As a gemmologist and opals lover, I agree with you 100% ... No need war, different materials, different places but, the same love for opals and gemstones from wherever they come ...
All opal is subject to cracking. Actually hydrophane welo opal it's pretty damn stable if it's handled properly. If you buy an Ethiopian Stone that's cut and not cracked you can be pretty sure it's not going to crack in your lifetime. Some Australian stones will get surface crazing over time. I love both
@@PulitzerOpal You have to be the funniest guy on UA-cam talking about Opal right now. I love your videos and I love your sense of humor about opals. I haven't had the best luck finding good opal to cut and find that a lot of people who are selling on eBay and places like that are not always trustworthy. I've lost a bit of money with a few of the sellers. One of the things that comes across in your videos is how genuine and authentic you are and I really appreciate that. I'm a fan. Lol.. of opal and your channel. 💙
@@PulitzerOpal I really appreciate the list...More than you know. If I were to add up the money I've lost...whew! I try not to think about it as I know opal is always a gamble...and I'm an optimist so my love of opal always overrides my disappointment So..I venture on. I am excited to check out some of the names that you've given me as you always have such beautiful material. I did recently place my first order for Boulder Opal..with a supplier in QLD Australia. Perhaps you've heard of him...Nick Hoops? Still waiting.. with a bit of dread and a lot of anticipation..for this first parcel to arrive. I am planning to go to Tucson this next February so thank you so much for that heads up on WHEN to get there. That is helpful since it is my tendency to go later...not fond of big crowds and I WILL tell them that you sent me...Lol. By the way I am also a huge fan of the elegant design in your jewelry. I'll message you on FB with some photos of the material from Nick Hoops...super nice guy and came with stand up references.💙
@@PulitzerOpal new myself to the world of boulder opal but thought I'd have a go to see what all the fuss us about. I have heard it's messy. I'll look for your email to see if it's listed somewhere on Facebook and message you for a few more details about Tucson. Thanks again and I'll be in touch
As always, thanks for sharing your work and experience. That cracking is just killing me, I would be throwing crap across the room work bench and tipping table's. Well as they say, if it was easy everyone would be doing it... Thanks again!
I am a fan of Ethiopian Opal I have to admit but Australian Opal is beautiful also. I like Ethiopian Opal because it has a great colour play and is tougher. However I think Opal is one of the most amazing gem so whatever you like remember to appreciate the gem wherever it comes from.
Wow. I loved the crazy Ethiopian opal you showed. It had so many patterns and colors, how could it possibly be any less valuable than any other. I am not a gemologist, just a fan of opals, but I would think that it would be the beauty of each particular opal that set the price and the origin would be just an interesting fact. Kind of like people.
@ismail adam you gave an example about emeralds. Not quite the same thing as opal. There are multiple factors here and you're trying to simplify it to marketing being the ONLY one. And I'm saying yes, in a lot of cases I'd agree that it has a huge factor, i.e. diamonds, but in this case, opals from Ethiopia are marketed more heavily and still are less expensive. As I understand from the opal experts i.e. pulitzeropal, this is because of higher volume and availability in Ethiopia. Also--no one has mentioned ease of extraction and how much cheaper the labor is there. This most likely plays a huge role too.
You've cut some amazing pieces my friend!!! Seriously tho my grandfather has a preserved piece of tree from Idaho (50lbs) it's full of opal amazing reds and greens he's never going to part with it but man it beautiful!
@@DeIicateFynn ill send a picture to Pulitzer. don't get too excited it is a fairly large piece of wood but the opal is only formed in the cracks one one side.
Wherewill mahtajutakeyou , I live in Boise, Idaho. I'm about 45 minutes away from an opal mine where you can pick small ones up off the ground. I'm a glass artist, and since their beauty shows best in the natural fracture planes I avoid the whole cracking issue by enclosing them as is in glass for jewelry. A dear friend who has since passed away gave me a chunk of not-quite-petrified wood that is just riddled with tiny rice shaped opals that formed in the wood grain, too fragile to remove until I figured out that soaking pieces will eventually dissolve away the wood and leave a little pile of fiery opal grains behind. They're way too small and delicate to mount in any conventional fashion, but are just fine for how I do with them. Opal in any form is amazing!
Why is the reason Australian opal is sow expensive (In Australia at the source,) but if you purchased the same parcel at a different country our site it’s way cheaper it makes no sense at all,that’s the reason I stick to Ethiopian opal I learns my lesson I went to Australia to buy never again
You can afford top Ethiopian opal rough. You can grind High domed stones that reveal the most intense Beauty. Not worth 30000 bucks but amazingly beautiful.
@@usmanfarooq857 look up Mark-the blacklighters on Facebook.. his auctions are fair and just. But keep in mind. It's not easy to make an assessment on opal if you don't know what you are looking for.. I would recommend watching dons videos over and over and over.. to even understand what he's trying to tell you.. opal is a skill.. that takes a long time to get an eye for.. years
@@PulitzerOpal I've been so fascinated about how you treat, cut and polish opals watching many of your uploaded videos for the whole day today (I just fond you today and subscribed)! Thank you so much! I wish I lived near you so that I could learn how to cut and polish them. I'm just an opal corrector
What is the best way to take care of opals?I don't know much about different kinds, but I have a blue fire opal pendant (I think that's what it's called) that was my great x4 Nonna's. For being so old It's in good condition. It's about the size of a 50 cent euro. I heard they Crack and dry out, is there a way to prevent that?
😂🤣😂 duuuuuuuude! 6:49! I actually laughed out loud! I mean really LOL’d! And I never type that! Honestly man. Gotta say I just love your videos. There’s reasons only others who get excited when they see them pop up in their feed would understand. But man o man, by far one of the coolest videos on opal that I have seen. I love what you do mate. So informative and genuinely entertaining. Just wish I lived closer to the opal fields... but don’t we all.
I read that an ethiopian opal can survive a drop from 4 feet, I guess that would be something to consider if you accidently dropped one of your ethiopian opal earrings after taking them out. Right now ethiopian opals are cheap because the mine is producing so much gem quality material, I think right now is the time to buy because I have a feeling that one day the price will sky rocket when the mine dries up
I actually wonder about the ethics involved with mining practices in Ethiopia? I suppose there could be questions in any country in regard to mining practices but I know that certain countries are less focused on fair wages and human rights…
Pulitzer Opal thank you. I appreciate your thoughtful and thorough response. Unfortunately I am aware of poor conditions involved with darn near every industry in third world countries...blood diamonds are far from the only injustice. As a kid I was in Brazil a fair deal and we acquired tons of large LARGE agates and then my mom stopped it after finding out how they were obtained. I think that’s why I like petosky stones and jasper...things I can scrounge up myself. I’ll watch BOTH of those because information isn’t ever superfluous. On a lighter note, the Ethiopian opal with the honeycomb pattern is truly stunning! Thank you again for another goodie 🙏🏻
Pulitzer Opal NOOOOO! You’re simply beguiled and who can blame you? I’ll be honest, I’ve set aside ethics when I saw some sparkly things I had to have 😞 Figured don’t ask don’t tell, what I don’t know won’t hurt me. If I’m on the fence I’ll find out about sourcing, if I just really want a thing I go for it. Hypocrisy at its finest. Considering the fact you know your dealers I’m guessing that your buddies from down under are decent folk? You’re decent and water seeks its own level. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t my first thought, I was also mesmerized by their beauty. As I googled costs etc I quickly juxtaposed opulence and famine incidentally because an image of a child with a distended, fly covered abdomen popped up in my image search, “Ethiopia” will always elicit results tied to that...it struck me at that point and was the impetus behind the question. An educated consumer can help shift the market by demanding fair treatment, I guess we have to be willing to put our money where our mouths are and pay for the same stones even as the price goes up so long as it’s attributed to safety measures and fair wages.
Pulitzer Opal overly optimistic, not the first time I’ve been accused of that :( WISH in one hand and...💩 in the other, see which one fills up first. That’s a family mantra when I’m being referenced 😞 I really do appreciate all the facts you’ve got at the ready! That’s a GIANT brain up there! 😉 I looked in my almanac and was shocked at the per capita then remembered a brief visit (2 day layover) to Ethiopia and felt shock i was shocked. I’m grateful you’ve got customers who prefer Australian and now this is something new to consider going forward in case someone asks 🤷🏻♀️ right? As to buddy the button, I wear it every day, careful with perfumes since he’s right up on my neck 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 I’m working on my thank you gift. It’s piece meal, and I scaled it down. Things are always better in miniature!! I get a lot of compliments actually, usually someone carefully says “I’m sorry to ask but what is that??” I don’t say anything rather shove it out and every single time I get either a laugh or smile and a compliment. I immediately say how it came to be and direct them to your channel, I also let them know you do custom work. Then I hear “but opal is so expensive” and I remind them that they can always choose Ethiopian 😂 I AM KIDDING! I love it, so much I’ve failed to set it properly and it’s really just dangling, secure but rigged up.
I have both kinds and love them. They each have their own beauty. But for top top grade opal, Aussie has the most vivid saturated colour imo. I wish I had bought more years ago. I dislike yellow or brown Welo opal intensely!Just personal preference I guess. Also beware of opals that are 'smoked' to that colour...
But what are the blingy nails worth? Great video. I'm a fan of all quality opal regardless of the origin. Mexican stuff would be at the lower end and Australian at the highest. I've been lucky with Ethiopian opal. Started buying before the boom. Thank you again for sharing your views on a contentious subject with knowledge, humor, your own style. 👍
@@PulitzerOpal : I agree. What is very interesting to some, others find boring. Where ever I go I always look at the rocks around me, some think I'm strange, others just know thats part of who I am. Boring... Right ? :)
I believe Ethiopian Opals are very underrated when it comes to their beauty. You can get some solid Ethiopian Opals with very nice rainbow color for very affordable prices, while Australian ones cost 5-10 times the price for similar play of color. In terms of price, Australian is more known and more popular. Ethiopian has been around for less than twenty years, but I have seen some Ethiopian opals rival that of some of the better Australian opals. Durability is where Ethiopian falls short with water absorption the main issue. In the end, I think people are more biased against Ethiopian because Australian has been the frontrunner of Opals for a long time. For me, being able to buy some high quality Ethiopian Opals for well under three digits is a plus with the market of Ethiopian still hiding in the shadows. I think one day Ethiopian will rival that of Australian when scarcity is set aside.
Sign.. I had a huge Australian white opal ring for a while. I love it so much and wears it everyday and everywhere. It was my first opal and the only way I can describe it is that it was magical! After a while, the opal started getting loose from the setting. One day, I was shopping for groceries (and of course I wore that ring) and I noticed that my finger felt less heavy. I looked at it and the opal was gone from the basket setting! I panicked and looked everywhere but couldn't find it. I felt like I lost a part of myself that day. When I got home, I give all my jewelry away. After a while, I got another ring with a beautiful Australian crystal opal, but after a few months, a crazed line inside the opal appeared. I know crazing can render an opal worthless. After that, I stop buying opal because the chances of them crazing is quite high. I am not going to spend that much money on something that has such a high chance of becoming worthless.
Yeah!! My Ethiopian opals I worked on did become translucent I thought that was like magic!! Even my friends thought that was awsome and magical! I even transformed one of my rough opals in a tear drop that way when it's totally wet it really looks like a big solid drop of water everyone who saw it was in awe. Thanks so much for this video! I'm not partial at all but knowing that Australia opals are more valuable with time I might look into that! 😉😊 Oh and I looooove that big orange cat!! 😍
Very diplomatically done mister ( I don't call you Don anymore since you don't seem to care for people that you don't know being so familiar, but I do feel like I know you). Since this site is directed more towards cutters I have to say if you want to grind a big high domed Stone you'll have a lot more fun with Ethiopian opal for so much cheaper rather than trying to work on somebody else's trash rubs.
I was just trying to be funny Dawn after watching the video where you mentioned all the things that people call you. Yes, I've been doing lapidary and rockhounding since I was a kid. I've been looking back at all of your old Productions and to me this is one of the better ones
You need to blame it on you Aussie buddy lol I guess I need to look at Ethiopian if I ever get the money to buy the wife any since I'm on the very poor side. That honeycomb is weird looking and not sure if I really like it or not since I only seen those pics you put up. Enjoyed your video and gave it a Thumbs Up
You are the champ. No one wants to shoot you. We just want to pat you on the back. I love opal, specifically Ethiopian sourced, but am loving Australian more and more as I learn more and more about it. In what period did white opals appear in Australia? I'm considering some vintage rings in white opal and am curious about their authenticity.
Im Aussie and I am enjoying buying Ethipian opal. Its cheaper and I can cab to my hearts content. For starters they are different composition. Australian high quality black is getting rarer. A lot of the stuff coming out is not quality (a lot still is). Bang for buck I think Ethiopian is better, however at the top of the range I think Aussie black opal is at the top.... but that top spectrum is very small. Edit: That said there is a chance that I am yet to see the best opal Ethipia has to offer and yet the best I have seen is exceptionally good. Great video. Love your nails.
i like both as long as they are of very high quality, but Ethiopian Opal is by far the biggest bang for your buck , Aussies dont like it because it ruined their business ,the monopoly they had is long gone and the junk doublets and triplets they use to sell died after welo was found , why would anyone buy a doublet when you get real opal skin to skin with great patterns and colors and cheaper lol
I like your rather balanced view. And your pieces for the video are amazing. About the investment part however, Ethiopian opal has only been 10-15 years in the market. All the pieces cannot be called heirlooms yet and look forward to what the future holds.
@@PulitzerOpal yes we have heard of the early diamond trader's reaction to au Black opals. And we are getting the same salty reaction from the AU guys now. Its understandable when something overwhelms the market like that.
That was a wonderful video!!!! I like them all. I have Australian bolder, Etheopian wello and regular, Mexican Jelly and fire. Pink Peruvian. I need some Slovakian!!!! I've never even heard of it 😍
@@PulitzerOpal I actually have some family that I've never met in Slovakia, and Croatia, that I've never met. I think it might be time to get in touch 😎
@@PulitzerOpal I have some Slovakian opal but only very small chips :( - it is hard to get any good size SOLID rough for cutting - only bigger pieces are thin seams on host rock ( similar to some AU boulder opals ) and most are only good as specimens because it craze a lot. but I'm sure that in the pass there was some good quality stuff there :)
I would agree with you Both opals are beautiful Some of the Ethiopian welo With honeycomb pattern is stunning - I have a few raw stones to make cabs soon (5 months to retirement )
@@PulitzerOpal - Well, there are variations -- but that general sort of noisy, extra-gregarious orange male. Maybe mine wasn't really that dumb, he just got dumb looks on his face all the time ... particularly when he would lay on his back and invite my Airedale terrier mutt go up and down his belly, like a dog goes for fleas with its incisors, as if chomping corn on the cob, making snorty schnorfelling noises. Cat would purr and coo and chirp, and drool prodigiously, with not a trace of normal feline haughtiness, or any shame. :-) The orange coat and talkative gregariousness genes seem to be somehow endogenously linked in those males, so that one trait comes along for the ride with the other. It's a definite type. I shall look him up.
In Sydney airport, I saw a pair of earrings that were an electric blue opal with green fire. And the price? $10,000AU They were worth it, I'll tell you. I am still thinking about them 20 years later.
I put damp cotton wool long term with a nice Australian opal ring, having read somewhere it was a good idea. It was not. Something of the opals lively reflection was lost.
@@PulitzerOpal No, it was bought from antique guy years ago and it is a full opal. I guess the best way to respect an opal is to leave it snug in its box and wear it with loving care. By the way the guy told me he had repolished it but I don't know if that was factor.
I am a retired 50 year fine bench jeweler. Cut my first opal 1973 AUssie. I have had fantastic luck with cutting....buying....Ethiopian opal. I LOVE IT!! HOWEVER AUSSIE IS JUST TOO COSTLY.
That must be a real bummer for the Aussy Opals, Ethio Opal are the same beautiful, more colour, und cost a few % , top pattern 5 to 7 us a carat ,nice day fred
I agree about Australian opals being the best but I might be just a tad biased due to being an Aussie 🤣 You have provided good information for others. Thank you.
I love Australian Opal and I’ve got a lot of great friends in Oz. If I were an Aussie, I almost definitely would not cover other types of opal. I love that Australians are fiercely loyal to their Opal! From the practical side of things, other types of opal are less expensive (for reason!). But as a scientist and a retired professor (and not having a dog in the opal “this fight”), I feel that it’s my obligation to teach people about all types of opal. I’m do appreciate the comment!
Great video, very interesting to see such an in depth, and unbiased review, of both of these beautiful types of opals. Thank you for doing this! Have you had any experience with the new deposit of naturally black opal from Ethiopia? Would be very interested to see the comparison with black Australian opals.
@@PulitzerOpal Very interested to see how you go, hopefully it works out better this time around. I've only managed to cut a few of the stayish pieces and have them not fall apart, that said the ones that survived, the patterns are very nice.
Pulitzer Opal... Everybody wins! Hey if you run out of subject matter I'd be interested in opalized fossils... I must have seen something on this on the PBS, fascinating. Thanks .p.
I completely agree with you on this subject. I was lucky and was able to bet on the Ethiopian Welo opal soon after they started selling it in 2008 and it did extremely well on the auction NR platform with bidding wars down to the last minute and seconds and then extending till someone cried uncle. I could take a welo rough piece that cost 10 to 15 dollars US and if it had the right pattern it would fetch anywhere between 700 to 1800 dollars US. A good opal cutter could make a living on Ethiopian opal with a small investment unlike the cost of Aussie opal. But this came to an end when India and Thailand came a knocking on Ethiopia's door around 2012 and bought vast quantities of rough and saturated the market with color and overlay photo enhanced opal, really poor finished product, and smoked and dyed opal they called black opal. Now my favorite opal to cut is Aussie opal without a doubt.
@@PulitzerOpal A fella who went to Ethiopia with 8 titans from Diamond Pacific and he went to work training the locals to cut and finish the welo opal. now you have to buy a percentage of cut when you buy rough and the price on the rough went way up after India and Thailand left with their rough. the price was over inflated and the Ethiopians thought that they could make this leap because of the vast quantities they sold to those two countries. It took a few years but the price dropped but no where near those 2008 prices of $5 per gram.
@@PulitzerOpal Changed or removed for better or worse? To fit whose agenda?? After the Ethiopians started selling a percentage of finished with the rough I am sure they were able to buy a few more machines whether they were cab kings or whatever off brand they could find. Buying Diamond Pacific is a premium buy indeed. With 8 Titans and lets say 2 cutters splitting time on each you could do some damage to a pile of rough!
Great insight, and how satisfying is it watchin Mr. Pulitzer crack them opal apart? I liked that alot bcoz I have sensory issues 😂. Thank u for my gift Mr P.. I love it alot. I owe u a pint of Guinness some day haha. I never knew Ethiopian opal soak up water that much😱 now I do!!
@@PulitzerOpal I really love it!!! I was waiting to send u a thank u email with a photo when I got it framed but I haven't been able to find a deep frame yet. But I will, an it's going pride of place at my house. Such a nice thing for u to do😊 merry Christmas to you and your wife, an give my love to Sheila too😋lol
Mr. Pulitzer Sir would you help identify an opal i recently rubbed. I'm relatively new to the world of opal cutting. you play a big part in my growing interest of opals. I've been practicing with a dremel cause i can't yet afford the whole lapidary set up which i aim to reach one day, though for now it is what it is. the specimen was listed as rough lightning ridge black opal when i bought it. i made a video of the stone after i removed the top layer to reveal the color bar. video: lightning ridge Australian opal rough rub 7.5 carats
I must be slower than i thought... I couldn't figure it out. I even added the (I) i figured you may of missed in Pulitzer when typing the link you shared with me. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to me. I have a channel on UA-cam i uploaded a video of the stone. my channel is : Rockwell live the video title : lightning ridge Australian opal rough rub 7.5 carats
@@PulitzerOpal What the.. Wow. That opal is older than me lol. Well, learned something today. I threw some Turkey in a crockpot today. I'll see how that turns out. Happy Thanksgiving by the way. What are you doing on UA-cam 😱!!
Would you be interested in seeing some rare opal from British Columbia? Not from okanagan opal. It's a secret deposit. Some hydrophane but most is stable
I didn't really understand the message...but I'd still kinda like to shoot the Messenger. Is that weird, or does everyone kind of have that vibe? Actually, I thought the part about absorbance really interesting. But, I'm a bit weird - so there's that.
Because Ethiopian opal is a hydrophone opal (which means it absorbs on contact with water and oils on your skin), so to avoid discoloring your opal it's best to keep it in a clean dry place.
As a gemmologist and opals lover, I agree with you 100% ... No need war, different materials, different places but, the same love for opals and gemstones from wherever they come ...
If only Ethiopian opal wasn't prone to cracking
All opal is subject to cracking. Actually hydrophane welo opal it's pretty damn stable if it's handled properly. If you buy an Ethiopian Stone that's cut and not cracked you can be pretty sure it's not going to crack in your lifetime. Some Australian stones will get surface crazing over time. I love both
I am from Ethiopia 🇪🇹..I have a good if u want contact me....251912333104
You and Justin are how I get my opal fix. Loooove yalls channels👍🏻
I love how much passion you put in these vids
@@PulitzerOpal I think sometimes it is.
@@PulitzerOpal You have to be the funniest guy on UA-cam talking about Opal right now. I love your videos and I love your sense of humor about opals. I haven't had the best luck finding good opal to cut and find that a lot of people who are selling on eBay and places like that are not always trustworthy. I've lost a bit of money with a few of the sellers. One of the things that comes across in your videos is how genuine and authentic you are and I really appreciate that. I'm a fan. Lol.. of opal and your channel. 💙
@@PulitzerOpal I really appreciate the list...More than you know. If I were to add up the money I've lost...whew! I try not to think about it as I know opal is always a gamble...and I'm an optimist so my love of opal always overrides my disappointment So..I venture on. I am excited to check out some of the names that you've given me as you always have such beautiful material. I did recently place my first order for Boulder Opal..with a supplier in QLD Australia. Perhaps you've heard of him...Nick Hoops? Still waiting.. with a bit of dread and a lot of anticipation..for this first parcel to arrive. I am planning to go to Tucson this next February so thank you so much for that heads up on WHEN to get there. That is helpful since it is my tendency to go later...not fond of big crowds and I WILL tell them that you sent me...Lol. By the way I am also a huge fan of the elegant design in your jewelry. I'll message you on FB with some photos of the material from Nick Hoops...super nice guy and came with stand up references.💙
@@PulitzerOpal thanks for letting me know. I did send you a message on Facebook but how would I contact you through email Is it in your link?
@@PulitzerOpal new myself to the world of boulder opal but thought I'd have a go to see what all the fuss us about. I have heard it's messy. I'll look for your email to see if it's listed somewhere on Facebook and message you for a few more details about Tucson. Thanks again and I'll be in touch
You continue to surprise me with your wit and unique visitors.thanks
Makes me feel even better about my opal ring 😅 I found you by looking for information about opals after I bought it
Interesting, enjoyed the topic and your usual sense of humor...the opal cracking looks like fun and somehow satisfying to do ;-)
So glad you uploaded always have a good time watching another opal enthusiast talk about the lovely stone especially with your great editing
As always, thanks for sharing your work and experience.
That cracking is just killing me, I would be throwing crap across the room work bench and tipping table's. Well as they say, if it was easy everyone would be doing it...
Thanks again!
I am a fan of Ethiopian Opal I have to admit but Australian Opal is beautiful also. I like Ethiopian Opal because it has a great colour play and is tougher. However I think Opal is one of the most amazing gem so whatever you like remember to appreciate the gem wherever it comes from.
Wow. I loved the crazy Ethiopian opal you showed. It had so many patterns and colors, how could it possibly be any less valuable than any other. I am not a gemologist, just a fan of opals, but I would think that it would be the beauty of each particular opal that set the price and the origin would be just an interesting fact. Kind of like people.
Elliot Lambert dickhead alert
@ismail adam as a gemologist, I can say you are wrong. Scarcity is obviously the biggest factor here.
@ismail adam marketing does have a lot to do with it. But not as much with opal. Different market. Massive generalization
@ismail adam you gave an example about emeralds. Not quite the same thing as opal. There are multiple factors here and you're trying to simplify it to marketing being the ONLY one. And I'm saying yes, in a lot of cases I'd agree that it has a huge factor, i.e. diamonds, but in this case, opals from Ethiopia are marketed more heavily and still are less expensive. As I understand from the opal experts i.e. pulitzeropal, this is because of higher volume and availability in Ethiopia.
Also--no one has mentioned ease of extraction and how much cheaper the labor is there. This most likely plays a huge role too.
@ismail adam you're talking and circles and getting emotional, and I don't care enough to engage. Have fun.
Wow, so much great info. I just can't keep saying how happy I am I found this channel. Thank you!
You've cut some amazing pieces my friend!!! Seriously tho my grandfather has a preserved piece of tree from Idaho (50lbs) it's full of opal amazing reds and greens he's never going to part with it but man it beautiful!
50lbs of opalized wood? Dude.... You should share a picture so we can see it 😊
@@DeIicateFynn ill send a picture to Pulitzer. don't get too excited it is a fairly large piece of wood but the opal is only formed in the cracks one one side.
@@13mjunky Thanks. That would be cool to see. I've learned so much about opal on this channel. It's my favorite, and it's my birthstone! 😊
@Don X hopefully he will because he won't let me take pictures of it XD naturally
Wherewill mahtajutakeyou , I live in Boise, Idaho. I'm about 45 minutes away from an opal mine where you can pick small ones up off the ground. I'm a glass artist, and since their beauty shows best in the natural fracture planes I avoid the whole cracking issue by enclosing them as is in glass for jewelry. A dear friend who has since passed away gave me a chunk of not-quite-petrified wood that is just riddled with tiny rice shaped opals that formed in the wood grain, too fragile to remove until I figured out that soaking pieces will eventually dissolve away the wood and leave a little pile of fiery opal grains behind. They're way too small and delicate to mount in any conventional fashion, but are just fine for how I do with them. Opal in any form is amazing!
You crack me up. Make me miss my dad something awful; he shared your sense of humor.
Cracks are a fact uf life, that rease has Dr, Opal
Why is the reason Australian opal is sow expensive (In Australia at the source,) but if you purchased the same parcel at a different country our site it’s way cheaper it makes no sense at all,that’s the reason I stick to Ethiopian opal I learns my lesson I went to Australia to buy never again
this channel is wonderful !! thanks for sharing your knowledge with all of us and for your fantastic sense of humor
Lots of interesting info! Just love seeing how amazingly beautiful your work is! Wish I could afford any of it...humor great as always!
You can afford top Ethiopian opal rough. You can grind High domed stones that reveal the most intense Beauty. Not worth 30000 bucks but amazingly beautiful.
Just enjoy your opals folks, love em all!!!!
wow my country ethiopia blessed !
This presentation was captivating; especially loved the jitter effect for "cracking" (7:10) and "cracks" (7:45)!
Beautiful! Thank you for showing us your collection.
Always a pleasure to see your videos ! Tell it like it is and let the chips fall wherever.
Funny and entertaining video. I didn't even know about opal crack! You put a lot of work into the editing. Great job!
Another great video. I love both opals and collect them.
@@PulitzerOpal I am located in Ethiopia and have access to the opals do you still collect them. If you do please reach me via jwmaina762@gmail.com
I hope Ethiopian kicks the butt out of our opals. It’s insanely overpriced
sir i wanna buy opal. but i am in confusion that which should i buy? Either ethiopian or Australian?
@@PulitzerOpal sir i want Australian white opal.. Do you have to sale??
Pulitzer Opal h
@@usmanfarooq857 look up Mark-the blacklighters on Facebook.. his auctions are fair and just. But keep in mind. It's not easy to make an assessment on opal if you don't know what you are looking for.. I would recommend watching dons videos over and over and over.. to even understand what he's trying to tell you.. opal is a skill.. that takes a long time to get an eye for.. years
I've been opal craze for over 50 years and I want to say THANK YOU X 1000! for your precise explanation!
@@PulitzerOpal I've been so fascinated about how you treat, cut and polish opals watching many of your uploaded videos for the whole day today (I just fond you today and subscribed)! Thank you so much! I wish I lived near you so that I could learn how to cut and polish them. I'm just an opal corrector
I would watch any kind of video you could make. I'd love to take a tour that you were the guide of. Very illustrative commentary.
@@PulitzerOpal What would that be?
What is the best way to take care of opals?I don't know much about different kinds, but I have a blue fire opal pendant (I think that's what it's called) that was my great x4 Nonna's. For being so old It's in good condition. It's about the size of a 50 cent euro. I heard they Crack and dry out, is there a way to prevent that?
LOL!!!!!!!!!! You had me at 6:57 !!! Definitely subscribing ! I just bought the prettiest yellow Ethiopian opal! Thanks so much for helping me out !
😂🤣😂 duuuuuuuude! 6:49! I actually laughed out loud! I mean really LOL’d! And I never type that!
Honestly man. Gotta say I just love your videos. There’s reasons only others who get excited when they see them pop up in their feed would understand. But man o man, by far one of the coolest videos on opal that I have seen. I love what you do mate. So informative and genuinely entertaining. Just wish I lived closer to the opal fields... but don’t we all.
I read that an ethiopian opal can survive a drop from 4 feet, I guess that would be something to consider if you accidently dropped one of your ethiopian opal earrings after taking them out. Right now ethiopian opals are cheap because the mine is producing so much gem quality material, I think right now is the time to buy because I have a feeling that one day the price will sky rocket when the mine dries up
I think the clear Opals are really the valuable ones. The beautiful ring one is wonderful!
Diane M.
I liked the ones with the violet cast.
you are completely correct
I’m so excited you put out a new video! I’ve cleared the room!
I actually wonder about the ethics involved with mining practices in Ethiopia? I suppose there could be questions in any country in regard to mining practices but I know that certain countries are less focused on fair wages and human rights…
Pulitzer Opal thank you. I appreciate your thoughtful and thorough response. Unfortunately I am aware of poor conditions involved with darn near every industry in third world countries...blood diamonds are far from the only injustice. As a kid I was in Brazil a fair deal and we acquired tons of large LARGE agates and then my mom stopped it after finding out how they were obtained. I think that’s why I like petosky stones and jasper...things I can scrounge up myself.
I’ll watch BOTH of those because information isn’t ever superfluous. On a lighter note, the Ethiopian opal with the honeycomb pattern is truly stunning! Thank you again for another goodie 🙏🏻
Pulitzer Opal NOOOOO! You’re simply beguiled and who can blame you? I’ll be honest, I’ve set aside ethics when I saw some sparkly things I had to have 😞
Figured don’t ask don’t tell, what I don’t know won’t hurt me. If I’m on the fence I’ll find out about sourcing, if I just really want a thing I go for it. Hypocrisy at its finest.
Considering the fact you know your dealers I’m guessing that your buddies from down under are decent folk? You’re decent and water seeks its own level. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t my first thought, I was also mesmerized by their beauty. As I googled costs etc I quickly juxtaposed opulence and famine incidentally because an image of a child with a distended, fly covered abdomen popped up in my image search, “Ethiopia” will always elicit results tied to that...it struck me at that point and was the impetus behind the question.
An educated consumer can help shift the market by demanding fair treatment, I guess we have to be willing to put our money where our mouths are and pay for the same stones even as the price goes up so long as it’s attributed to safety measures and fair wages.
Pulitzer Opal overly optimistic, not the first time I’ve been accused of that :(
WISH in one hand and...💩 in the other, see which one fills up first. That’s a family mantra when I’m being referenced 😞
I really do appreciate all the facts you’ve got at the ready! That’s a GIANT brain up there!
😉
I looked in my almanac and was shocked at the per capita then remembered a brief visit (2 day layover) to Ethiopia and felt shock i was shocked.
I’m grateful you’ve got customers who prefer Australian and now this is something new to consider going forward in case someone asks 🤷🏻♀️ right?
As to buddy the button, I wear it every day, careful with perfumes since he’s right up on my neck 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I’m working on my thank you gift. It’s piece meal, and I scaled it down. Things are always better in miniature!!
I get a lot of compliments actually, usually someone carefully says “I’m sorry to ask but what is that??” I don’t say anything rather shove it out and every single time I get either a laugh or smile and a compliment. I immediately say how it came to be and direct them to your channel, I also let them know you do custom work.
Then I hear “but opal is so expensive” and I remind them that they can always choose Ethiopian 😂
I AM KIDDING!
I love it, so much I’ve failed to set it properly and it’s really just dangling, secure but rigged up.
I have both kinds and love them. They each have their own beauty. But for top top grade opal, Aussie has the most vivid saturated colour imo. I wish I had bought more years ago. I dislike yellow or brown Welo opal intensely!Just personal preference I guess. Also beware of opals that are 'smoked' to that colour...
@@PulitzerOpal i love the yellow one...
Hello i love My opalos from Australia i'm have a litle collecion fire mexican opalos and a few etiopian good vídeo My feavorite black australian opals
But what are the blingy nails worth? Great video. I'm a fan of all quality opal regardless of the origin. Mexican stuff would be at the lower end and Australian at the highest. I've been lucky with Ethiopian opal. Started buying before the boom. Thank you again for sharing your views on a contentious subject with knowledge, humor, your own style. 👍
Very Interesting !! Never heard of Ethiopian Opal. Always find your videos a learning adventure !! :)
most call it welo opal
@@PulitzerOpal : I agree. What is very interesting to some, others find boring. Where ever I go I always look at the rocks around me, some think I'm strange, others just know thats part of who I am. Boring... Right ? :)
I believe Ethiopian Opals are very underrated when it comes to their beauty. You can get some solid Ethiopian Opals with very nice rainbow color for very affordable prices, while Australian ones cost 5-10 times the price for similar play of color. In terms of price, Australian is more known and more popular. Ethiopian has been around for less than twenty years, but I have seen some Ethiopian opals rival that of some of the better Australian opals. Durability is where Ethiopian falls short with water absorption the main issue.
In the end, I think people are more biased against Ethiopian because Australian has been the frontrunner of Opals for a long time. For me, being able to buy some high quality Ethiopian Opals for well under three digits is a plus with the market of Ethiopian still hiding in the shadows. I think one day Ethiopian will rival that of Australian when scarcity is set aside.
I agree
You are very nice narrator.
Sign.. I had a huge Australian white opal ring for a while. I love it so much and wears it everyday and everywhere. It was my first opal and the only way I can describe it is that it was magical! After a while, the opal started getting loose from the setting. One day, I was shopping for groceries (and of course I wore that ring) and I noticed that my finger felt less heavy. I looked at it and the opal was gone from the basket setting! I panicked and looked everywhere but couldn't find it. I felt like I lost a part of myself that day. When I got home, I give all my jewelry away.
After a while, I got another ring with a beautiful Australian crystal opal, but after a few months, a crazed line inside the opal appeared. I know crazing can render an opal worthless. After that, I stop buying opal because the chances of them crazing is quite high. I am not going to spend that much money on something that has such a high chance of becoming worthless.
@@PulitzerOpal
هل يتغير لونه لدي اوبال تغير لونه من الاخضر الى الاصفر الشفاف ماهي المشكله وانا شاكرا لك
@@PulitzerOpal هلوو
لكنه فقد جاذبيته وجماله يعني هل هو على مايرام
Red and blue. Is sharp.. Turned out nice .
KITTY!!!!!!!!!! I miss having a cat, nothing is better than curling up with a cat that's content and purring.
That's awesome. I really love your channel and all your wisdom about this simply beautiful gemstone...needless to say I want some.
The kangaroo boxing was my favorite part! 😜
Very interesting vídeo as always!😃
Yeah!! My Ethiopian opals I worked on did become translucent I thought that was like magic!! Even my friends thought that was awsome and magical! I even transformed one of my rough opals in a tear drop that way when it's totally wet it really looks like a big solid drop of water everyone who saw it was in awe. Thanks so much for this video! I'm not partial at all but knowing that Australia opals are more valuable with time I might look into that! 😉😊 Oh and I looooove that big orange cat!! 😍
@@PulitzerOpal that is so sad! 😖
Don’t know if you’re going to have a video out before Christmas, or if you’ll even see this. But Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
Thank you. Great information!
Very educational and interesting.
Very diplomatically done mister ( I don't call you Don anymore since you don't seem to care for people that you don't know being so familiar, but I do feel like I know you). Since this site is directed more towards cutters I have to say if you want to grind a big high domed Stone you'll have a lot more fun with Ethiopian opal for so much cheaper rather than trying to work on somebody else's trash rubs.
I was just trying to be funny Dawn after watching the video where you mentioned all the things that people call you. Yes, I've been doing lapidary and rockhounding since I was a kid. I've been looking back at all of your old Productions and to me this is one of the better ones
I was not aware of such a war. Thank you for this video essay.
You need to blame it on you Aussie buddy lol I guess I need to look at Ethiopian if I ever get the money to buy the wife any since I'm on the very poor side. That honeycomb is weird looking and not sure if I really like it or not since I only seen those pics you put up.
Enjoyed your video and gave it a Thumbs Up
@@PulitzerOpal LOLI was just playing around with the way you mess with Murray and you're welcome
They both look great, I don’t know why people would be against either one of them 🤷♂️
You are the champ. No one wants to shoot you. We just want to pat you on the back. I love opal, specifically Ethiopian sourced, but am loving Australian more and more as I learn more and more about it. In what period did white opals appear in Australia? I'm considering some vintage rings in white opal and am curious about their authenticity.
Im Aussie and I am enjoying buying Ethipian opal. Its cheaper and I can cab to my hearts content. For starters they are different composition. Australian high quality black is getting rarer. A lot of the stuff coming out is not quality (a lot still is). Bang for buck I think Ethiopian is better, however at the top of the range I think Aussie black opal is at the top.... but that top spectrum is very small. Edit: That said there is a chance that I am yet to see the best opal Ethipia has to offer and yet the best I have seen is exceptionally good. Great video. Love your nails.
I love how you present this!
Very, very interesting. Thank you very much for the overview.
Still loving your sense of humour mate. Haters gonna hate, but I do love to camp.
🇦🇺♥️
I really love Ethiopian Welo and yellow.
i like both as long as they are of very high quality, but Ethiopian Opal is by far the biggest bang for your buck , Aussies dont like it because it ruined their business ,the monopoly they had is long gone and the junk doublets and triplets they use to sell died after welo was found , why would anyone buy a doublet when you get real opal skin to skin with great patterns and colors and cheaper lol
I like your rather balanced view. And your pieces for the video are amazing.
About the investment part however, Ethiopian opal has only been 10-15 years in the market. All the pieces cannot be called heirlooms yet and look forward to what the future holds.
@@PulitzerOpal yes we have heard of the early diamond trader's reaction to au Black opals. And we are getting the same salty reaction from the AU guys now. Its understandable when something overwhelms the market like that.
First time here ! Loved this video ! Subscribed 👊🏼
I would love to buy some opal from you the jewelry is amazing that you showed
Wow, very informative. Thank you sir
That was a wonderful video!!!! I like them all. I have Australian bolder, Etheopian wello and regular, Mexican Jelly and fire. Pink Peruvian. I need some Slovakian!!!! I've never even heard of it 😍
@@PulitzerOpal You don't!!! Then I don't hear a chance :'(
@@PulitzerOpal I actually have some family that I've never met in Slovakia, and Croatia, that I've never met. I think it might be time to get in touch 😎
@@PulitzerOpal I have some Slovakian opal but only very small chips :(
- it is hard to get any good size SOLID rough for cutting - only bigger pieces are thin seams on host rock ( similar to some AU boulder opals ) and most are only good as specimens because it craze a lot. but I'm sure that in the pass there was some good quality stuff there :)
I love all opal. Whatever I can afford is the best opal in my world.
I would agree with you
Both opals are beautiful
Some of the Ethiopian welo
With honeycomb pattern is stunning - I have a few raw stones to make cabs soon (5 months to retirement )
Big, dumb, drooling, goofy-ass orange male cats are the best kind of cats.
@@PulitzerOpal - Well, there are variations -- but that general sort of noisy, extra-gregarious orange male.
Maybe mine wasn't really that dumb, he just got dumb looks on his face all the time ... particularly when he would lay on his back and invite my Airedale terrier mutt go up and down his belly, like a dog goes for fleas with its incisors, as if chomping corn on the cob, making snorty schnorfelling noises.
Cat would purr and coo and chirp, and drool prodigiously, with not a trace of normal feline haughtiness, or any shame. :-)
The orange coat and talkative gregariousness genes seem to be somehow endogenously linked in those males, so that one trait comes along for the ride with the other. It's a definite type.
I shall look him up.
Great video and very informative. The blingy nails were great too🤣🤣
@@PulitzerOpal oh lord yes!
Hola amigo!!!!Muy bonitas piezas de opalo!!! El opalo rosa de Brazil, tambien es muy bonito, el verde y maron de Madagascar!!!!
thankyou ,u are an expert in your fielď
STUNNING....ALL OF IT!
Man I love watching your videos
i love all your videos! thank u for sharing 🙏❤️👍🌹🌷😉😎🙏
In Sydney airport, I saw a pair of earrings that were an electric blue opal with green fire. And the price? $10,000AU They were worth it, I'll tell you. I am still thinking about them 20 years later.
@@PulitzerOpal By the way, are you married? Because I love your humor and I'm single.
Pulitzer Opal, what good sources of Ethiopian opal do you recommend? I, for one, think the water absorption is fascinating.
I put damp cotton wool long term with a nice Australian opal ring, having read somewhere it was a good idea.
It was not. Something of the opals lively reflection was lost.
@@PulitzerOpal No, it was bought from antique guy years ago and it is a full opal.
I guess the best way to respect an opal is to leave it snug in its box and wear it with loving care.
By the way the guy told me he had repolished it but I don't know if that was factor.
Definitely prefer the Australian opal.
I really liked that first yellow one!
I am a retired 50 year fine bench jeweler. Cut my first opal 1973 AUssie. I have had fantastic luck with cutting....buying....Ethiopian opal. I LOVE IT!! HOWEVER AUSSIE IS JUST TOO COSTLY.
That must be a real bummer for the Aussy Opals, Ethio Opal are the same beautiful, more colour, und cost a few % , top pattern 5 to 7 us a carat ,nice day fred
Question, How you get the small Ethiopian Opal on the dopstick whithout cracking ? they seam not to like heat, regards fred
I have lots of Ephiopia opal and of course i have ausie opal but to me im like you i love Ephiopia opal there is so many different pattens and colours
I agree about Australian opals being the best but I might be just a tad biased due to being an Aussie 🤣
You have provided good information for others. Thank you.
I love Australian Opal and I’ve got a lot of great friends in Oz. If I were an Aussie, I almost definitely would not cover other types of opal. I love that Australians are fiercely loyal to their Opal! From the practical side of things, other types of opal are less expensive (for reason!). But as a scientist and a retired professor (and not having a dog in the opal “this fight”), I feel that it’s my obligation to teach people about all types of opal. I’m do appreciate the comment!
Great video, very interesting to see such an in depth, and unbiased review, of both of these beautiful types of opals. Thank you for doing this! Have you had any experience with the new deposit of naturally black opal from Ethiopia? Would be very interested to see the comparison with black Australian opals.
@@PulitzerOpal Very interested to see how you go, hopefully it works out better this time around. I've only managed to cut a few of the stayish pieces and have them not fall apart, that said the ones that survived, the patterns are very nice.
Pulitzer Opal...
Everybody wins!
Hey if you run out of subject matter I'd be interested in opalized fossils...
I must have seen something on this on the PBS, fascinating.
Thanks .p.
Always interesting 👍
Both are beautiful.
Tip top information and love your intro.
Ethiopian opal is too lit 🔥
That's a lot of info in this video.. thanks mate
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THIS! I've been carving some welo and wondering what was happening.
Just had my first try at Ethiopian cutting. Colours are brilliant.
But just hoping it doesn't crack. If it doesn't I may be a convert.
I completely agree with you on this subject. I was lucky and was able to bet on the Ethiopian Welo opal soon after they started selling it in 2008 and it did extremely well on the auction NR platform with bidding wars down to the last minute and seconds and then extending till someone cried uncle. I could take a welo rough piece that cost 10 to 15 dollars US and if it had the right pattern it would fetch anywhere between 700 to 1800 dollars US. A good opal cutter could make a living on Ethiopian opal with a small investment unlike the cost of Aussie opal. But this came to an end when India and Thailand came a knocking on Ethiopia's door around 2012 and bought vast quantities of rough and saturated the market with color and overlay photo enhanced opal, really poor finished product, and smoked and dyed opal they called black opal. Now my favorite opal to cut is Aussie opal without a doubt.
@@PulitzerOpal A fella who went to Ethiopia with 8 titans from Diamond Pacific and he went to work training the locals to cut and finish the welo opal. now you have to buy a percentage of cut when you buy rough and the price on the rough went way up after India and Thailand left with their rough. the price was over inflated and the Ethiopians thought that they could make this leap because of the vast quantities they sold to those two countries. It took a few years but the price dropped but no where near those 2008 prices of $5 per gram.
@@PulitzerOpal Changed or removed for better or worse? To fit whose agenda?? After the Ethiopians started selling a percentage of finished with the rough I am sure they were able to buy a few more machines whether they were cab kings or whatever off brand they could find. Buying Diamond Pacific is a premium buy indeed. With 8 Titans and lets say 2 cutters splitting time on each you could do some damage to a pile of rough!
Great insight, and how satisfying is it watchin Mr. Pulitzer crack them opal apart? I liked that alot bcoz I have sensory issues 😂.
Thank u for my gift Mr P.. I love it alot. I owe u a pint of Guinness some day haha. I never knew Ethiopian opal soak up water that much😱 now I do!!
@@PulitzerOpal I really love it!!! I was waiting to send u a thank u email with a photo when I got it framed but I haven't been able to find a deep frame yet. But I will, an it's going pride of place at my house. Such a nice thing for u to do😊 merry Christmas to you and your wife, an give my love to Sheila too😋lol
@@PulitzerOpal 😂😂😂😂. Good, knew I could count on u! Lol
Mr. Pulitzer Sir would you help identify an opal i recently rubbed. I'm relatively new to the world of opal cutting. you play a big part in my growing interest of opals. I've been practicing with a dremel cause i can't yet afford the whole lapidary set up which i aim to reach one day, though for now it is what it is. the specimen was listed as rough lightning ridge black opal when i bought it.
i made a video of the stone after i removed the top layer to reveal the color bar.
video: lightning ridge Australian opal rough rub 7.5 carats
I must be slower than i thought... I couldn't figure it out. I even added the (I) i figured you may of missed in Pulitzer when typing the link you shared with me.
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to me. I have a channel on UA-cam i uploaded a video of the stone.
my channel is : Rockwell live
the video title : lightning ridge Australian opal rough rub 7.5 carats
what i can't figure out is i'm prompted to adjust my time and date, but my time and date is fine i checked the settings.
First!!! I mean.. forth... forth comment is good too...
This one was pretty interesting. Sad, that Australian opal is diminishing 😱
Aww kitty! 🥰
@@PulitzerOpal What the.. Wow. That opal is older than me lol. Well, learned something today.
I threw some Turkey in a crockpot today. I'll see how that turns out.
Happy Thanksgiving by the way. What are you doing on UA-cam 😱!!
@@PulitzerOpal 😱 I feel like you might not have any Turkey to eat in about 5 minutes!!!
@@PulitzerOpal It's okay. You're a busy guy, and I'm glad you're Turkey didn't disintegrate!! 😁🤗
Would you be interested in seeing some rare opal from British Columbia?
Not from okanagan opal.
It's a secret deposit. Some hydrophane but most is stable
Thank you, I love your history lessons.😁😁
I didn't really understand the message...but I'd still kinda like to shoot the Messenger. Is that weird, or does everyone kind of have that vibe? Actually, I thought the part about absorbance really interesting. But, I'm a bit weird - so there's that.
Why does Ethiopian Opal need to be stored "dry"? Thanks!
Because Ethiopian opal is a hydrophone opal (which means it absorbs on contact with water and oils on your skin), so to avoid discoloring your opal it's best to keep it in a clean dry place.
I just bought an opal...and i dont know is it Australian opal or Euthopian opal... Thanks for the tips...