How To Spot An Opal | ID Gems Like A Pro

[@elisabethe8055]

This is a valuable lesson. I have seen on internet based auktions, dealers selling doublets and triplets as real black opal. When confronted and asked questions they either deny it, block you or try to threat you. Fortunately, contacting moderators or supervisors, they immediately shut those people down and the item goes away. There is dealers to, ofcourse, that tells the truth and sell them as triplets or doublets. Dont be scammed! Thank you Rob for sharing!

[@oscarmedina1303]

Excellent presentation Rob. There is one other type of opal you could mention in a future episode . . . "smoked" Opal. Welo opal is placed in a chamber and smoked to create a black opal. The smoke particles infuse the stone and gives it a dark tone. Often it is sold as black opal without any mention of it being "smoked". Really enjoy this episode.

[@lorawaring883]

Yes! An episode on common opal, please.

[@christinaloveday4411]

Yes please, a video on common opal would be so helpful! I have always wanted to know more about common opal, but all the spotlight is on the precious stuff. I think I may have found some common opal at my local creek and I’d love to learn more about it. Thanks for the amazing videos!

[@kathysabo9703]

Yes,please,I would love to see a show about the many varieties of non precious opal.

[@SpearsOfCrystal]

I would absolutely love to see a video about common opal! As well as a video about the Silica Rich, Monterey Formation here in Central California. And a video about the different forms of petrified wood would also be rad!

[@oscarmedina1303]

Would love to see an episode dedicated to common opal. I have one in my collection that is slightly radioactive and it fluoresces like crazy, and also has phosphorescence.

[@gems]

Neat!

[@LostWithoutHer]

More than likely it's Hyalite opal. I'm sure you've looked it up and know there are traces of Uranium in that which is responsible for the fluorescence and phosphorescence and shows as radioactive. I saw it promoted on another shopping network awhile back. I'd be sure to keep that away from pets and children, maybe even buy a special box for it.

[@aprilmeowmeow]

I have some common green opal. it's cool.

[@______IV]

Superb info. Opal is one of the easiest precious gems to identify with just your eyes once you know what to look for. One caveat: some mined opal looks almost identical to Gilson opal’s columnar patterns. So just seeing that pattern isn’t enough to classify a specimen as synthesized.

[@bethlovesthings]

I miss this format, hope you do more of these balanced with your expert interviews. As someone who can't buy from JTV, its nice to not be 'sold to' every few specimens. Once at the end is enough, surely 😅 still love this channel sooo much

[@largent45]

This is some really good information for those that are new to the gem world and/or are just starting out with their collections. When you are new, or are buying online from an unknown source because the prices seem really cheap, chances are so are the stones. Opal, no matter what kind or where the stones are mined, they can be pricey, and if they are just too good to be believed, that's because you should not believe them! I love this channel because you guys always have great advice for the new and seasoned gem collector. And you put it in a way that makes it easy to understand! And we just love you Rob! Lol! All of you there are great at making the gem world accessible to all of us poor people, that just love our rocks, whether precious or just basalt! Lol and if we are ever in doubt about whether a stone is real or fake, but from a reputable dealer like you guys! Where you know the stones that are being offered are real and certified by your buyers that have more years in this game than those others have game! 😂 Thanks Rob for this really informative video on some of the most beautiful and most easily faked stones on the market.

[@Learnin2shred]

Awesome video! Thanks for making this! Would love to see an episode on common opal, and more episodes in this format!

[@gmariet1391]

Your hair looks great!

[@ogitanguyen5901]

Very helpful expert advice. Many thanks for sharing.

[@tinktink7736]

Rob thank you, very informative. Identifying different natural stones is the hardest thing for me and appreciate the help! Look forward to more videos.

[@call_me_mrhate165]

I'd love a video on spotting faux tourmaline that stuff ain't cheap

[@TheFacetedFeline]

Loving the identification type videos!

[@austinfreyrikrw6651]

I have a small faceted contra luz opal. What is the mechanics that make a contra luz opal "work" differently than a regular precious opal?

[@lorrieannesilvey474]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.....

[@alexanderrosenberg8224]

Maybe you can do a video on how to tell the difference between all of the blue botryoidal minerals like Hemimorphite, Smithsonite, Chrysocolla, Rosasite, Shattuckite, etc. I always have a hard time figuring out which one I am looking at.

[@SHGemstone]

Thank you for sharing, the knowledge is very easy to understand, applause for the professional narrator!

[@ultramarinewaters9325]

Opal is my favorite stone! Great video!

[@MrJayPuff]

Waited a long time for this video!

[@favonivsfreiheit5881]

My favourite gemstone! I especially love Ethiopian opals, and I know that they are hydrophane, so I wonder if I can identify natural Ethiopian opal by drowning it and checking if they go transparent. Well, actually I'm not sure if someone would make immitation of Ethiopian opal, which is not that expensive. I hope you cover common opals next time!

[@CharlemagneProkopyshyn]

Loved this video! I really like opals 😊

[@linasmith6819]

Thank you, you've answered a question I had from see last week's episode, fire agate verses opal. Question is there such a thing as Ethiopian opal that looks just like fire agate. Would dearly love to see an episode on common opal as pink opal hits the market

[@berthaadamson1225]

I would like a show on common opal. Would like to know which ones form naturally and where. For example, I’ve seen some that have such bright colors I wonder if they have been treated, such as dyed.

[@MLOpals]

You cant dye opal. You can treat matrix opal with sugar n cola, or acid. That will darken the stone around the opal so it will show the color better. Though with normal opal you cant darken it only way to show more color is give it a dark backing. I myself got a natural opal in my ring that ive cut that when you look into the ring on a sunny day the color is so bright it hurts your eyes. Where its formed is there where you got silica rich ground n old seabedding. Countries with opal are australia brasil mexico and Ethiopia. Then some other countries but most dont have color. Ethiopian opal is hydrophene opal wich means its absorbs moist that takes away the color n comes back when it dries out again.

[@ronjohnson7699]

Common Opal show would be great

[@lissetteflores4469]

Great format. Great info. Love the no fuss straight to the point delivery. But the thumbnail is Roberto pre haircut tho 👀 😅

[@pinkbutterfly5592]

More than wonderful your video information presentation comparisons everything thx a lot

[@RebelJunque]

Thank you for this opal information. Ironically, I get more compliments on my triplet ring than my solid white opal ring 😁 I love them both. I have some earrings I was told were “yellow opal”, I’ll have to look at them more closely.

[@bleuslifeabout7201]

Gemstones are my stress reliever 😊

[@JanWillemdeGeest]

I love Opal, i've bought an opal bead necklace for my birthday this month with blue ethiopian opals. I don't know if it's common opal, they don't have play of color but the ligher blue beads are almost transparent and the more purple have a little bit of play. I just really dislike the synthetics, especially with Topaz, i think it's a shame to radiate and use chemicals to make something that just doesn't really exist in nature.

[@dreamreader.ca1]

I enjoy your content so much!! Thank you for making gem knowledge accesible!

[@gems]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@OPALSRUS]

love opals

[@musicmanmatt87]

I feel like precious opal is the easiest gemstone to identify. Yet common opal is often one of the harder stones to identify. It's kind of funny that it's both easy and difficult at the same time to identify.

[@sorayaalencar5167]

May name is Soraya gosto muito do canal sou do Brasil e gostaria de poder entender o que vcs dizem,eu quero muito pedir que vcs traduzam a matéria

[@KashifKhattak-u9z]

Make a video on Amethyst and his inclusions

[@jimv.661]

I'd like to see info about white opal.

[@LadyLocket]

Have you covered Whitby Jet? As it commands such a high price for even small bits in both modern and antique pieces I would be interested in knowing if there was a way to tell it apart from Jet of other places/Countries.

[@prasaddavids4406]

Excellent

[@lv4tmnt90]

I once thought I found fire opal once. It's agate. I use a scale to figure out the specific gravity of my specimens. I'm an amateur rockhounder.

[@HoboMinerals]

What’s up Hollywood??? Looking good!!! Thanks for the video!! I’ve never heard of Slocum stone before! Excellent information all around, and as always, fun to watch and easy on the eyes..

[@yamani.s]

Thank you so much ..but do u identify dyed please?

[@rhondaskvoretz1476]

I just saw rainbow moonstone on the JTV site. I would be interested in a video about that.

[@SmokeyLove-vt4xd]

heck yeah man

[@joellemedina8763]

Yes, I want to know about common opal please :)

[@MrBird94]

Very nice video

[@RichardPlanas-zc5cf]

we have that kind of stones but we don't know how sell it and what are the value of opal

[@garymontgomery4044]

Please do an episode on common opal. I often find common opal while hounding in the Mojave Desert, but sometimes it seems mixed with chalcedony and I have a hard time distinguishing the two. Is it just really glassy chalcedony or is it opal or a mixture of both Also, I found one small piece white common opal with a small bit of native copper attached. Weird!

[@mr1880]

I would like to see an episode of identifying emerald. I'm colorblind (deuteranomaly), and since I can't see red/green very well, emerald looks mostly blue to me. I know inclusions are a huge thing to look out for, but what about low inclusion emeralds?

[@gems]

I have great news for you! We made a video about identifying emeralds back in May!

[@mariaadam1047]

Luckily, we went to Lightning Ridge and bought a solid black one 😊

[@canduraxs]

Amazing ❤❤❤

[@yashwantkumarsingh157]

Lovely 🎉🎉

[@RichardPlanas-zc5cf]

what about ambergris? are you interested to that sir?

[@johnbowman8207]

Please do common opal 🙏🏿

[@barbramcglinsey1237]

I’ve been working with Ethiopian Opals for a while now have you explained any differences in your video yet?

[@Algoldprospecting]

Yeah do common opal 😊

[@GothosRedux]

Since Slocum stone can no longer be produced, I would think that it might be considered a collector’s item, just for curiosity’s sake.

[@kiasojoudi2631]

How to spot a treated opal ? Especially the Ethiopian ones

[@ibkermit]

I tried to look through the comments first, but didn't see it upon my quick scanning. I have a sweet beautiful ring my parents bought for me about 23 years ago. Who would be the most appropriate person to take my ring to to identify? A jeweler or gemologist...just would like an honest review of my sentimental ring stones. Thanks!

[@gems]

Many jewelers are gemologists or employ gemologists. So, I would seek out a decent-sized and reputable jewelry store in your area and inquire there. They should have someone qualified to help you with identification.

[@ali_b_lush2]

I have seen vendors selling vivid purple, blue, green, and pink "opals". I asked about them and was told first that they were real. I called them out about the colors and they replied they were "dyed". Is that possible or are they man-made?

[@ValentineLissar]

Can you do a video on how to identify real jade?

[@livingthelava]

I am wondering, would the Arizona desert rose, very liquid looking, be a common opal??? Thanks.

[@gems]

The desert roses we're familiar with are usually gypsum or barite combined with sand. There is another type that is made up of chalcedony, which we are guessing is the one you're thinking of. Have not seen one made of opal as of yet.

[@livingthelava]

@@gems I think ours are chalcedony. Appears they were liquid and pooled into stone and rose shaped stones. Thanks.

[@mandylena2497]

I really thought that was Will Wheaton for a second

[@RichardPlanas-zc5cf]

i have 10.7 kilos of ambergris but we don't know also where can we sell it legally

[@elsiebroughton9750]

I have these rocks I’m pretty sure are opal I’ve been trying to search on here someone to speak to about them

[@elizabethandiosa4579]

How to tell if stones are glass.

[@totomeriamlagostoto]

how much in a opal

[@fennynough6962]

Exactly, why I'm a chert, fan; (there are too many gems that are made to take your money, away from you.🤢

[@susansilver1334]

My 9 year old son wishes to know how old you are. Do you feel like telling us your age?

[@sansational15]

How to spot an opal: does it turn into a giant woman?

[@alancotton7766]

Why does a man paint his nails

[@scarlettardis2018]

This should have been a lot longer an episode for Opal. There was an extensive amount of information you could have added. But a great short episode nonetheless.