Opal Hunters gave me a rough opal to cut

Jaymin Sullivan of the Young Guns Opal Hunters (from the Outback Opal Hunters) dropped by my workshop and brought with him one of the best rough opal pieces they have ever found while mining in White Cliffs.
He asked me if I would consider cutting this incredible-looking piece of seam opal, which I have to admit, makes me nervous as I don't usually cut for anyone else anymore. However, I am honored to do this for the boys, so come along for the journey.
To buy our gems they are on our website for sale below
blackopaldirect.com
Also, you can check out the boy's mining video here - • $25,000 Worth Of Opal ... and their channel here - / @younggunsopalhunters
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Thanks for watching :)
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[@younggunsopalhunters]

Thank you again Justin for taking the time to show me the workshop and for cutting this opal for us! You have done so much for the opal industry and to be able to bring you a stone to cut was a dream come true! Thanks again and hopefully one day we can take you down the mine in white cliffs!

[@blackopaldirect]

The pleasure was all mine and an honour you thought of me when you wanted it cut. One day I’d love to come down the mine and have a dig with you

[@chrisp2272]

Carve out some toes and make it a footprint

[@jayjames7502]

Thanks so much Justin. I love watching both of your you tube channels, great to see you both working together and look forward to more!

[@jfk64kennedy95]

@@blackopaldirect glad to see you 2 hook up

[@hazelmc8893]

I actually really like the natural flow of the shape. @blackopaldirect did an incredible job as always. This is a real beauty

[@cflwhat]

I absolutely love how you kept it the natural shape allowed by the inclusions and just cleaned it up nicely. It's amazing!!!

[@78LedHead]

No way! 2 absolute legends! Awesome to see you guys collaborating! Smart move taking that bad boy to the master! What a beaut!

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you

[@charlestipton6287]

No need to thank us he was just stating the facts your the best.

[@ianlauhon8760]

Your profile is my favorite piece of dead art

[@aprilanderson200]

No kidding, right!!!!! Love both of those stars!!!!!!!!!

[@newlibertarian139]

I really like the carving option as it lends itself to a more organic looking gem representing nature..

[@sluggotg]

Soooo... back in 86 I had the privilege of visiting Australia in 1986, (Perth area),. This was absolutely the best! Everyone was really nice. It was like going to this really cool state in the US. ( I hope you Aussies do not think that is an insult, it is the highest compliment!). Hong Kong was my favorite till we pulled into Perth, ( USS Enterprise ). Thank You Lisa for being the coolest Gal I have ever met! OK so I was just trying to express how much I love Aussies! I bought 2 Opals in Australia back then. One was finished. The other is still in the stone... it looks to be larger and very similar to the stone in the video. I used to do Lapidary crafts in the 70s, ( Grade School through Junior High),. This might be a worthy project.

[@Megan-cd6sh]

The final shape of this reminds me of a "worry stone" I used to have as a kid that was given to me by my grandmother. It was rose quartz with an indent in the middle, just like this carving! I would keep it in my pocket and rub my thumb in the indent when I felt a panic attack coming on to soothe and distract myself. Boy oh boy, what a joy it would be to have such a beautiful opal version of my old worry stone. I love it, you did a fantastic job. I always love hearing about your dad and the wonderful job he did in passing on his beautiful talent to you.

[@jaynehorn151]

I think more pieces should be ‘carved’ to maximise return because I would wear that as a pendant any day of the week. Think outside of the box! Round, oval and other shaped opals are a dime-a-dozen but unique pieces are hard to find.

[@lapsedluddite3381]

@jaynehorn151 - I agree, I much prefer the free-form more natural stones to the "standard" shapes. Sometimes it feels as if the spirit of the stone is lost when they are forced into the ovals and rounds.

[@silva7493]

I'm new here (since yesterday), and My heart is TOTALLY in this direction. I love the more natural aspects of beauty in gems and minerals. I was thinking the very same thing as I watched my second video here and wouldn't you know, he explained that his own personal preference was with the traditional regular shapes, and ovals in particular, and the majority of his customers were looking for that style as well, so although many of us were commenting that we prefered more freeform and natural appearing stones, he prefers not to do it like that. His business & work, his choice! "¯\_(ツ)_/¯"😊

[@fishnchips8132]

I've been looking at opals & their standard settings for maybe 50 years & I'm so bored with them & they're so very poorly designed. They were boring back in the 1960's, so I never bought any. It wasn't until the 90's when I found something special at the Ridge & I designed my own silver setting - big chunky & had it made specially for me. Those ditzy little settings are at least 50 years out of date. Be adventurous Jason - look at some of the more exclusive settings overseas & cut according to that. I've seen you lose good colour trying to keep within the ovals, rounds, triangles, diamonds. You cut one the other day that was a long rectangle with blue/green with grey potch in a stripe pattern - a very interesting piece. People are looking for art in their jewelry. Be adventurous!

[@markosf09]

Looks like it would make a great pendant in it's free-form. I know nothing about the market for various styles, but to a layman, it looks beautiful as it is.

[@hazelvance6183]

just turned 72 on October 19th I love watching this show wish you were on every day

[@JeremyHodges]

The only opal hunters I watch and the only opal cutter I watch working together. LOVE it.

[@ElinHaugan]

Oh I was so happy to see you give it a go with dremel ❤😊 I would definitly explored that sandpit with dremel myself. Can be so hard to tell how deep those spots goes. My only advice is to buy a set of nova tips size small. They will reach all places you have left after those sintered you used. (Same as those RoysRocks use in his videoes) they will also give you the same glossy finish you get on your wheels as I noticed you had a slightly less good end result in the dip than on the rest. With nova points, you need that 3000 grit before cerium oxide to get the same high end result 🙂 ( I'm a bit of a dremel-nerd myself, so I have the full nova set up to 50K 🙈😅) I think you did absolutely amazing with their gem, and I totaly understand how uncomfortable it must be to cut someone else opals. I sometimes feel uncomfortable cutting my own and save them for months wondering what to do or if to do at all 😅

[@steveclark4291]

Justin for sharing this collaboration with me ! You , Sir , as the young man said the Master of cutting and polishing Opals ! You proved it in this video ! That is one of the most beautiful Opal I've seen !

[@blackopaldirect]

Wow, thank you!

[@mikealsleben4671]

I watch the Opal hunters too. Great guys and channel! Glad to see you guys collaborate on a piece,

[@blackopaldirect]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@sowgroweat6987]

Oh wow 2 of the great aspects of Opal mining, brilliant collab and great to back up some lovely young miners. Good on ya

[@ieatcaribou7852]

Super cool! I love the Young Guns. Such a hard working group of young men and their videos are top notch. Jay min looks much older all cleaned up, haha I’m used to watching his videos in his mining clothes. Really glad Cab King is selling in Australia now. I love mine and hope they do a lot of business there. Really glad you took the challenge of cutting that beauty.

[@michaelmcmeeken4923]

Glad the boys gave you that stone It's the ultimate compliment

[@YorakHunt1337]

Took a punt and it paid off massively. Well done Justin 👏 young guns will be stoked there's no two ways about it. If they do decide to cut later down the track they can whilst still preserving the beauty of the carving. Chefs kiss haha

[@roystone5369]

Man, you're the 0pal master perfect job. I've seen so many of your videos I new what you were going to do I'm going get some raw opal and try my best at it. How fun. Thanks.

[@nancycurtis7315]

Stepping out of your comfort zone!!! LOL. Absolutely stunning result 👌 👏. What a wonderful opal. The YG pulled a ripper out of the ground. We all will appreciate the beauty of this one!!! Have a wonderful day to all. Thanks BOD for letting us see the journey. Greetings from Dimboola, in Victoria. 😊

[@jayfairweather4485]

Just the most awesome mastery of opal cutting they knew who the master is and man o man I'm blown away by you again Justin your dad is proudly smiling in heaven I'm sure of that because it made me smile thank you again

[@ThatOpalGuy]

I started saying "SLICE IT" @ 8:25. This certainly was a series of unexpected events. I really enjoyed this and like seeing both teams going in on a collaboration. It is indeed a fantastic gem and I am quite happy that you left it as a freeform carving. I would not blame them for keeping this as is, and keeping it as part of the collection (we know every opal miner/cutter has one).

[@johnc.hammersticks]

Having one of the young guns come by is great! Awesome collaboration

[@blackopaldirect]

I was star struck

[@douglasmckee754]

Another Masterpiece Justin. Absolutely Beautiful. Well done

[@LanaLaughsRealLoud]

Justin, there's just no way I could ever criticize your opal decisions that affect your opal's outcomes, heck they're so ultimately beautiful. It's a privilege to get to watch such a brilliant opal artist. ❤👏🏻👍🏻💯

[@blackopaldirect]

Aww thank you 🙏

[@rosemaryabbott1020]

Young Guns is my favorite opal mining channel!

[@dannyrobinson3480]

Great collaboration, more of this please!

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you

[@JaniceBlake128]

I’m just so glad I’m seeing I’ve not done it completely wrong for years. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!❤

[@amberandrews6842]

That stone has wonderful colors! Rainbows bursting forth!!

[@trudyhindle3147]

Wow you did a wonderful job on this beautiful piece of opal they will be very pleased

[@catfish573]

Glad to see the collaboration of the two channels. Awesome that you did this. Keep it up. 👍👍👍✌️✌️✌️

[@Kerrsartisticgifts]

Wow! that turned out beautifully and I bet that young gun was happy he left it in your hands.

[@blackopaldirect]

They were happy I think haha

[@shockmike00]

Moments like this make me appreciate this man's talent. He makes it look easy, and he explains things so simply he almost makes you think you're an expert too. Times like these, when another experienced person gets stuck and asks him for help... I honestly have to admit I would have no idea what to do and it makes me appreciate his mastery of this craft even more.

[@blackopaldirect]

Such kind words. Thank you Mike

[@frostypop934]

Thanks for supporting the kids! Teaching is the kindest one can be. Thank you, Justin

[@jlush444]

So good to see you guys doing a colab. Thanks for being a great mentor to the young fellas Justin: Great stuff.

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you 🙏

[@user-mu5sy2qs5r]

Hi,I've got some opals that I found in the garbage can/blue dumpster in a Las Vegas area & yes! They are Lovely.

[@morgandrysdale]

What a fantastic video! So much fun to see different parts of the opal community working together and trusting one another, and to see you work with a dremel too! I bet Jaymin was thrilled with the result, he came to exactly the right person for help! Definitely one for the collection! 😉

[@saturejsavory]

stunning! love when you dont have to cut it to shape and can freeform it into the biggest possible gem,

[@mtnvalley9298]

I'd use the Dremel out of caution also. Of course I'd never see that stone to begin with so don't ask me lol!! Thanks for the show Justin and Co! Greetings from Mike in Granby Colorado!

[@MARYBOORMAN]

FABULOUS SESSION and WOWSERS such a STUNNING DISPLAY OF COLOUR - Well done Master! Congrats to the YOUNG GUNS! :-)

[@brianjohnson8918]

This kind of cross-channel collaboration in the opal space is WAAAAAAY overdue. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@blackopaldirect]

Yeah true

[@peterbowling2410]

Suffering from anxiety I was on the side of my chair watching you cut this beautiful opal.

[@dannmarceau9743]

I enjoy the Young Guns and have followed them for at least a year. Great to see the collaboration.

[@blackopaldirect]

We think they're pretty awesome!

[@derekmay8679]

More, more,more 👏👏👏👏👏😀👍 Great to see the young guns working with you...hopefully you will be doing many more for the outback opal hunters...Maybe some of the Bushmans stuff...I always want to see their opal polished....As it rarely does with them... Great video again and thanks from a windy wet England ...

[@suzantonn1188]

I sure do enjoy you and your program. You create such beauty with such integrity and you're good character always shines through. God bless you and yours and all those you encounter whether in person or over the air Amen

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you

[@suzycat2026]

Superb material, those colours popping in such tight pattern is positively psychedelic❣ Well done Justin, really good work & your freeform shape is like a kite. Beautiful specimen indeed. Thanks for sharing, that was exciting! Much lovee 😻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@aarontwigg1042]

An awesome collaboration. Would love to see a few more of these in the future 👍

[@blackopaldirect]

Definitely!

[@ArmorofGod610]

You are a wizard Justin! Absolutely beautiful!

[@blackopaldirect]

Expelliamois. Haha thank you 🙏

[@Megan-cd6sh]

Awesome job, per usual! The final piece is beautiful. I cannot imagine the pressure you must feel knowing that someone has entrusted you with something so precious. You have earned your spot as the master through your hard work, your immense talent, your openness to sharing and educating others and your wonderfully humble attitude. I imagine that your loved ones are incredibly proud of you!! Thanks again for sharing your gift with us❤

[@cavemankris]

Fantastic video mate. Love it when a couple of my favourite youtubers collaborate. That one cam out look beautifully.

[@Michael_Maxfield]

When Justin reaches for the dremel , you know things have gotten serious. 😉

[@duanekennard3298]

SO GLAD YOU DIDN'T SLICE IT ! By the way Justin. Even under a lot of pressure and stress of cutting someone else's Opal....You can stress all you want. You have no hair to pull out or even fall out.😂😂😂😂😂 Take my friend and as always you did your father proud once again.

[@michaelsheriff4034]

Absolutely stunning opal , beautifully crafted and polished.

[@lennycat2752]

Oh what a beauty opal!! The Master made the right call on this.

[@canonicaltom]

I love these collaborations.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

That crystal opal was gorgeous! I find it really helpful to watch how you work with challenging opal. I'd love to see more videos where you wrestle with difficult rough opal, sand pits, odd shapes, etc. In other words, making the best of bad opal situations. ... When Good Opal Goes Bad. Hahaha. Thank you for your vids! Cheers.

[@blackopaldirect]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@MsrKSDisque]

When you said "I'm Going In", I swear I could hear those guys cheer!!

[@blackopaldirect]

Lol

[@leonardgreenfield1462]

Please do more of these collaborations and with other opal hunters

[@kimbershulme]

Wow my favourite Opal people together. ❤

[@carvalholuis4341]

I think you made the perfect choice, as usual, the gem looked beautiful with the natural appearance!!!!

[@blackopaldirect]

Oh thank you!

[@thomasloanwolf]

yet again, the opal master has done it again a spectacular job. I am so glad you didn't cut it. I love how unique it looks and the color is bold!!!!. if had the money, i would buy it and have it set as a Pendant and not ever take off. its PERFECT 😍

[@morgannaidoo9583]

My heart is racing with excitement just watching you work.

[@offgridgreenie9668]

Good on ya Justin for taking the extra care with someone else's gem

[@adamdoig1448]

That handshake was outstanding ❤😂

[@kellym2389]

Hi there Kelly here from Calgary Alberta. My wife and I watch your show all the time and she loves opal . Sadly we are in the hospital but would love to enter one of your draws. Great job, excellent work, amazing stones. From Kelly and Brenda McCartney

[@lisamaher6710]

This was wonderful to see the opals pulled out of the mines by Young Guns (we love the show, by the way) and to see you work on them. When they come out of the ground they are a mystery. In my opinion on the sand and getting rid of that, I would have gone in with the dremmel as well. It was too deep to be taking the surface off. Beautiful work!

[@jamesdavis8021]

I would do exactly what you did with the dremel.The wheels take a wide swath. The Dremel can take off just the sand so,you can see what you have.

[@taleandclawrock2606]

What a stunningly beautiful stone, just alive with light in every direction,, layers of it, moved me to tears!❤

[@Phoenix_Enterprises]

Haha, I know Justin hates to dremel stones...I love what you did with that stone Justin you preserved the maximum color and got the sand out. Beautiful carving btw...Nicely done! Thanks for sharing

[@edwinmbae3892]

Epic, two legends meet. Stunning results.

[@kristalrobinson1595]

Love the young guns, and stoked to see you guys working together!!

[@robgilbert4556]

Love watching you work . Great job

[@janicecooper875]

Magnificent, l am so glad you used the Dremel. It's perfectly imperfect. I like them like that, it has character!! Thanks Justin.

[@katherenann]

Bestill my heart, I watched you start and thought, oh please use the Dremel. And YOU DID!! I'm so happy I had to come say thanks. What a gorgeous stone. Wow! ❤

[@cynthiakoepke2649]

🥰 Love it when my favorites get together ❣️❣️❣️

[@sleevicus]

This is the crossover I needed!

[@california3186]

I love watching this channel!! I think the dremel was the way to go! Beautiful gem!!

[@blueyoshi8231]

Just watched Jaimon's vid, this is such a treat for me! Thanks heaps, this has truely made my day ☺️💜🇦🇺💜 Honestly,I probably would have gone in and sliced it then dealt with the sand which is why I guess I still have a lot to learn after 4yrs of cutting. Never stop learning from you Justin👍

[@topcat43truffles15]

The perfect decision, just remove all the sand and let the beauty of the natural opal shine…. BTW, what was the final carat weight when you finished and as someone else here commented…. I think this one goes into the personal family’s collection. Unique! Great video Justin, thank you for sharing it with us! 👍🏻❤️🍻😎

[@justsomeguy6474]

I would absolutely use the dremel. The more information you have the better decisions you'll be able to make!

[@sandmaker]

I love hearing your thinking process. A beautiful finished stone.

[@christinechildress5021]

What different video this week! Loved it 😍. I can’t imagine what it must feel like taking on that project with someone else’s opal. Hope he appreciates the hard decisions you had to make ❤️BOD

[@blackopaldirect]

Thank you

[@nancycurtis7315]

christenechildress. Hi. Greetings from Dimboola, in Victoria.

[@christinechildress5021]

@@nancycurtis7315 hey Nancy! 😊

[@FishingSGsWild]

*luvlie !!* so glad you gave this young lads a chance to collab with yourself. Having been following both sides for a few years now ,l hope to be watching for more collabs in the future.

[@sharonmalone8312]

I think the dremal is working great. Beautiful opal.

[@user-by2kv9ik4c]

awesome just awesome! and Happy birthday Justin!

[@JesseJames-rq4ee]

It's beautiful sight to see when a master can take a piece of rough opal and turn it into something that looks like that

[@JillUdart]

Thank you for the Birthday Wishes !!

[@robertprice6802]

Remarkable as always! Dremeling the sand out was the best choice in my opinion Justin! 👌 I've been cutting for a little over a year from watching you and the amazing tips and tricks you've given all of us. Thank you so much, you're the man, myth and legend in my book 📖 ❤️

[@Greblav]

Nice to see you work with the contours of the color in the stone and ending up with a more organic shape.

[@thomascolbern699]

You're doing exactly what you should. Exactly what I would have done. Well done.

[@cherokee1969]

I enjoy watching these young men digging and they brought their finds to an expert

[@seanwagner1854]

the Young Guns and Black Opal Direct in the same video?? Epic!

[@bigmagumba420]

i love everyone from Outback Opal Hunters and to see you working with Jaymin is amazing!!!! ☺

[@blackopaldirect]

We agree!

[@carolgreathouse7898]

I love Opal Hunters and I love Black Opal Direct....so win win for me!

[@RobertWorley]

my two favorite opal channels together !!

[@blackopaldirect]

Yay

[@user-xu7qi8vs6x]

The boys stitched you up Really put the pressure on you But you got it 😂😂❤❤

[@shanefraser7764]

Hit up the MASTER mate👍👍👍👍👍Cheers Justin and Jamin for sharing too cool Boys and A Happy new years from across the Ditch🇭🇲🤜🇳🇿

[@Archimark1]

What a great collaboration!!

[@charlesdavis7461]

I am American and have watched shows from Australia about opal mining by very small operations. I miss seeing the show but shows on the discovery channel I believe and they with programming a lot. I hope to see more.

[@Experiment.626]

The best team up ever love all you guys!

[@W.MOpals]

What an awesome collab! Thanks guys!

[@blackopaldirect]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Patshes]

I don't cut opals but was involved with jewelry making at my brothers jewelry school. I will grab that Dremel far more often . Maybe out of stupidity. You make my hart stop sometimes! You really are the master like that guy said!

[@hendrikvandijk2483]

A video of you visiting the Young Guns at their mine would more than likely be a fun video to watch. And heck, you already got the invite.