Buying rough opal online: mining the internet.

G’day everyone, I hope you’re all well! In this video we’ll becutting some Coober Pedy opal I bought from Opal Empire & Jewellery, Facebook group. I wanted to see what the rough opal market had on offer, that most of you have access to, and experience what you’re up against. The best advice I can give at this point, when buying rough opal, is, learn to estimate the yield and to do the math on a return profit. Accept that good opal WILL be sacrificed to produce Gemstones, and calculate the waste. Understand what you are buying and whether it’ll cut clean, full colour gems, or, potch and thin colour bars, or, picture stones. Most importantly, you are up against well established markets that can supply quality opal at a high level, you must learn how to sell opal gems, don’t emulate another seller, create your own style that people can identify you by, get a feel for the supply/demand of your product, then you’ll have your own market, . I hope you enjoy, thanks for your time. 🤪👍
My contact email: [e-mail]
My online store: theopalmills.com.au

[@Opalsnz]

Nice cut! I had a similar experience recently with a crack appearing part-way through a cut of a beautiful Lambina piece. Its a bit of a roller coaster but I found that just pushing forward with the cut, the woes of the crack dissipate quickly and you fall in love with the stones that were always meant to be. As they say “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” and its ultimately the Opal that shows us they way in the end. Love your content, keep it up ❤

[@JohnDoe2.01]

Nice work Phil! Your experience and great talents came through on that one. Thanks for another great lesson and fun video. Keep Smiling and Stay Grateful

[@user-nw3pj7hr1i]

Great workmanship 🎉🎉 well done! Iv bought from Jullian and Anton numerous times and can’t recommend them highly enough

[@AusOpal]

anyone knows opal can see how good that stone is. I agree when you buying and you have the budget you are better of buying good large stone compared with parcel of cheaper material. I like the detail video Phil enjoyed that a lot thank you

[@Paul-BB-FNQ]

Tough call Phil! We (family watching) saw that crack about the same time you did. Wow, we're impressed how you saved the stone champ, regards Paul

[@ThatOpalGuy]

knock out results. Took me a while to get to the video and watch it all. glad to see your version of how you search and buy opal rough. Maybe someday I will work up to that grade material. See you next time!

[@andypandyAU.6669]

Hi Phil, an awesome outcome in the end. A stunning piece. I am playing with the matrix that i found in Andamooka. Your channel is teaching me lots. I appreciate the unbelievable beauty of opal and how you bring ut out. Thanks for the ride mate. Regards Andy Poverty prospecting Australia 🇦🇺

[@offyarocka]

That was awesome to watch the way you have to problem solve a rock you are working on🤔🤔🤔 Very cool share!!!!

[@jeffholmes1362]

Like a kid in a candy store, but what a lovely crystal, beautiful finished stone and some good doublets to come too. Not sure I could part with that, awesome Phil. Thanks for sharing.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

An Aussie buying opal online, heh, that’s pretty funny, I like it. Cool to watch a pro work!

[@Famo59]

Hi Phil.. Well that is an awesome stone mate.. Cheers 🍻

[@Edelstones]

Great approach to this piece. Maybe a tiny brim on the trimming blade hit it? Still did good! I’m doing all right with cutting since a couple of years. Feeling more comfortable buying a piece like this. Know your source too, good one 👍🏼

[@fishwithandy]

Hi Phil, Great Video , Stunning Stone

[@berit3ns]

Would love seeing the other stones after they are cut and what setting you gonna choose for that gorgeous stone! 😍

[@Rygoat]

Some really solid advice in there, thanks

[@prospectvic]

Nice recovery phill

[@bbisyy4u]

What a beautiful gem.

[@opalusmaximus7713]

No doubt about it super gorgeous opal…..In my market I would put a completely different valuation and probably be in the red after all said and done I’ve got a lot to learn still

[@scottpeters5624]

Stunner

[@kaynefryday1251]

Excellent work 👍

[@drfill9210]

Haha I'm doing the exact opposite- I just ordered a kilo of colourless potch from coober pedy

[@ThatOpalGuy]

someone has to keep that side of the business liquid.

[@annblakeway7691]

Wow such fine work 🎉😊

[@Lmatdhr]

Gorgeous

[@Albanojardimenatureza]

good job.

[@mikethompson8707]

you did that one good !

[@drfill9210]

Perhaps you can explain to the punters that opal is not linear. The reason you paid such a price was because it was 20 something carots of unbroken colour. I could easily get 20 ct of similar colour from cheap stuff, but it won't be in the one stone... even good colour when small is under 20 bucks a carrot. You kinda glossed over that when you recommended buying big😊

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, in the video description I mention yield estimating, for 23cts of smaller stones @$20/ct, with similar colour, the yield of gem stones worth $1k/ct would be almost non existent, no correlation really. The reason I bought that stone is partly because I’ve cut his material before, for a client, and it’s always been a great outcome, so I shopped for the first time with him knowing I could always return the stone, and partly because I’m able to estimate the yield and saw the value. All outcomes, regardless, need to enter a market for sale, or you’re just going backwards financially, so I need to do a video on creating your own market. Even though I could cut a $100k gemstone, I’d struggle to be able to sell it for that as I don’t have that reach in my market yet, I can’t just jump straight in and expect buyer confidence without being known, I need to create that part of my market. There is no opal market but the one you create for yourself. This video was more to show it’s possible to buy great opal online, as I only buy on the field I wanted to see what it was like for those who can’t get to an opal field. Fun fact, I actually collect opal first and foremost, I’m literally mining, buying, cutting and setting for me and what I’d like, I get to enjoy myself working on my opal creating my own collection, this has lead me to do work for others, but they have to pay me while I get the enjoyment of working on their opal, yes I kinda feel guilty for the pleasure 🤣, I keep my prices low to offset that though. The market I’m creating is one based on my tastes, if I sell anything it’ll be to those with similar taste, but selling is a byproduct of what I’m doing. 🤪👍

[@drfill9210]

@theopalmills it certainly wasn't a criticism! I also understand the whole busting into the market thing. Imo if you can cut opal well you are not necessarily mentally equipped to sell it. A whole other skill set. Like I said, I've been buying colourless rubbish by the kilo, but I know what I'm getting into... I don't necessarily think a first time buyer could easily spot the good opal in the junk. I liked your explanation at the beginning, and naturally when I say I buy no colour potch it's not "FU you are wrong!" Is just me being amused about how far opposite we are in our content atm. Ps I haven't forgotten about the silver... just the stuff I did turned out to not be very good. I have a new batch underway, hopefully you'll get some soon

[@Jaireeopal]

Ohh great video and info shared besides an Incredible stone . I'm working towards buying that type of upper price .I totally agree spend more buy 1 great stone .working on that, lol 😅.thanks Phil 🙏

[@drfill9210]

@Jaireeopal just checked out your channel. You now have another sub :) if you want an opal or two, I'll spare one from my bunch of colour and mail it over

[@spirituselectus7602]

Like this channel

[@samanthasimental3788]

I want to see the other stones.

[@Honeyhound]

Phill I have a question. Ib a video months ago you used ( I think) epoxy to cover Boulder opal. Was it epoxy anything special? Will clear nail polish work? Thanks

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

Gorgeous gem! I'd be worried about paying $100 per ct without seeing rough in person ... depending on seller reputation. Just too many things I can't see on video.

[@GoingUndergroundWithOpalEmpire]

Absolutely, I appreciate your feedback! Just to clarify, when purchasing opals, if you invest around $100 per carat, you're likely to get gem-grade material that can yield a value between $1,500 and $3,000 per carat. I understand the concerns, but as Opal Mills mentioned, we have a solid returns policy in place, as long as the stones remain untouched. Opal Mills paid around $40 per ct for this stone! What sets us apart is that even if you encounter unexpected issues with a stone, you can at least break even or potentially make a profit. This comes down to our extensive experience and knowledge in cutting various materials, which allows us to accurately gauge the worth of opals. Unfortunately, many sellers online lack this depth of understanding, which can lead to disappointing outcomes. In fact, 95% of our customers successfully cut profits! Thank you 🙏

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

@@GoingUndergroundWithOpalEmpire OpalEmpire very well might sell high quality rough with high yield. I'd just need to have had a good history with a seller before dropping a big wad of cash on one piece of rough. In my experience, the quality (good or bad) of rough tends to be rather consistent with any given seller.

[@darrenhunt5809]

I just tried buying from ebay and never recived it forget ebay sellers money down the drain

[@lyndallsymons9767]

Beautiful stone great job as always Phil you rock 🪨👍 Question.. does it being double sided increase the value and if so why? 😃🇦🇺👍

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, great question, it’s not often that an opal allows for a double sided cut that faces well both sides, and, is clean and thick enough to cut double sided, usually due to potch, deformations, or other inclusions. Cutters tend to go for a high dome, one sided stone, which may be one clean, solid colour bar that shows the continuity of colour through to the polished back, but is not reversible/double sided. Ring, earring, broach settings aren’t suited for a double sided cut, as they’re a one sided setting, but with bracelets or pendants that can have reversible settings/two sided, it is suitable. The level of difficulty and skill required, in both the cut and in setting them in custom jewellery, is next level as both sides need to finished correctly, there’s nowhere to hide imperfections. I’m pretty confident that any cutter, opal dealer, jeweller or collector, when asked, ‘If their single faced opals were double sided, would they price them higher?’, they would say yes. That said, it’s not always practical even if a stone could be cut double sided, the same material could also potentially cut a matching pair if sliced with a thin blade, like a 0.2mm blade. Your marketing/customer base and what you sell best, will usually guide these decisions, I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I am my biggest customer, who gets to mine/buy and cut what I would like, any sales are a byproduct of that, therefore my market will be those with similar tastes, unless I’m doing a custom request. Cheers, 🤪👍

[@lyndallsymons9767]

@@theopalmills ahh I see thank Phil I rock 🪨👍