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Any Opal lovers out there? Show and Tell please.

Bron357

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Jan 22, 2014
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I'm Australian and I love opals. Strangely though, most Aussies don't like them. It may have a lot to do with the absolutely dreadful opals some stores try to sell.
I have a rather large one that came to me by good fortune. I paid $100 for it (unset) at a garage (yard) sale because the dear lady refused anymore (she originally said $20). I will accordingly never sell it.
It isn't "rock star" quality but it has a lot of charm. It's like there is something "trapped" within the stone. I love it. Opals are all the colours of all the gems rolled into one! I wear it on a gold wire choker (lest it swing and crash into something as pendants of such size and weight are apt to do if hanging on a chain).
Each side is different and excuse my poor qualityiPad photos at night.
Anyone else have a lovely opal they'd care to share?

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Thank you for starting this thread Bron!!
You have a gorgeous opal pendant. I love the subtle colour in the stone.

I am European and I love opals too. Recently I have purchased my first black opal from Lightning Ridge Australia and it will be set by Australian jeweller Alistair Kelsey.
Can I share my black opal here as well?

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Bron357, I am so glad you started this thread. Lovely opal!
Acinom, as usual you have chosen a spectacular stone. Can't wait to see it set.

I am Canadian, and we recently spent a month on the eastcoast of Australia over the Christmas holidays. My husband loves opals and really wanted to purchase one for me to commemorate our wonderful family holiday. We toured lots of mines and opal shops, but for the longest time, nothing really spoke to me. I knew I wanted something with some red in it, but it turned out that a black opal of any size with red and peach in it, costs in excessive of a diamond. I had just about given up, when I passed by this lovely doublet in a shop in Noosa. Each time I walked by, it showed different colours. Initially I hadn't wanted a doublet, but I completely fell for this one. It is from a mine in Western Queensland. I can't get it to photograph well. The greens and blues show up, but the peach and red not so much. Here are a couple of iphone snaps:

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I started an opal thread a little while ago but it never got any legs, glad to see some stones being posted here!

Nothing to share of my own unfortunately but I have a few little cabbing projects planned for the next few months and I'm planning on doing a few opals. But here's the dilemma; white, crystal or black? :think:
 
jordyonbass|1455656682|3991724 said:
I started an opal thread a little while ago but it never got any legs, glad to see some stones being posted here!

Nothing to share of my own unfortunately but I have a few little cabbing projects planned for the next few months and I'm planning on doing a few opals. But here's the dilemma; white, crystal or black? :think:
Click to expand...

Black!!!!!!!
 
One day, I would like to have a nice black opal in my collection, however, it is quite low down on the list of CSs that I would like to purchase.

DK :))
 
I'm loving all these opal pictures. :love:
One of my favorite things about opals is their ability to show so many beautiful colors...all in one stone.

I only have one opal but I hope to one day find a pretty black opal too.
Here's mine:
Pretty green flashes.
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This one isn't great quality but shows the orange flashes my opal gets.
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I knew you wouldn't be far away Jamie, I know you're an opal fiend!! Hahaha :wavey:

SapphireStyle, as much as I love black opals they are very pricey. I'm thinking about talking to Justin from Black Opal Direct for a package of assorted crystals with maybe one or two black opals for when I have my confidence high enough to attempt them.

Elle your opal is beautiful! Is it a Welo?
 
SapphireStyle, as much as I love black opals they are very pricey. I'm thinking about talking to Justin from Black Opal Direct for a package of assorted crystals with maybe one or two black opals for when I have my confidence high enough to attempt them.

Sounds like a plan! Looking forward to seeing the results.
 
jordyonbass|1455664141|3991790 said:
I knew you wouldn't be far away Jamie, I know you're an opal fiend!! Hahaha :wavey:

SapphireStyle, as much as I love black opals they are very pricey. I'm thinking about talking to Justin from Black Opal Direct for a package of assorted crystals with maybe one or two black opals for when I have my confidence high enough to attempt them.

Elle your opal is beautiful! Is it a Welo?
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Thank you! It is a Welo. I can't get over how great they look in person. :D
 
Hi Elle :wavey:

I love the look of Welo Opals and I find them to be very recognizable. I feel my preference is silly because I live in the country which produces most of the world's supply as well as some of the best stones, but man those Welo's are just such special stones!

OK jumping on the BOD website now to start looking at his rough packages, my pocket is probably going to be very light soon and Mrs Jordy may not be too happy...until I have cabbed the stones, that is :Up_to_something:
 
I think the right opal will pick you. I know that the black opal is more valuable, sought after and is beautiful. But you may find a white/crystal opal that is the right shape, size and color combo that will make your heart sing. Each opal is unique. Look at all types and pick the one that sings to you. I have a large opal pendant that is not black and I find it is a great piece that seems to go with everything as it has a lot of fire and picks up colors depending upon light.
 
Beautiful Boulder Opal abbit! I also think lambskin is spot on with what they said and well said it was. I have seen crystal opals that blew my mind. The thing is that photos very rarely do justice in regards to opal with colour play.
 
Loving all these opals.
Any type of opal is beautiful in my book.
I know a bit about them -
White opal = milky white opaque background usually pin fire flashes blue, green and red.
Semi Crystal = translucent (reddish glow when held up against a bright light source)
, any colours in body
Crystal Opal = almost transparent - tends to show only blue, violet, purple flashes
Black Opal = background is dark grey (not actually black) and this shows all the colours up most brilliantly
Boulder Opal = opal still part in matrix (usually a brownstone) all colours
Doublets and triplets are slivers of opal glued together - doublets means two pieces of opal, triplet means 3. Back of stone is usually
Material called potch - it's a grey colour. Cheap stones it might just be some type of plastic.
Opals are also found in fossils and are very beautiful.
 
aussiejamie|1455675844|3991874 said:
Beautiful Boulder Opal abbit! I also think lambskin is spot on with what they said and well said it was. I have seen crystal opals that blew my mind. The thing is that photos very rarely do justice in regards to opal with colour play.
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That Boulder Opal almost looks like a Black Opal - which I think they can be labelled as if the potch is dark enough? Black Boulder Opal? :bigsmile:

Agree about Crystals as well, I've been eyeing off Black lately but the Crystal stuff can look sooooooo good sometimes that it's starting to change my mind on what I'll be buying. I can't decide...like I said, probably both!! :lol:
 
Flat but big and pretty lol!

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Black opal by the red spinel. What a beauty!!!
Just like the other mesmerizing opals posted here. I will add this to my fabourite thread list.

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Beautiful opals everyone! I enjoy all opals but I love all the fiery and amazing colors within the black opal. Just beautiful. :love:
 
Opals are my favorite. I am not sure why I still have not found the right one yet since I love them so much! Such beautiful opals here!
 
the_universe created this opal engagement ring for his fiancee: a black opal with yellow (sapphire?) halo:

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Now that's what I call an opal ring! Stunning!
 
Amazing Opals there Acinom, especially Greg's Boulder Opal pendant.

I was showing Mrs Jordy recently some Opal pics and she looked at me with a bewildered look and said 'I could have sworn that about 6 months ago you said that you didn't care for opals?'
I don't remember that at all :lol: :roll:
 
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