cutting opal away to find the color inside. Does it pay off?

See if the inside of this rough opal piece has a nice enough colorbar to cut a gem out of. Just take you through the process on his lapidary wheels. Watch to see if it becomes a beautiful gem or a flop

[@rosebudsue3056]

When you say, "Let's get into it," I run and get my chips and soda...or fruit and juice depending....but your statement means the roller coaster has begun. Get ready for the time of your life from the quiet day. Isn't that amazing!. You are addicting!...and fun. Thanks from Chicago 👍

[@glenjones5416]

Maestro: very nice gem, the thinness challanged your skill. As always, you overcame everything.

[@sidehustlebrasil2023]

Very nice gemstone Justin, congratulations for the work, and TKS for sharing with us.

[@denttech2515]

You haven't made an opal cutting video in a while. I appreciate all your videos, especially the cutting ones. Hope you continue making more in the near future. Thanks again

[@blackopaldirect]

this one was just for you :-)

[@Crystallz2]

Opals are my love of all stones! They are just so magical and dreamy!

[@beth-rg8bm]

Oh...I think that's the most beautiful one yet!

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

Gorgeous as always! It’s my favourite stone 😍 thanks for the lessons mate, hopefully one day I’ll be able to get behind the wheels and use the knowledge you share. 👍

[@blackopaldirect]

Thanks for the kind words

[@beth-rg8bm]

Is this real opal? kzbin.info/www/bejne/eauoZJWwa9OXmtU

[@dannywileyinthemountains]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thanks for showing these videos and sharing your expertise. Opals are always fascinating. It's always a pleasure learning from you.

[@blackopaldirect]

Glad you enjoyed Danny you have been following for many years now and appreciate it

[@chriswells4028]

You make it look so easy mate I can watch this 100 times and still need to keep watching crockety

[@MrInsaint]

Awesome video Justin, I appreciate this very much🇦🇺🤠🇳🇴

[@SylviaLeDoux]

I’m just learning to grind stones on the wheel. I’ve been tumbling for years. Thanks, these videos are very helpful. My thumbnails look like yours to haha.

[@KateandEvatoys]

That is the prettiest opal I’ve ever seen 😍

[@nigelkavanagh2048]

Well cut Justin and great info again.

[@bobbiwest6625]

I think its very pretty. I purchased ,a long ago, some solid navy blue chunks of opaque opal. I did it to make doublets. I think it would make a nice doublet.with the navy blue back, instead of onyx, some people use. Unless that devalues the opal. Take care.

[@shanereid5663]

i have bought a rough opal parcel from justin before,he is very fair and i got a 4 karat black opal to sell which i made money on and i also got to keep 6 smaller stones.

[@blackopaldirect]

Shane Reid thank you for the kind words Shane I’m glad you did well 😊🙏

[@jasminezahraa5972]

Really gorgeous Australian opals .

[@wqmanawqke3375]

I call BS on it being an opal... that is a dragon scale ;) I absolutely love how it isn't perfect. The slight flaws make it more precious, I think.

[@blackopaldirect]

Hahah

[@normkirkland1999]

@@blackopaldirect New category: "Dragon Scale" pattern!

[@elizabeth3527]

Ohhhhhhh baby! Blue is so you! I can only. Imagine , how melting amazing your eyes are like in person! Beautiful!

[@blackopaldirect]

🥰

[@albansarbach8977]

so shines the light

[@billandpamwalsh4668]

Thank You Very Much for the Education

[@wilsonrawlin8547]

Still a very nice stone, Nice broad flash of color.

[@rajanouman9205]

I'm big fan u your cutting and polishing style i love Opal stone

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you

[@nathansolari]

Awesome video

[@Crystallz2]

How gorgeous!

[@sharonlewis7638]

It’s like finding a mini treasure chest when you get thru the rough and hit color, don’t you think?

[@TreYay83]

I mostly agree on your value. I could see that being 800 if it had a thicker back and higher dome. Very thin stone and think the estimate is biased off the face alone. Either way, gl selling!

[@tanyabonnett4174]

Gorgeous, our Australian Opals are the best in my eyes

[@einsteindrieu]

That was pretty good !

[@jerrylebreux934]

Thank you justin for such beautiful work. I love opals. I would like to buy a small stone for an engagement ring. Im a unique kind of person. Thank you justin.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Great information Justin. I learned something here! Thanks for the channel.

[@GapCracker]

Hey Justin... Big fan here. Can we get rid of the yellow light over the wheel? It's washing out the videos to where we can't see the color really, everything is too red/orange. Seeing the color bar emerge is the best, but we can't really see it as well when that light is on, the other light source gives better videos.

[@MichaelSchnidrig]

Nach meinen Schleifereien ist es Immer eine Freude dir zusehen zu dürfen.

[@SB-ls2vp]

Have you ever attempted any other stone cutting like a ruby?

[@blackopaldirect]

No haha

[@andermac1]

Could you weigh some of the small stones in carats of before you cut and polish them? It will give me an better idea on the weight rough. I can't tell what I'm looking at in the auctions. I'm trying to go back and catch up on your vids.👍

[@levibrown4396]

That looks amazing dude

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you 🙏

[@dengcastro4283]

Wow it has big maps of color i dont know if its proper term its so flashy and colorful

[@B33rsauce]

Could you please say a little on the price fluctuations of opal?

[@briangc6104]

It is still a nice gem.

[@martyhandley4456]

Sux about the sound missing on most of this, but I still learned quite a bit......thanks

[@blackopaldirect]

try a stereo speaker and it should come out one of them

[@martyhandley4456]

Watching in bed with only 1 earphone in....lol,thanks love these vids

[@kurtsloop2462]

I have know idea why Im addicted to opal polishing videos but I am. Ive never even seen a real opal

[@sharonlewis7638]

Kurt Sloop addicted here too. Can’t learn enough or see enough so I rewatch. Am I obsessed. Yes! Definitely-right answer.

[@guilhermeribeirojunior6592]

Show...trabalhando pra brilharem...

[@guilhermeribeirojunior6592]

Precisava te enviar um vídeo de uma pedra, tem um contato pra enviar de watts zap

[@rogerlimoseth4790]

You need or may already have a video on how to purchase rough opal. I understand it's a crap shoot but there must be some tricks of the trade that you've developed over the years. Ive heard your story on your very first purchase where you dropped 30k and only got one stone out of the deal, OUCH! THAT is the reason i would like any information you have and are willing to divulge to the world. Concerning this stone. Since the color bar went through the stone. Why did you choose the thicker side to whittle it down? Wouldnt the other side provide the same effect plus give you more karrot wieght?

[@blackopaldirect]

Thanks for the message Roger Yes I chose the side I chose because it had the most chance of having darker potch in it. It didn't work out that well but was worth the risk for the gain it could have been. I thought It would have been brighter in color from that side as well.

[@rogerlimoseth4790]

@@blackopaldirect thank you for THE quick reply. Now that you point it out, its obvious. Your channel is BLACK Opal Direct, i should have considered that.

[@ronmartin3755]

SO you call removing the potch and sand rubbing? Then when you put it on the Dob Stick is that called cutting? I would think when you polish it that would be called polishing?

[@blackopaldirect]

Correct and the term is dopping

[@leilacatillaz2080]

Brilha como o sol.estrela do ceu na terra.lindo demais

[@oceanhouse8080]

Audio is too low during videos at time's love your videos, wish opal was findable in California...

[@rajanouman9205]

Australian black Opal is best and very beautyfull

[@sarakruse3294]

I need help. My boyfriend gave me a lot of small raw opals and I want to give them justice and have their color come through. Can I get help?

[@davidklein1903]

How are you able to hold these small stones without injury?

[@blackopaldirect]

I have super hero powers 😆

[@tronalpha2552]

So with 80% weight loss, how do you justify the processe of cut and polish?. Thats one of the problems i could not understand. thanks for the reply back the other day. That was helpfull. Gerard.

[@blackopaldirect]

It's the same with all the gemstones. The loss is massive but the gem can be amazing at the end

[@makkyd123]

I love your videos but I wish you would show more closeups of your opals.

[@AsanoRacingPerformance]

less if hand sand?

[@rezakarimi3061]

Hello, you do not answer, Mr. Engineer!?! I want such a rough with a size of 20 carats, how can you help me find it in Iran?

[@jackiehocker4960]

Do I see a fracture dead center?

[@TheInvisibleOrange26]

I need help I bought a polishing and grinding machine it’s a mini one it uses 4inch 1/4” hole wheel I can’t find the right size wheels were can I find them

[@blackopaldirect]

diamond pacific

[@tammycoleman8889]

Good day.

Muito bom legal amigo fica com DEUS amigo

[@TraciMann]

Where do you sell them?

[@blackopaldirect]

Blackopaldirect.com

[@SlowMr2Sw20]

Where can i get a basic cutting setup to start out

[@blackopaldirect]

Jesse Redington from any lapidary ship

[@jonfine4152]

I’m new to your channel what is the name of your site I can buy one of these stone from

[@blackopaldirect]

blackopaldirect.com

[@KingAustraliaGG]

what kind of grinding wheel is that

[@blackopaldirect]

Diamond

[@nessin8or394]

I have so many finds from lightning ridge when I was a kid. Between there and grawin, I have yet to have any polished lol might have to. Might actually head out next weekend to Grawin. You can’t really dig through off cuts at lightning ridge anymore can you?

[@joliartshopjoli4219]

Wow, 👍

[@dengcastro4283]

Its like holographic wow

[@tomacosta2033]

Hi Justin, When you have an opal with small holes on its surface and to take them out you would destroy the value, can a clear filler like polyurethane be used to fill the pits? Just curious. Love your site. I will be purchasing from you asap. Thanks, Tom from Florida.

[@blackopaldirect]

Def would destroy the value. its best to leave them in

[@perseoeridano4182]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@leilacatillaz2080]

Um dia vou a australia encontrar uma opala.minha estrela perdida

[@haroonshaikh9770]

Wow supab

[@terrgall]

Isn't nature wonderful?!

[@icatz]

Still an amazing stone. Great work! But I hope you wear a mask or breathing gear normally.

[@blackopaldirect]

I do wear one when cutting dry but when wet I dont

[@georgiarogers9257]

the first 30seconds had really poor sound quality. sorry to tell you that.

[@Heppssss]

Great video Justin!! If I send you a picture on Instagram , could you tell me if I made a good purchase? Greets , Mike

[@shawnagunther7762]

That color is ridiculous!!

[@haardo1379]

looks so easy it is unfortunately not find I'm super justin

[@blackopaldirect]

hahah thank you

[@davidens8204]

opals are solidified fairy dust to be used by mother nature to posh up dull rocks ..lol

[@blackopaldirect]

Yep

[@qaiserabbas7668]

Can I get one opal from u

[@beth-rg8bm]

It looks like it has a crack across its face!

[@blackopaldirect]

Its a webline

[@Vovandopylis]

нету звука

[@ianclark1815]

Great videos and your skill is unique. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@albansarbach8977]

Sic luceat lux

[@betina1354]

Every time I watch you grind, I tense up because you get your fingers so close to the grinder. Yikes!

[@blackopaldirect]

😆

[@chriswells4028]

Bloody hell this yank is lol

[@pablopablopabla23]

my name opal st ap it

[@georgezamora1490]

Lighting was awful

[@choochalah]

Question ..is there a certian sound podge makes that is different then when you hit the actual opal? Also, it is such a treat to see a craftsman at work. Do you find each stone has it's own story to tell!? This one is an absolute stunning earth treasure. The explanation of the why it isn't "perfect" but honestly has a sweet character. 😍

[@MrInsaint]

It sounds more glassy⚒👍

[@choochalah]

@@MrInsaint thank you! I have been watching these kinds of videos and did notice a difference in the sound but wondered if it was my imagination! ☺

[@blackopaldirect]

I don't know about sounding different but it can smell oily or like tar. Thanks for the kind words