Humungous opal to be auctioned

[kenny]

Alaska auction to feature brick-sized opal that has been stashed away for years

The "Americus Australis" gem weighs more than 11,800 carats and is one of the largest gem-quality opals in existence. It also has a long history.

www.npr.org

 

[Dee*Jay]

Wow -- I don't have anything like that hanging about in MY linen closet!

The part about breaking it in two eludes me though... ? Why would they have done that rather than just cleave off a small piece?

 

[LilAlex]

It looks like the giant chunk of common opal that we had on our mantel for years -- that was worth maybe a few dollars. Looked like faintly iridescent off-white ceramic or glass -- and orange when the thin areas were transilluminated -- but no color-play or opalescence. Maybe I am not looking at this photo close enough...

This could be the next black space diamond!

 

[demantoidz]

Wow -- I don't have anything like that hanging about in MY linen closet!

The part about breaking it in two eludes me though... ? Why would they have done that rather than just cleave off a small piece?

cleaving off a small piece doesn't reveal the inside of the opal, to determine if it is gem quality. Thats my speculation

 

[minousbijoux]

I want better pics of it in all its glory! Waaaahhhhhh!

 

[VividRed]

Is it just me who finds this underwhelming? I mean sure, it’s large, but so is a big 10kg chunk of semi opaque purplish red corundum

 

[dk168]

Another example of big does not mean better for me, in that the colour does not appeal to me, sorry!

DK

 

[Bron357]

It might be huge but beautiful it isn’t.
It’s common white opal, the least valuable, and it looks very insipid.
Opal value is ALL about the colour play.
I guess it’s value is in its rare large size (shame it broke in two) as a specimen for a Museum with more money than sense. It would make very little if cut up and sold for jewellery.

 

[demantoidz]

that auction is starting at 100k and they hope to get up to 350k
Give me the 80k 5.24ct black opal which I posted on the lotto thread any day of the week instead
https://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/n1-524cts-quality-red-on-black-opal-stone-inv-1126616

 

[T L]

Why does an Adam Sandler movie come to mind???

 

[2Neesers]

It sold for $143,750!

Huge opal sells for nearly $144,000 at Alaska auction

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A gemstone, billed as one of the largest gem-quality opals in existence, was sold for $143,750 at auction in Alaska on Sunday. The opal, dubbed the “Americus Australis,” weighs more than 11,800 carats, according to the auction house Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals.

apnews.com

 

[LilAlex]

It sold for $143,750!

That's over $10/ct!

 

[demantoidz]

It sold for $143,750!

Huge opal sells for nearly $144,000 at Alaska auction

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A gemstone, billed as one of the largest gem-quality opals in existence, was sold for $143,750 at auction in Alaska on Sunday. The opal, dubbed the “Americus Australis,” weighs more than 11,800 carats, according to the auction house Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals.

apnews.com

Nice to see a pic with colorplay clearly visible. I suppose the value is more as a mineral specimen, as it is impressively large.

With natural pearls, there are some absolutely massive, but ugly and misshapen pearls which sellers attempt to sell for a ridiculous sum. For example the 14 pound Palawan Princess/Pearl of Allah. It has none of the valuable qualities one expects in a pearl. At least the opal is attractive!

Bonhams : Rare and Immense Natural Non-Nacreous Pearl"The Palawan Princess"

Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars

www.bonhams.com

 

[LilAlex]

For example the 14 pound Palawan Princess/Pearl of Allah. It has none of the valuable qualities one expects in a pearl...

Just think of all the 10mm pearls you could make out of that!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

It might be huge but beautiful it isn’t.
It’s common white opal, the least valuable, and it looks very insipid.
Opal value is ALL about the colour play.
I guess it’s value is in its rare large size (shame it broke in two) as a specimen for a Museum with more money than sense. It would make very little if cut up and sold for jewellery.

I wanted to open this thread and say

So this is why Bron has been destaching

But no

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

It sold for $143,750!

Huge opal sells for nearly $144,000 at Alaska auction

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A gemstone, billed as one of the largest gem-quality opals in existence, was sold for $143,750 at auction in Alaska on Sunday. The opal, dubbed the “Americus Australis,” weighs more than 11,800 carats, according to the auction house Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals.

apnews.com

Not enough to buy a house