So Many Amazing Opals! Cabbing Welos, Honeycomb, Brazilian Opal, Australian Opal, and More!

In this one, we take a heap of opals and make some gorgeous cabochons! We work through a pile of Welo opals, an outstanding Brazilian opal, a beautiful honeycomb opal, some Australian opals, and some extremely unique matrix opals from Mexico. There was such an amazing range of quality and color, but that honeycomb took the cake for me! I hope you all enjoy this one, and I will have another one out soon!
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Wild Kyle: Wild Kyle: / @wildkyle
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Pulitzer Opal: / @pulitzeropal
Ozone Fine Art-Ventures: / @ozonefineartventures
406 Findings: / @406findings
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Du5tin Finds Rocks: / @dustinfindsrocks
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Agate Angler: / @agateangler
World of Rockhounds: / @worldofrockhounds
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Quest for Details: / @questfordetails
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Mamlambo: / @mamlambofossils
Michigan Rocks: / jugglerguy1
#opal #gemstone #lapidary

[@donnalantz7981]

Those are so beautiful.

[@cynergy4]

They are all beautiful but I especially love the Brazilian

[@karenhenriksen217]

Opals are so so SO GORGEOUS ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ThatOpalGuy]

best gem ever.

[@sonyaalgosaibi5840]

wow Theo! those opals are giving a m a z in g colors! Congratulations 🎊 on the news!

[@1sec2midnight]

Beautiful opals. Thanks for taking us through the process.

[@anniegironne8444]

Wow! I love opal. I agree, the wilos is gorgeous.

[@Tammy-5L]

Love love love these

[@sandmaker]

You treated them all with the respect they deserved . Beautiful!

[@janehelbert7551]

The last one was my favorite!

[@micheleslaughter1324]

So beautiful 😍

[@soul_adventurist]

Opal is one of my birthstones and also one of my favorites to see someone work. You did a fantastic nod, Theo!❤

[@donnabeaudin9114]

Opals are so gorgeous!! Thank you for sharing the process to create these beauties!!

[@patriciastanke2264]

You really know how to bring out the beauty in those stones. Love your work.

[@paulwells782]

Man, I love opals

[@empress6491]

Always amazing you rock!

[@lisamills-wv6nc]

Oh my goodness, Theo! Those are stunning! Very beautiful job! 😊

[@largent45]

Those turned out amazing Theo! Absolutely beautiful! Couldn't ask for better results honestly! Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous opals with us Theo!

[@betojdesigns]

Thanks for sharing your thought process for cutting and shaping each stone. I also use a faceting machine as a flat lap. So I really enjoyed watching you work the stones. They all turned out very nice.

[@Mike-br8vb]

Man, that honeycomb was intense! What would it's worth be?💰💰💰

[@offyarocka]

Very cool mixed batch of opal there 😎😎😎

[@janehelbert7551]

Beautiful stones!

[@deniseview4253]

So glad you switched phones. So so beautiful! ❤

[@karlahall9058]

What a fun video!! My favorite is the jasper like rock one, I've never seen opal in a stone like that before 😮. It's gorgeous 😍

[@kathyblain5544]

So fascinating ❤❤❤

[@johnsaucerhunter]

You done good Theo

[@amberandrews6842]

Beautiful

[@ophirdog]

A few years back I got the opportunity purchase some opalized shells and bones for my collection. I never intended to cut the stones, I only wanted them as specimens. Recently it got the better of me and I polished two shells to show their gem quality while keeping their shape. All this time and I didn't know what beauty lay under the skin.

[@outdooradventureswithfayde6832]

Wicked cool honeycomb opal. The Brazilian was rad, too! No doubt the Welo had some pretty colors! Great opals 😁 Fantastic job, Theo 🤘

[@jennachanthavisay6051]

I like the dud opal. Looks like glitter! I also really like the cabs in the matrix and LOVE the honeycomb! Wish opals in matrix were cut in mini slabs ( 2:38, for necklace or bracelet ) and other shapes besides cabs more often. I have never been a huge fan of smooth rounded edges. I understand why they are cut like that but honestly some opals just look better in crystal shapes/different style cuts, etc. Pretty sure that honeycomb would look gorgeous cut in the shape of a double terminated quartz crystal, with slightly less sharp edges and points, to enhance the different reflective planes honeycombs have! They remind me of Labradorite a tiny bit in that they seem to have some "pockets" at certain angles and then others when it is shifted to a different perspective. Gorgeously done Theo! I definitely will buy some opals in the near future from you!

[@patriciamckean4186]

The opals are my favorite. Not one bad in that mix. That really thin one could be a specimen. So many rockhounds do micros. Flash is awesome! 😮

[@songbirdscreations-MargaretS]

My favorite is....all of them! I just can't choose! The very first Welo opal I ever cut was a little honeycomb! I was over the moon! I have a nice piece of Coober Pedy opal I need to cut. It has a color bar right on top, and another lower in the stone. It is a thick enough piece that I *think* I will be able to slice it in half and get 2 out of it. Hoping I don't royally screw it up (which is why I haven't cut it yet!)

[@PulitzerOpal]

Nice stuff! If you were changing the wheels on that flat lap .. what a yeoman's effort! The ones that you cut are very nice, but you need some larger stones! Maybe I can help? Congrats on the nice video! dp

[@ThatOpalGuy]

I started cutting opals and have mainly cut Australian, but the crystal Ethiopian opals from welo are gaining my interest, rapidly.

[@robbybobby64]

I like the look of a high dome cabochon. I have a couple faceted crystal opals. I didn’t think I would like them, but they are amazing. Did you ever make any? Honeycomb is a favorite of many I’m sure.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

i believe faceting an opal should be a crime.

[@robbybobby64]

@@ThatOpalGuy Your right.

[@donnalavers1776]

Hi Theo, I wonder if opal could be faceted into a very large stone and what it would look like?

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

Great job on the opals! Next step, jewelry making? White balance is important when videoing white opal. I typically use white background. Almost all the opals I cut are Australian: Coober Pedy, Andamooka, Mintabie. Usually, put them in silver prong settings (super easy). I have some Ethiopian opal. Probably should buy some more. Never cut Brazilian or Mexican opal!

[@Doxymeister]

😍❣👍

[@icatz]

Dude you do such great work! They're beautiful. My biggest mistake was leaving Welo in the closed water container with LR opals. After I took it out, it cracked in so many ways. Ethiopian opals shouldn't get wet, Aussie opals should be kept in water, even in a setting. This still bugs me, as you can prolly tell. TFS ❤️🎸🏏

[@loisstump5990]

What does Welo's mean?

[@karlahall9058]

Yes, what does Welo's mean?

[@ThatOpalGuy]

it is the location in Ethiopia where this type of opal is mined.

[@kastah]

BEUTIFUL, I love Opals, I had a beutiful blue cross I bought in Bosnia., was stolen at a hospital when I had and accident and was brought in to the hospital, so that nurse who ripped off all my rings and neclages I am for sure, it was she that took it, but, I could not prove it. Hate people stealing. That opal-cross cost me a LOT, so I think I never will be able to buy a new one...

[@turnerg]

Did i hear that right? Sweet Jim has passed? If so then i am sorry to hear, i watched a few of Lapidary Dave's streams with Sweet Jim. 😔

[@blackelk06]

Theo my name is Jack Kidd I belong to the rock and gem society in Toledo Ohio I've been following you for some time I loved the presentation you did on agatized Coral there in Florida I'll get to the point I'm looking for Afghanistan agates I've been online and I can't afford 27 and 1/2 kilos of Afghanistan agates I am just looking for a few that I can slab with my rock song do you know of any place in the United states that I can order those from ✝️✝️✝️🙏🏻 thank you

[@tulazaz]

I love opals. There’s something about them that makes me feel a certain way I can’t explain. It’s a good feeling though.🥰