@nancycurtis7315]

Hi all at BOD and friends. Absolutely stunning to see. Thanks for showing us this lovely gem. Greetings from Dimboola, in Victoria, Australia 🇦🇺 😊.

[@blackopaldirect]

Our pleasure Nancy Im glad you are still here watching on and commenting

[@IrlamOz]

Loved what you did at the end to present the opal ❤

[@tanyagordon1244]

Greetings from Florida Justin you're an inspiration. watching your videos, and my love of opals have got me into cutting them. I am a rookie and self-taught so your videos are so helpful thank you and please keep posting

[@remcovanvliet3018]

I'm always blown away at just how fast that diamond wheel chews through the stone, and yet it's safe enough to work with your fingers right up against it. What an amazing bit of kit, that thing.

[@zaubergarden6900]

The lightning storm sounds during the final clip on the turn table, lol! I love how inspiring, intriguing, but also funny this channel is :)

[@MARYBOORMAN]

Hi from Georgian Bay Canada Justin! WHUT....A...BEEE..UUUUUTYYYYYY! This has to be one of my favourite of the scores of gems I have seen you cut. Just sublime! Thanks for a pleasurable exprerience! When I buy my next opals it will be from you folks! Yay!

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you, you're so kind!

[@santashahadley5916]

She is beauty and I would never be able afford to my birthstone a real one. I love the craftsmanship and care put in cutting the keep the work sir. 💜👑

[@chellevl9209]

What a beautiful gem. Reminds me of an outback spring storm. All colourful wild flowers and big flashes of lightning. Love it.

[@GeoBoots]

I remember reading as a kid that one of the myths of opal was that the colors were thought to be due to lightning hitting a rock and getting trapped inside. This video's rolling thunder outro was perfect.

[@upyours8888]

I could watch you cut those beautiful gems all day!@ I have learned so much. I would love to go to lighting ridge and start mining!@ Keep up the good work and hope you have a lot more stones to cut. .My names Kenny it's nice to meet you. Greetings from Florida 🇺🇸 !@😊

[@blackopaldirect]

Nice to meet you too

[@TraumaQueen65]

Editing is off the wall. Love everyone's work

[@theresabraddock9310]

The music enhanced the butterflies I get watching! 😅 Amazing beautiful!

[@janetsmith5279]

Amazing stone, Justin I miss these videos, all that mainly comes up on my feed now is you selling stones!

[@blackopaldirect]

Haha that's a different channel I have for selling. If you unsubscribe from black opal direct gems and just sub to black opal direct then you will be fine

[@ThatOpalGuy]

This stone is CRAY CRAY! Thanks for sharing.

[@blackopaldirect]

Glad you like

[@nancycurtis7315]

Hi Don. 😊

[@WorldofRockhounds]

I'm particularly fond of just how clean and visually pleasing your work space is.

[@blackopaldirect]

Haha wow I do try but the girls complain about my mess all the time haha

[@PeterDelaney-t4u]

First time I saw opal being cut and polished was your show when you lit it up in the lights I fell in love with what I was looking at like you always said opal is opal till you cut and polished them see the real beauty I watch your shows when I can thanks for showing the right way to see the beauty in our opal never owned any opal but one day I hope to get a little bit for my lovely wife ❤😂 speedy nth Stradbroke island Qld Australia stay true

[@philcollinson328]

Absolutely love these vids. Justin is a true artist. If I were ever left unsupervised near the grinding wheels there'd be no opal left and I'd have stumps that were once fingers.

[@steveclark4291]

Thank you Justin for sharing this beautiful Opal with me ! I love the way the color dances around when you turn it !

[@bryanwillingham7023]

Love ya Justin!!! Always a great day with your video

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you enjoy Bryan

[@Greenchilieboss]

What a gem 😍 I love at the end of the video the lightning 🌩️ and thunder go along with the powerful flashes and BANGS of colour. That's absolutely lightning opal💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

[@jeffheaslip]

Ya just don't what will show up sometimes! That'sa beauty! Thanks for sharing with us Justin!

[@missharry5727]

Stunning stone. The play of light and colour is outstanding.

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you

[@Tony-gu4sz]

Thank you from the UK... I'm grateful you're always about to bring us all back down to earth... As an English man I find it astounding that I know better places to find decent opal than Australians.... God you guys are thick!!!

[@reginaditt128]

OH my ! The flashy gem and the lighting sound . A perfect pair .❤❤❤ What a beauty .

[@blackopaldirect]

Glad you like it!

[@The_Art_Style]

It takes MASSIVE gigantic b... Kahoonas to push an insanely pricey piece of opal into a grinding stone I salute you sir

[@nimanikkhah9954]

I knew black opals by your channel and I love them, I am from Iran; Australian opal are not common in my country, I love to have one but it's impossible to pay because of sanctions.😢

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Justin it never fails me how much beauty there is in a OPAL.....Thank you very much.....Shoe🇺🇸

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you Shoe again 🙏

[@judithfairchild8620]

WOW!!!!!! Now that's a fire in stone. So gorgeous!!!!!!

[@jamesanson615]

That last image was stunning! You certainly produce amazing stones. My god, I tripped out, looking into the colour changes as it span around. 😮

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@pate4682]

Diamonds are completely hum drum compared to opal. No comparison. Australian, Lightning Ridge opal will always be at the top of my list! That came out beautiful Justin! -Opal Indigo Gems

[@rionstretton8133]

Words can not describe the brilliance this gem stone ❤

[@mjn3544]

Justin, you are such an artist. It is just mesmerizing to watch you. Have you ever paid $100 for a rough opal only to lose it all on what turned out to be a bust? Or are you that good that you at least get your money back out of each gamble? With this one, you nailed it!

[@benjaminrapp7418]

Beautiful stone, as always! I'm still amazed by your dexterity. Nothing short of heroic. I've just recently got into cabbing and I can't even grip a massive 70+ carat stone to save my life.

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you very much!

[@mm6705]

yeah the thumb rolly motion he does freehand is VERY advanced. I've been cabbing almost every week for a 4-8hr day for an entire year, and its still a work in progress without a dop stick. I have gotten DRAMATICALLY better after watching this channel though. The spinning technique holding the dop is a lower skill requirement and that just made so much sense and had huge results much faster than I was doing before.

[@benjaminrapp7418]

@@mm6705 I'll stick to simple stuff on a dop stick. I've been using a little cyanoacrylate to attach the stones after my experience with liquified dop wax dripping on my fingers and instantly solidifying.

[@eleanormassey8559]

I love the color play in the opals. Beautiful job

[@rock_fortress2265]

What an amazing stone Justin! That stone just has so much character, a one of a kind masterpiece... congrats on another winner!

[@rohantherockwiththerocketh7871]

That does look pretty nice once the colour is flashing. Have a ripper Justin!

[@iankenney6515]

That little guy has some serious pop. Beautiful!

[@blackopaldirect]

Hehe Lightning Pop

[@W.MOpals]

Beautiful opal and an equally beautiful cut and finish! That opal really added some value 😍 the website plug was perfect, not pushy at all, elegant and informative Thanks Justin

[@california3186]

Beautiful!! Love looking at it with the thunderstorm in the background! Amazing!

[@Gigi-14]

The flashes of color when you were using the higher grit diamond wheels was amazing. What a lovely gem Justin! 👏👏👏

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@scottishwifie14]

Fantastic video Justin the before and after shot of the opal are amazing how much of a great polish you get on your opal. Definitely a winner winner chicken dinner.

[@amberandrews6842]

Beautiful stone! Thank You for sharing it's birth with us all!

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ericphillips4297]

That's one of the prettiest opals I've seen you cut. Now if I only had the $ to buy one.

[@willbejamming1532]

Brilliant sound, seamless editing and flawless cuts.

[@blackopaldirect]

Glad you liked it!

[@jasonbaxter5502]

I used my tile cuter to make my first one the other day. Nothing fancy just a clear rock u found on a job. It started as a big one and ended as a little one. So know im getting a real one to cute and polish. Its like a drug to see what it will look like. I found some nice ones but will save them for later after i get more practice. But i have been studying how you do it and its helping. I find it calming and relaxing if you understand that.

[@tattoedmat]

Love gambles like that

[@blackopaldirect]

Especially when its a win haha

[@tattoedmat]

@@blackopaldirect deffinatly mate..chicken dinner that one

[@michaelvial125]

To have nature create something so beautiful, bursting with colour and life, then to bury it, for you or someone else to dig up and finally release that beauty into the light must be an amazing and very addictive past-time. Thanks for uploading Justine. Also when is your next fishing adventure and will we get to share it with you.

[@robbiesnobbysopal]

My day is now completed watching this 🙌 thank you BOD team ❤ gotta love Australian Opal and the community.

[@blackopaldirect]

Thanks for watching Robbie!

[@DeanStoffel]

Another beautiful gem. Love watching. Thanks

[@blackopaldirect]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Divig]

Great choice of music! Edit: and the pre- and post- images were really nice. Have that more often please 😊

[@ElinHaugan]

Ahh, so nice to get one of these videos again 😊 Gorgeous stone ❤

[@paulfarrell8792]

Loved it. The sound effects were perfect.

[@blackopaldirect]

Thanks haha

[@dennymagic8226]

Hi Justin, WOW! You are talented. I have ALWAYS wanted a"Black Opal Bracelet". ... Now I realize that having a bracelet made like I envision is a case of PURE FANTASY. I will NEVER be ale to afford what I'd like. Ironically, you have 'burst my bubble'. NO WORRIES! I STILL admire you and your skills! I guess I will keep purchasing LOTTERY TICKETS? He, he. :O)

[@blackopaldirect]

Thanks so much!

[@JohnDoe2.01]

Another beautiful stone and opportunity to pick up on some of your brilliant skills. Thanks again!

[@susantyler2807]

Beautiful stone! Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us.

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you too!

[@thnkblu.2206]

What's with the crystal structures in the color play @7:57?

[@nickfranklin1867]

That is a stunning opal Justin!

[@lorenrobertson8039]

Oh Justin that was magnificent! Thank you!

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you Loren

[@trumpatier]

Hey Justin! Excellent video. I haven't watched in a while, did you upgrade your camera? The quality looks fantastic! Also, this opal is brilliant!

[@Edelstones]

Sound effects are spot on 👌🏼

[@christinechildress5021]

So many patterns and colors! Ready for a live one! ❤️BOD. Say hi to everyone!

[@markfoster6369]

Absolutely stunning little gem

[@susannesamuelsson2930]

I love opals and I love you guys on BOD even more! Greetings to you all, 👋❤️💎😍👍!

[@1catfishuntermiller753]

Hiya Justin, awesome video and such a beautiful stone, I loved at the end of the video the lighting sounds. That is a... Electrifying stone know doubt. Beautifully done. I hope you have a awesome blessed day mate. Cheers! Cya! 😺🐟 out!

[@highseassailor]

Beautiful work. Going to grab a custom piece once I start my new job. Cheers!

[@thenodiggardener]

What a corka! Just what I need first thing in a morning, some beauty to start my day.

[@petercrowhurst]

i Just joined up a few days ago. learning a lot and want to buy my first rough bag . I have seen some on ebay (in australia) but only being 2.5 hours away from lightning ridge i might take a drive .

[@kathyschmitz7487]

WIW😮 Justin! What an incredible gem !! ♥️

[@MrRajsta]

It's a nice stone yet a little cloudy . Have you considered a dentistry drill in conjunction with the cutting wheel?

[@Smallathe]

WOW. Awesome gem and superb cutting, as always. Thanks for sharing!

[@quienvive675]

Good job👍🏽 I think I'm going in cause it's raining 🌧 outside

[@janicedyck9212]

Well worth the money!

[@devinhardy1832]

A beautiful stone! I hope you can cut one soon that merits a happy dance 😁

[@rindapelton5876]

Gorgeous opal!! Thank you 🤗

[@blackopaldirect]

You are so welcome!

[@ChrisLiles-h7j]

Well done, amazing stone ❤

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you

[@oneshotme]

You've cut a beautiful stone!!! I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you very much!

[@nathaniachaney-aiello4832]

What would be the best way for a stone like this to be set, so that those gorgeous flashes of color from the side aren't hidden?

[@chadstamps1943]

Hey Justin...wonderful video as always! I know you were talking about the "chip" that had come out of the face. In your video, if you look closely at your right middle finger you can see the chipped piece as it flashing when you move!! Does this chipping happen often? Don't remember you mentioning it in past videos. Thanks

[@blackopaldirect]

It can happen every so often

[@SarahLayne-z3c]

After all the trimming and sanding , is there use a use for the sanded grit in the water?