Block Party! Huge Opal Gemstone Block!

[@bryanovermon8696]

You are the inspiration to opal cutters . And miners . I enjoy every video you put out. And learrned an awful lot. Thank you.

[@amberandrews6842]

I love watching your catalog of older videos! This huge chunk is absolutely fantastic!!

[@opaldeer9399]

Hello! I've been watching you opal cutting videos for a while and have taken an interest in jewelry making and stone cutting. You inspired to sign up for a metals/jewelry making class at my highschool for my senior year and I'm excited to begin this hobby. Thank you for sharing your techniques and all your beautiful opals! Can't wait to see how this one turns out :)

[@speccwolf]

Thats pretty cool to hear.

[@dragonfox2.058]

good luck. That's how I started

[@jesusmejia1334]

Your craftsmanship with these stones is incredible!! I love your videos sir very informative.

[@shadara5370]

I love watching your videos. I have learned a lot about my favorite stone. What I have learned from you, to me is priceless. Thank you for teaching us about opals and how to care for them properly.

[@sharonleaderfam4273]

I'm glad I found you on my KZbin. You've become one of my favorite channels to watch. Thank You! It started with buttons for me. They would be beautiful on a blouse. You are very informative. Thank You!

[@coastalpearlworld]

Every time I see an Opal I remember one of the sweetest most kind lady I had the privilege to know, she touched my life and the life of my son in such a way, it gave me the belief that there are truly some very good hearted people in the world...and when she passed away with only me at her side in a hospital in Houston, I wrote a poem in homage to her wonderful life...it felt like the right thing to do for a woman who could not bare children of her own, but on a cold Christmas eve, she was brought an orphaned baby to raise as her own. He grew to become a successful man, that then married my eldest sister. 29 years and they have no children of their own but helped me raise my fatherless son and daughter... it made the bond between them strong as a husband and wife. For that help, I owe her, a mother in every sense, my up most gratitude...

[@Tracy_R]

Option #2 love the creative cut & should get the most value. Keep'em coming! Love ur work! One day when i grow up, i would love to purchase one of your Pulitzer opals

[@costinbalint7517]

Everything i know about opal gemstones is from your youtube chanel and i subscribed some time ago just for the pleasure of watching your amazing work and listening your warm voice.I do think that opal is the most beautiful stone ever...

[@CEverett55]

Just stunning. No suggestions on how to cut it. Too mesmerized by that opal!

[@terryjleavitt4528]

Beautiful opal! Good luck to you on how ever you choose to cut it. I rather like option 2, evaluating as you go. Seems like this would lend itself to some lovely larger stones. Should be exciting to do.

[@monicaharrison1993]

I think you are a great teacher and cutter,thank you so much,my best to you. M

[@markmcarthy596]

Just started working with opal-black opal from lightning ridge & Ethiopian opal. It is My birthstone so am naturally connected to it. Recently diagnosed w/ R.A. I slowed My spa business down after 30+ years to follow My opal passion(s). I think you should cut as many match sets as you can in various sizes for matching earrings & pendant. Thanks for your videos & consideration-love your work

[@jeffreyvasquez3911]

Wow, totally enjoy all your talent and info. Opals so many kinds , so beautiful. And that’s a big one. 👍🦋

[@miketurany2082]

Don I learn so much from how you explain what you do, I know even though I want to, I'll never do any lapidary, but watching you I feel like I know what I'm doing Thanks man

[@dpulitzer]

Thank you , Michael. I don't do hang-gliding, but I love to watch it!

[@aropals672]

Had to watch this one again also. I finally got a piece of Coober Pedy large enough to have to explore. I really like like way of taking off the sand and potch. Rolling the edges. I've started doing that with every stone and it's working great. Thanks for the video because I'm still learning and every little trick or I guess tip helps.

[@aropals672]

@@PulitzerOpal thanks for the reply. Yes I put it away for a while especially because my saw blade was just to thick to cut gem quality opal. The new saw blade to put me on is fantastic and I've been able to go back to several pieces that just was worth way to much to just hack away at or grind away good color. Now with the new ultra thin blade I've been able to cut small stones from material I would have wasted. Prime example is I have some dark base CP with full red caps on both side of the dark gray potch that I've been able to get two stones out of it now with zero waste. Thanks again for the lead on the blade and your videos. They do help people like me and do make a difference!

[@sassycat5856]

I would choose option #4. Cut one piece at a time and re-evaluate after each cut. I really enjoy yoyr videos. Opals are my favorite and you take such care getting the best out of each one. I like the whole process and find it very fascinating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent.😊

[@BulkMasterFlex]

Used to be really interested in geology and minerals when I was a kid. Watching some of your videos is really bringing me back! Such a cool hobby I wish to get into in the future. I think the single large piece looks pretty cool to be honest.

[@BulkMasterFlex]

I live in southern/central Wisconsin. Do you know if there's anything interesting in that area offhand? Not sure how to go about figuring that out.

[@teddiepike4358]

Love watching the finished piece emerge. Opals are so beautiful.

[@MikeNeri1]

I love opals and love watching you work. Thank you

[@MikeNeri1]

@@PulitzerOpal I wouldn't know where to start or which direction to cut; I think that is why I enjoy your videos

[@MikeNeri1]

@@PulitzerOpal An Outfielder just makes the impossible catch but doesn't explain how it was done. You don't need to explain.😉

[@missym6744]

Wow!! I live in Willow Alaska and I love to carve opal. All kinds!! Option #4 is where it's at!! It seems you do your best work on the fly. Your good at it!! I would gladly except a piece of that beautiful opal. That's an option that works. Happy carving from Missy in Willow Alaska.

[@happyskye6713]

Wow!!!! What a beautiful piece of opal! My Father was a Goldsmith and gemologist. However, I was never able to watch him cut. I just love gemstones and agates. I’ve thought about taking some classes myself..

[@happyskye6713]

Pulitzer Opal my sister and I have loved searching for raw gems and agates since we were about 4 yrs old. 😊

[@MrTatts64]

Great to watch you working again. For my initial thinking, I look at such a large piece and my first thoughts are of a complete matching set which includes a ring, necklace / pendant and earings. But with such a large piece the options are seriously varied, including carving if you enjoy carving opals. seeing all that ed and orange, Iwould also be inclinied to see what amount of these colours I coud put ino one higher value piece or set.

[@harryleather8019]

When I look into an opal, I get transported to another world.

[@drevonsky]

Yeah... I get transoted to wakanda now....

[@manchieros]

Whoa!

[@thennowforever47]

Hi there. Always enjoy your videos. So informative. Know I am new to cutting . But I think #2 might give you more wow! #1 would be more yielding. But, I think #2. And that's because of the color bars. Can't wait to see what you decide.

[@verenalai7668]

I enjoy watching your video very much. I would suggest 50% of this opal block goes under Option 1 and the remainder comes under option 4 to have some flexibility for custom-made pieces. Keep up your good job in sharing interesting videos! Thank you.

[@marisapasumala9890]

I love opals. The play of color is so magical and fascinating. How I wish I could have one, a real one I mean.

[@kathybradbury]

Marisa Pasumala Australian opal is very expensive-because of rarity and desirability. You can get small opals for less than $50, and many substantially less then that.

[@jasonjackson8845]

Thankyou for the lessons fella,,,,keep up the great work,,,,your clips help me out heaps,,,cheers, jason

[@biancat6601]

Beautiful opal! And definitely option #4, but always do what makes you feel happiest!!

[@mattyrulli6864]

I would love the chance to win a piece of that! Thank you for the opportunities you give us all to do so and the informational videos. Fantastic job! As for how to cut it, maybe horizontally or lengthwise rather than vertically.

[@McCanada1]

Beautiful slab. Love your videos thanks for sharing.

[@toothpaw1926]

wow another amazing video! i would say cutting half of it into slices like option #1 and leave the other half for option #4! it would be great to have some smaller pieces as well as larger ones left over to work with! thank you for sharing your amazing work!

[@mf3790]

Love your channel. I became fascinated with opal as kid, and have learned a lot from you thanks for the vids

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

Here I am, a year and a half too late, as usual, lol. I like to see your work. I probably will never have any opal but it teaches me how to work other stones(agate and crystal quartz). Thanks for the informative vids. Havagudun my friend.

[@vdavis7098]

You must love your work! Thanks for great information about my favorite stone. Option 4

[@BrianStocking]

Hello, I too am a flint knapper. Many years ago my friend Joe had some Opal and ask me to knapp some arrowheads with it. I declined because all I knew about Opal was it was expensive and I didn't feel I was up to the challenge. We live here in Florida and the best knapper around was our friend Claud Van Order. Claud made three little points that were just superb. I'm sure I could have done something with it but never as good as Claud had done. Would like to see some of your stuff you've knapped.

[@bartplug4696]

Very cool piece and nice fire in there! And i would leave it as is with all the lines visible and a big top and bottom surface with lots and lots of fire

[@Freddie_Dunning-Kruger_Jr.]

Great work! Love your channel! Always a blast to watch 😁

[@jeffdekofsky6708]

Thank you for both this video and for offering this giveaway. Both show your amazing generosity my friend. It would be fun to have a piece of this as I have yet to work on any Lambina material. To me, the way to go is an option 2&4 hybrid. It would make nice cabs with option one colorwise but you would lose the incredible true pattern of these color bars. Option 2 would show the patterns of the layers and let you still get all double sided stones. 😉

[@ZeepDr]

Option 4 seems safest :) Gorgeous opal!

[@joleenphillips2415]

Well, I did like option 1 mainly because it gives you so many similar sizes and shapes. It's good for making matched sets that people tend to look for. It is a beautiful piece as it is though

[@albertdavidabdool8441]

Outstanding explanation and thank you. I believe that I would cut as I go, simple because the Poch obscures the details.

[@hoploscaphites4485]

Always nice to watch your videos. Keep up the good work. If I was going to make a plan I would go with #2.

[@markf5653]

I think it best to select the first option for best results. And I can't wait to learn my fate. Thanks for all your videos.

[@argonautofpain]

This is a straight up nice piece of opal. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

[@hofamilytravels]

Option 4 for sure. Need to be flexible to yield the best possible outcome, depending on what you are trying to achieve! I have always loved Opal, but never had the pleasure of owning a piece. It would be an honour to be able to work with one!

[@hofamilytravels]

In that case, I would do option 2 to start, then option 4. :) I saw that you do sell on eBay in one of the comments, if you don't mind me asking, what's your ebay ID? Thanks!

[@hofamilytravels]

Thank you! :) I will definitely check out your ebay listings! I'm hoping to own an Opal piece in the near future!

[@tokotiki]

That's a pretty piece! I'm interested in the giveaway. I'd say that, because of your skill with cutting, option 4 would be the most interesting choice.

[@Tracy_R]

I appreciate you explaining why you cut where you cut & your thought process. If your so inclined to share a teensyist piece with me, i would humbly accept. Much love from Ohio. Thanks!

[@saveriospadone6757]

hi, I was thinking about option 2 my self too before you show the options the stone it is clean enougth to evaluate it. maybe cut some pieces in half or recheck it . thanks a lot to let your opal tribe enjoy your videos. thanks, and of course, I will be more than happy to get some opal always.

[@bumblebee6180]

Hi Don, I watched your video again, and I think there are valid reasons for each option. I’m leaning more toward option number 4......but I do see a place for number 2 next, then number 1 only if volume production were the goal. I love your graphics...and again, thanks for sharing. Marc Pruett

[@TheYuleTube]

I always enjoy your videos! You have some amazing material, and you always do a great job explaining, which not everyone does. If it was me, I think I would try something like your #1 option, but with the intent to make maybe half or a third as many slices. After each slice, I'd re-evaluate, just to be sure. But my reasoning on the thicker slices, is that it would allow you to cut each slice in any of several different ways, as that particular slice is best suited, and likely get 2-4 fair sized stones from each piece.

[@TheYuleTube]

Well, I certainly won't say no! I think I am relatively local to you, as well, as I am in DFW, and if I recall you're down in Austin/SA somewhere?

[@DeannaJaxineStinson]

Oh what a beauty, I would love to win this. I enjoy watching your videos with my friend. You create such beautiful objects 😍

[@opallightning]

Marvellous piece. I think vertical and horizontal cuts should be utilised. Perhaps even a nice 45 degree, cross sectional cut, would produce an interesting stone 😁🖒

[@HerculeseBaby]

Great freakin video! Love the informative nature.

[@xray720100]

I think option 2 Nice big piecesLove all the free info you share

[@dazzler6076]

Recently subscribe to your KZbin channel and now I'm hooked. I think you should slice the Opel and just make arrowheads. Maybe one or two cabochon to keep Sheila happy.

[@connorY0KAI4T7]

Half option #1 and cuts length wise, dividing each layer of colour to make some big shallow stones on the other half! Beauty of a block!!

[@connorY0KAI4T7]

I’ve just realised that this was posted today, but a year ago today! I can’t believe you not cut it yet, I look forward to the video!

[@crashcoyote8149]

I think a mix of option 2 and 4 would be nice, and let us watch as you do it. Thanks for the videos!

[@lifecontradicts]

Love your videos! Giveaways are a bonus!

[@versailshorts]

That’s a Pretty impressive Opal. Thanks for sharing

[@camrynl778]

Pulitzer Opal I chose option four, The color bars of the opal are continuous throughout stone, maybe you could do something with that, like a cut (along the longest side) that well showcases this feature. Or make a collection or set of jewelry from it. Also, within this stone there are many colors that are able to be displayed depending the orientation of each cut stone. Like on the longest, widest sides, (the top and bottom of the stone), reds, yellows, and greens and blues, and even some speckles of purple. The possibilities are endless, these are just a few of my suggestions.

[@davidleslie1963]

Such an amazing block of opal. Wow.

[@whitebeard420]

Please please PLEASE say this is still available! Man, I am so glad I found this channel.

[@heidifarmer3454]

Yes, please! How gorgeous!

[@DHRDD]

There is a lovely blue cabochon in the bottom of #2 and those green bars on top will give you a lot of options as you begin to cut.

[@jenhanh3302]

Great exposure of this opal! I would choose option 4 and cut as you go depending on the opal :)

[@aropals672]

Beautiful stone! Slicing a stone like that I guess would be a hard decision but really depends on what drives your business. If there's a market for a very large stone or pendants, matches for ear rings. So many choices! I could see that in a necklace in a string of stones in white gold.

[@aropals672]

@@PulitzerOpal I watched that one just a while ago tonight. Very nice choices in the cuts. I've just recently started working with opal. I don't have any machines and been doing everything by hand. My hopes is to aquire and make enough to purchase a nice machine. My biggest problem so far is finding opal to buy. I've only been able to get a couple of small parcel of lower quality Australian lighting ridge so far. Hopefully I'll be able to find something soon. Thanks for your videos they are very informative and you make them fun to watch.

[@kathybradbury]

Dang! I missed the giveaway again! Oh well, thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills with us!

[@kathybradbury]

Pulitzer Opal oh! You’re a terrible tease! Ok, I will!😁

[@jacksgems3599]

Very nice stone. I reckon what you choose will be the right option. Good luck

[@RealityBitesYT]

Beautiful! Option 4 I'm in love with! Forgot to comment that 😂 I would love one❤

[@gabem6362]

Still catching up...love the stone as is . 2 years late lol

[@jameskibbey4017]

I just found your channel today. I have to say that it's quite amazing what you are able to do with opals. I would be interested in finding your finished pieces on eBay to purchase some of your work and so I can see you work on opal more. I think option 4 is tour best bet.

[@bretts1]

Pulitzer Opal Donald U should put links to ebay in description, realize it change, but u listings are awesome. Really love your opals and especially the mount designs. I still searching for that beautiful mans ring a guy had listed as made to order. I called him about 8 years ago and he told me diamond sizes etc, and then was about 6k to make. Really kick myself for not having him make me one. The idea we mutually agreed on back then is I try to cut center stone since I had the opal to save the cost of opal and he mount in the ring. Then life took turns and had to help mom and lost track of him.

[@anfespo]

Wow, beautiful piece... i am interesting first at gaining of information and experience. Also how to respect what our mother nature offers us. Some kind of opals, are almost gone, and perhaps i am not imaging working on pastle colors opal without any fire in them... I do sometimes also polish those not really interesting material, i they do really surprised me. I got few stones from Honduras, but it is a really not easy going material to work with. At least i get it directly from the mine owner, she does choose really valuable ones. She understand also, my intention on grinding and plishing opals. After too many years on international peacekeeping missions, i would slowly start to do the 2nd most important part for me. Join the family and enjoy my hobby with a good purpose.

[@annreid1965]

Wow, I thought I was way too late , but thought I would leave my tuppence worth anyway. I love opal and have been watching you and Black opal direct for quite a while. Please don’t think I gave my personal option for a giveaway, i genuinely would have cut the piece as option five, had I owned it. Love you’re videos, and keep them coming. BTW 13

[@flyingcheff]

I'd love to see the next video, what you decided to do. This is the first time I'm seeing a lot of these videos but I see that they've been posted 7 months ago. New to me! Wow! Love your teaching. I'd love to know the links for the next one(s) from this particular piece of opal. I would have voted for slicing like bread, I wonder what you did. And, do you treat all/some/ most/ a few...kinds of opal? Are there several kinds of treatments? Thanks for your time, master!!

[@susananderson2536]

This is a very pretty opal. As far as how to cut it, you could cut it in a way that you get the most money or volume of pieces. I think every opal should be cut to enhance the most beautiful color and size. Opal is also my birthstone and I’d love to have a piece of the crystal opal in the larger part of the seam of opal. A big piece! Lol

[@captainblood9162]

Nice work mate! #4 go for the big colour bar, cheers

[@halberstam1989]

Going for option No 4 seems to be the most obvious, but I would give option 2 at least one try, as concidering the pattern inherent and already visible might imply some really nice striped patterns coming out of that cut. Good luck anyway! Love your vids and opals!

[@douglastaylor3285]

Looks awesome... I would pick #4, keep the options open!

[@ccarter0069]

Well Donald I think option 4 would be the best. Being able to cut and reevaluate is SAFEST for me for a specimen like that. Of course leaving it alone as a beautiful specimen is a great option also!!

[@mastermotovlogs4691]

Just bought a flat top lapidary machine today I’m super excited to get to work on some opal! I think option #1 would be the way to go!

[@shadara5370]

I think option #4 is the one I like best. You can't see what's in the middle of the opal piece, so by making a cut then deciding what cut to make next would seem to be the best option. The opal is beautiful, so I hope you get many gems fro. It.

[@AccessGuru]

If it was me I'd be looking to end up with a piece large enough for carving. It's such a large piece I can see some beautiful smaller pieces coming from the best of it and then a gorgeous creative carving from a piece that still has great opal but maybe some not so great parts. Sorry I didn't pick one of your options.

[@AccessGuru]

I don't have those skills either, and haven't done any cabbing for years. Just could imagine a white dove carved from that opal. Would be something to see I think.

[@Hollister74]

Is there an update on how you decided to cut it. Personally I think option 2 would have given some stunning stones!

[@davidmiller4552]

I would do 3 or 4 cross cuts for some nice large cabs. Then see if the pattern keep on the same then maybe slice it down the middle to get the 2 color bars for some nice pendants out of the blue as well. But I also collect opal so would be hard for me to do anything to such a nice peace as this.

[@davidmiller4552]

I maybe a collector and dont like to sell very often but for some reason giving it away as a gift is easy.

[@user_mac0153]

Could make some nice knife handle scales... or scale slabs for a Letter Opener.

[@QiangQiangVRTV]

"large" is the rare word in opal world.. had never had any large.. small is my opal middle name.. but amazing to see such opal at this size ! nice!

[@ficheye00]

Option #4 would be the way to go. There's a bar with no color running lengthwise, so it might be good to take a thin blade and cut into it that way because if you want to make stones you would need the color bars to face up or down. But I'm too late! I've subscribed but I never saw this post. Guess I'd better manually go to the site more often.

[@woodbeez6046]

The faint orange red yellow line in the center...I was thinking try to cut it long ways and get one huge cabochon outta that but it awful thin....I'm sure you'll make the right decision....always watching. 👍

[@woodbeez6046]

Very true. As cool as it would be. It'd be awful hard to sell.

[@woodbeez6046]

It's some truly beautiful stuff, I'm about to get my first piece of rough, lightning ridge, black opal (36 CRT rough) it looks like a good one, I only have a dremel, but I wanna try my hand at it...wish me luck.

[@woodbeez6046]

Thanks for the advice...I think it could produce a couple very nice gems...I'll try to find your email address and maybe send you a couple pictures...thanks for taking the time to talk. I'm soaking up all the knowledge I can about it right now

[@MrMarty12357]

I liked option two to make the most of the colour bars. Which did you choose?

[@ronnivins3463]

It looks like a lovely piece

[@ashleyhdz7879]

Most beautiful stone I'm completely in love with opal

[@blumen-kraft]

I'm probably too late to be in the drawing, but I believe you should adlib this one. I see some red in there and you might have some lovely concentrations toward the core.... love to see this when it's cut.

[@camrynl778]

I chose option four, I really think this stone has infinite potential when it comes to what can be made from it. The color bars of the opal are continuous throughout stone, maybe you could do something with that, like a cut (along the longest side) that well showcases this feature. Or make a collection or set of jewelry from it. Also, within this stone there are many colors that are able to be displayed depending the orientation of each cut stone. Like on the longest, widest sides, (the top and bottom of the stone), reds, yellows, and greens and blues, and even some speckles of purple. The possibilities are endless, these are just a few of my suggestions.

[@Herrochau]

I love the colours on this piece. Option #4 cut Depending on the Banding/colour consistency throughout the bar.

[@joshuacouldren138]

id be delighted great video and gorgeous speciemen but id go option 3 leave as is very nice color im in arizona out here you find alot of agates and lots of others occassionally you find some agates with small amounts of opal in them in certain spots will glow green under a black light only on certain pieces of agate were there is translucent grey spots that i believe is opal wonderfull video and nice stones brightest of blessings to you my friend

[@bobhuston6168]

I live in bc canada and i find opel didnt no how to cut it but thanks to You now i do. Now im hooked You. Bastard!!!lol 😄😄 many thanks.bob

[@ryman4760]

Option 4 for sure. Might get some really nice larger pieces out of that monster!

[@tobilogie1612]

I hope i am not too late for the giveaway! Anyways, option #4 seems reasonable. Thank you for the frequent uploads lately, i really enjoy watching them.

[@dietmarsteinhilber169]

Option # 2 of corse. , a well thought out approach to large slabs of the best color bigger is better. And the remaining portion the area about the size of a nickel that has no color on the surface, I see a great high dome large size round cab hidden just below, a ring fit for Merlin or a King would be in order. HAPPY CUTTING !!

[@MiserysFinest]

Omg. I wish. I’ve always wanted a piece of opal!!! I have a few crystals and an opal would make my collection perfect to me. An opal heart would be super awesome lol. Or maybe a star? I dunno if those would be to hard to cut. But you should make a star or a heart!!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼