Reminds me of Eric, the opalized pliosaur. He was nearly cut up into gems at one point, but donations from the public have preserved this magnificent fossil. If I make my way down under it's on my list of things to definitely see! I love paleontology, but I agree with your assessment: some fossils are very common, very fragmented and not very valuable. It made a gorgeous gem, with value far greater then a chipped piece of clam shell ever could be.
Justin! It has been a fossil for a million years. It’s time for it to be a gem, giving delight to the eye! I think that it is one of the prettiest that I have watched you make into a real gem! Thank you!
WOW. That is totally gorgeous!!! Opals are awesome gems but this one really stands out! I also fully agree on the fossil vs. gem - if your fossil is intact, keep it that way...
Brilliant lesson on what to do and what to do with an opal fossil Justin - it is also good to hear you ultimately come down on the side of the fossil. I collect fossils and minerals and cringed when you first started talking. It is a fact that there are enough pieces of fossil from those shells etc that shattered during their formation to give plenty of pieces such at the one you have cut today - and what a beautiful result. Sadly the import duties and sales taxes of goods coming into the UK, make purchasing from you impossible. However a future trip to visit family down under is not out of the question which will make a visit to see you a definite trip on the agenda - so don't do anything stupid before we get there 😉 keep up the good work - I cannot resist your videos. Being disabled and having trouble sleeping you and Tamara have kept me entertained many nights - thank you 😊
Ha ha ! Brillant photo bombs at the end Justin !!! You guys did well to keep it in the montage ! 😂 The brightness of that gem is a définite 5, for sure ! The electric blues in the stone are so light ! Lovin it ! Well done ! 🤩
What a gorgeous piece, and such great timing! I just ordered 3 opalised fossils from Lightning Ridge the other day, and they all seem to have some amazing colouring. The plan is to show the pieces to a local geologist first, to see what he/she thinks, before I do anything with the fossils. I wouldn't want to accidentally destroy something that's more valuable than money. On the other hand, if the fossils are common, I'm really looking forward to cutting, polishing and wearing them! Thanks so much for making this video. It's really great to know that some opalised fossils can be cut and polished the same way as any other opal 👍
I loved what you did with this price of fossil. If it had been a whole fossil, that would've been different. But a price of clamshell fossil is a lot different. They're pretty common. The colours in this were absolutely beautiful! The minute you removed the skin, the colours popped! Hope you have a great Christmas! 🎄🎁
It's nice to see your passion for what you do. Taking a sometimes mundane rock and sculpting it into something so beautiful. The jewelry you make will be passed down for generations.
Justin, absolutely fantastic. You are amazing. I'm an archeologists not a paleontologist but in my opinion you did the right thing. Fossil collectors would rather have a whole Fossil not a piece. Just a piece is worth only what you cut from it particularly one as common as a clam shell. I don't need to tell you. When it comes to anything opal you are an expert and doubt anywhere on the planet anyone knowing more than you. Totally spectacular. You are a master.
Justin... You made my day. Thanks for the smiles and laughs. And I learned something else about opal as well. Have a great week my friend. Randy in Des Moines. 👍✌
I guess it depends on the fossil itself. Something that has no particular detail to it, but a nice play of colour, would probably do best being cut and polished, so long as the shape of the fossil is kept. After all, how much more would you get for something that looked like the shell it once was, rather than turning it into say an oval? For an opal fossil that retains some detail of the living creature it was, however, its a different matter. OK, I understand that raw opal is bought with the view to cutting the best gem you can and selling that to make a profit, but some fossils could potentially make you more money if left intact. Perhaps I'm looking at this with too narrow perspective, but I see it this way. An opal fossil that has been cut and polished to enhance its gem qualities will only attract buyers who want gem opals. An opal fossil which has been worked to keep all the detail intact may not draw in many gem collectors, but it will draw in fossil collectors, museums and so on. At the end of the day, Justin, it's your choice. Just do what you do, and, if you ever have any doubts, speak to someone in a museum. They should be able to give you an idea of the fossil's value as a fossil rather than a gem! Oops, sorry, I shouldn't try to teach my Grandma how to suck eggs, should I?
Morning all 💜🇦🇺💜 I did, when I first started. It's a small piece of shell and very lucky me it turned out beautifully but not before I almost stuffed it right up! Lol Ahhh, I believe mines a pippi after hearing that. Thanks Justin 👍
Wow!!! Simply amazing Justin. That fossil I think was way better suited to be the gem it is now. A beautiful white opal. You never seem to disappoint when I watch your videos. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.
Until I caught opal fever and started binge watching your content here on UA-cam I never ever knew fossils could be opalized. Now I do know they can be and the process of it. How cool. And yes, I agree wholeheartedly that there are fossils like this one that demand being turned into a gem or something of greater value than could ever be considered just being a fragment of fossil. And what a gorgeous gem it turned into ! Wow !
With regards to the opal cutting secrets, it's amazing how many of those secrets also apply to fishing. I remember one elderly lady using these secrets to out catch me one time.
I love watching you coax fabulous colour from the raw stone. There must be a degree of tension for you until the opal starts to reveal its true colours, but for me, as an observer, I find the process almost meditative.
Amazing stone! I'm so glad you decided to keep it in that irregular shape to save some of the color. That shape was very pleasing to my eye. I love stones with those colors. It looks like a birthday party exploded into a gem.
I agree with you, you did the right thing. As a fossil it was nice, but staring at all that glorious color, who could resist carving into that? I have some shell pieces, nothing that awesome or large, but one is a good chunk of front and some back, with sand holding it together. It does have patches of color, and I think I wont do anything to it.
As a broken fossil, I think it holds little historical value. I have a huge collection of broken arrowheads that I'm in the process of turning into art. They too have little value compared to an unbroken piece.
My only big find ever was a Paleolithic tool made of chert. In a tiny little creek in Portola Valley Ca. Its a handtool ... it fits in my hand perfectly! I sent photos of it to a Paleontologist at Stanford ...it's at least 2000 years old.
That had beautiful color! You explained the fossil thing very well. It sounds like you do your best to be responsible about what you'd cut and what not! I expect nothing less from you Justin.
That map you showed--I had no idea that the opal mining sites covered such a large area. (But as an American I was oddly surprised when you didn't tell us how many times the state of Texas would fit in the inland sea...)
That's a beautiful stone. I didn't think I would like a white opal as much as the black ones I've seen you do. This one is the exception to my normal preference!! Great job!!
The stone turned out great! Such a play of colors... And I really like the irregular shape; if I could buy a similar opal, I would definitely choose an irregular and asymmetrical one.
Absolutely beautiful! I would imagine part of the decision-making process would have to be whether the fossil is whole or not, as well - I understand that whole opalized shells have a lot more value than broken ones.
I've tried many times over the past year to find real opal at a fare price and I don't doubt the worth of what's on your website. I love your videos and wish I had the money to buy from you. You buy most of your opal straight through word of mouth with the miners and I love that. No middle man but you and to the customer. I have no customers only loved ones I wish to show my love towards with a lovely flash of color in a one of a kind stone. I'm sure many people including myself would love the opportunity to buy random individual stones at a $5-20 range with shipping being separate perhaps. I don't know anything about shipping and handling but I would appreciate the chance to try a piece of true opal. Your opal is valuable even your beaten by sand opal are pieces I dream of one day having the opportunity to buy. I kinda hurt to see those pieces of opal trapped in resin but to see such beautiful captured forever in its peak form is truly beautiful. But none the less any piece that has color that you don't want let me know or maybe post it on your website if you have the time. Don't waste your time but you may be able to make many more people smile with a poor man's chance at making somthing beautiful as a sunrise for the light in my life.
well i still live and learn after all these years , never knew fossil opals exsisted . i love opals and fossils so that would be an expensive rabbit hole to go down LOL
I loved your story about fossils and opal. It makes a lot of sense to me. And I understand why you choose to cut the one you had. I love your videos. ❤️
As a fossil collector, it really depends on the fossil! If it’s bone, from a vertebrate animal, it’s likely scientifically valuable and shouldn’t be altered without first being evaluated by a paleontologist. But if it’s something like a clam which are quite common you’re not losing anything scientifically it may be worth cutting. However even common fossils might get be worth more as fossils if they’re a particularly good specimen such as a complete specimen. The piece that you have would not be particularly scientifically valuable so there’s nothing lost in cutting it.
Thank you so much for the education. BTW...That gem was remarkably beautiful to me. The price seems really nice for such eye candy. Merry Christmas tou you and your circle of friends and family.
Beautiful piece and well done, Justin. I completely agree with cutting it. IMO you could save the small pieces instead of rubbing them away. They have so much color they would work for inlay jewelry. Even if you don't finish them. Someone else might buy them to do that.
Oh Justin!! That became an incredible stone!! Wow! I appreciate you explaining the difference between a fossilized stone vs. only a stone. It completely makes sense and if I ever have to cut and polish a stone, I will use your secret tongue in cheek secret! Tee hee! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
4:00 well put. Also that "pine cone" gem is pretty cool- it looks like an intact hemlock cone even though it's just a fragment of a much larger cone- and isnt a pine cone- pines only occur in the northern hemisphere. It looks like an Araucaria cone- which is very cool indeed! Too bad the rest of it wasn't there too.
Just GORGEOUS!!! Once again, IMO - you've made the right decision!!! I live in Central Texas. In other words, I live on top of a gigantic Limestone quarry! This also translates to fossils everywhere. This includes that kind of limestone which looks to be made of nothing but sea shells stuck together, and when you cut it into slabs, it's really quite cool looking. I even have fossils that serve me as stepping stones. I have one that looks like a part of a giant ammonite, the piece I have is about 16 inches long, it's my favorite, I'm still wondering just what the heck it is! And- I've been walking on it for over 20 years! I really don't know what animal it's from, but I've always wanted to find out. It's just that there are SOOOO MANY partial fossils around here, nobody I can find, wants to bother looking at them for an evaluation. I could only dream that my boring/not so boring, fossil yard could even POSSIBLY be filled with the kind of color you've got there!! All my stuff looks like white limestone. Which really, IS pretty great too! This was really neat learning about opal in fossils! I had no idea!! Thanks for the lesson. ❤️ And Thanks for bringing the beauty out of that shell fossil. ❤🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜❤
I love you so much! of how you are taking your time to educate others on the importance of cutting and altering fossils, be mindful of what you hold in your hand
I think a shard of fossil like this doesn't matter as much as an entire shell. Possibly got a simular, not as valuable piece in a parcel I've got coming. Have deliberately been avoiding fossil opal pieces but when they cut as good as that it's worth it
Polishing off a fraction of the shell and giving it a classic gem shape is quite fine. For animals where there is visible structure, I would probably just polish the surfaces smooth, without forcing a new shape, so that the structure remains obvious. For the whole animal, I would not interfere with the shape at all, just polish the surfaces, and align the chipped areas.
WOW such a nice piece of shell I don't see the point of keeping a bit of a shell if it was whole then maybe keep it as is colour determines whether or not to cut I think well done Justin
Justin, I know you're an LR guy, but I'd love to see some CP stones being cut on the channel. It's a very different type of opal and more affordable/easier for a beginner to start with.
WOW that was a pretty fossil, but it's far prettier as a gemstone, no question. I would have cut it too. I think I would not have had the heart to grind away any amount of that brilliant colour thought no matter how thin it was, and would have cut the thin parts away and done something with them, even though they were tiny. But that's why you're a master gemcutter and I am not. 😉
Just catching up with you mob. Had an horrific car accident last Monday week. Tottaled the car and nearly myself. Was helicoptered to RMH Trauma unit. Off to rehab. facility tomorrow. Love to all JOOLZ.
It’s just a small broken piece of a common clam fossil, the Opal’s value is much higher. Justin you are an artist, beautiful colors!
Reminds me of Eric, the opalized pliosaur. He was nearly cut up into gems at one point, but donations from the public have preserved this magnificent fossil. If I make my way down under it's on my list of things to definitely see! I love paleontology, but I agree with your assessment: some fossils are very common, very fragmented and not very valuable. It made a gorgeous gem, with value far greater then a chipped piece of clam shell ever could be.
Eric is epic, especially since the last fish meal he ate is also opalised in his stomach. Amazing stuff!!
Stunning stone! As a fossil it wasn't impressive, but as a gem it is gorgeous!
yep
Justin! It has been a fossil for a million years. It’s time for it to be a gem, giving delight to the eye! I think that it is one of the prettiest that I have watched you make into a real gem! Thank you!
WOW. That is totally gorgeous!!!
Opals are awesome gems but this one really stands out!
I also fully agree on the fossil vs. gem - if your fossil is intact, keep it that way...
Brilliant lesson on what to do and what to do with an opal fossil Justin - it is also good to hear you ultimately come down on the side of the fossil. I collect fossils and minerals and cringed when you first started talking. It is a fact that there are enough pieces of fossil from those shells etc that shattered during their formation to give plenty of pieces such at the one you have cut today - and what a beautiful result. Sadly the import duties and sales taxes of goods coming into the UK, make purchasing from you impossible. However a future trip to visit family down under is not out of the question which will make a visit to see you a definite trip on the agenda - so don't do anything stupid before we get there 😉 keep up the good work - I cannot resist your videos. Being disabled and having trouble sleeping you and Tamara have kept me entertained many nights - thank you 😊
Gorgeous colours, so bright, and just about every rainbow hue. Great decision to cut this one.
Wow, the colour in that fossil is unreal!! 😍
Definitely a beauty! Thank you for taking the time to explain how sometimes fossilized opal can be worth cutting.
PS- love listening to you talk. 😊
Ha ha ! Brillant photo bombs at the end Justin !!! You guys did well to keep it in the montage ! 😂
The brightness of that gem is a définite 5, for sure ! The electric blues in the stone are so light ! Lovin it ! Well done ! 🤩
What a gorgeous piece, and such great timing! I just ordered 3 opalised fossils from Lightning Ridge the other day, and they all seem to have some amazing colouring. The plan is to show the pieces to a local geologist first, to see what he/she thinks, before I do anything with the fossils. I wouldn't want to accidentally destroy something that's more valuable than money.
On the other hand, if the fossils are common, I'm really looking forward to cutting, polishing and wearing them!
Thanks so much for making this video. It's really great to know that some opalised fossils can be cut and polished the same way as any other opal 👍
Beautiful stone!! Fabulous colors dancing in that polished stone!
I say it was definitely worth it. Beautiful flashes of colors.
I loved what you did with this price of fossil. If it had been a whole fossil, that would've been different. But a price of clamshell fossil is a lot different. They're pretty common.
The colours in this were absolutely beautiful! The minute you removed the skin, the colours popped!
Hope you have a great Christmas! 🎄🎁
I like that it still has some of the fossil feature on the back so you know the stone came from a shell fossil
It's nice to see your passion for what you do. Taking a sometimes mundane rock and sculpting it into something so beautiful. The jewelry you make will be passed down for generations.
That piece is stunning! I'm glad you decided to cut it.
Justin, absolutely fantastic. You are amazing.
I'm an archeologists not a paleontologist but in my opinion you did the right thing. Fossil collectors would rather have a whole Fossil not a piece. Just a piece is worth only what you cut from it particularly one as common as a clam shell.
I don't need to tell you. When it comes to anything opal you are an expert and doubt anywhere on the planet anyone knowing more than you.
Totally spectacular. You are a master.
Justin...
You made my day. Thanks for the smiles and laughs. And I learned something else about opal as well.
Have a great week my friend.
Randy in Des Moines. 👍✌
I guess it depends on the fossil itself. Something that has no particular detail to it, but a nice play of colour, would probably do best being cut and polished, so long as the shape of the fossil is kept. After all, how much more would you get for something that looked like the shell it once was, rather than turning it into say an oval?
For an opal fossil that retains some detail of the living creature it was, however, its a different matter. OK, I understand that raw opal is bought with the view to cutting the best gem you can and selling that to make a profit, but some fossils could potentially make you more money if left intact.
Perhaps I'm looking at this with too narrow perspective, but I see it this way. An opal fossil that has been cut and polished to enhance its gem qualities will only attract buyers who want gem opals. An opal fossil which has been worked to keep all the detail intact may not draw in many gem collectors, but it will draw in fossil collectors, museums and so on.
At the end of the day, Justin, it's your choice. Just do what you do, and, if you ever have any doubts, speak to someone in a museum. They should be able to give you an idea of the fossil's value as a fossil rather than a gem!
Oops, sorry, I shouldn't try to teach my Grandma how to suck eggs, should I?
I absolutely love this kind of content. Thank you Justin for the education and time you share! In my opinion it’s worth more than the stones!
Morning all 💜🇦🇺💜
I did, when I first started. It's a small piece of shell and very lucky me it turned out beautifully but not before I almost stuffed it right up! Lol
Ahhh, I believe mines a pippi after hearing that. Thanks Justin 👍
Wow!!! Simply amazing Justin. That fossil I think was way better suited to be the gem it is now. A beautiful white opal. You never seem to disappoint when I watch your videos. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.
Until I caught opal fever and started binge watching your content here on UA-cam I never ever knew fossils could be opalized. Now I do know they can be and the process of it.
How cool.
And yes, I agree wholeheartedly that there are fossils like this one that demand being turned into a gem or something of greater value than could ever be considered just being a fragment of fossil.
And what a gorgeous gem it turned into ! Wow !
With regards to the opal cutting secrets, it's amazing how many of those secrets also apply to fishing.
I remember one elderly lady using these secrets to out catch me one time.
Beautiful gem!! I agree that cutting a gem with this was an awesome idea!!👍👍😁
I love watching you coax fabulous colour from the raw stone. There must be a degree of tension for you until the opal starts to reveal its true colours, but for me, as an observer, I find the process almost meditative.
Amazing stone! I'm so glad you decided to keep it in that irregular shape to save some of the color. That shape was very pleasing to my eye. I love stones with those colors. It looks like a birthday party exploded into a gem.
I agree with you, you did the right thing. As a fossil it was nice, but staring at all that glorious color, who could resist carving into that?
I have some shell pieces, nothing that awesome or large, but one is a good chunk of front and some back, with sand holding it together. It does have patches of color, and I think I wont do anything to it.
Thanks Don!
As a broken fossil, I think it holds little historical value. I have a huge collection of broken arrowheads that I'm in the process of turning into art. They too have little value compared to an unbroken piece.
My only big find ever was a Paleolithic tool made of chert. In a tiny little creek in Portola Valley Ca. Its a handtool ... it fits in my hand perfectly! I sent photos of it to a Paleontologist at Stanford ...it's at least 2000 years old.
That had beautiful color! You explained the fossil thing very well. It sounds like you do your best to be responsible about what you'd cut and what not! I expect nothing less from you Justin.
Thanks Wendi
That map you showed--I had no idea that the opal mining sites covered such a large area. (But as an American I was oddly surprised when you didn't tell us how many times the state of Texas would fit in the inland sea...)
Wow! I love the sparkle. It's like Christmas lights!
I'm speechless at your talent!
That's a beautiful stone. I didn't think I would like a white opal as much as the black ones I've seen you do. This one is the exception to my normal preference!! Great job!!
Nice to see you getting in to that organic look 👌
Would’ve liked to see the shell lines, maybe for the next one try a wire wheel on high grit?
I always forget about opalized fossils. Very cool explanation and polished stone. Thanks for sharing!
I like the transformation, and appreciate that it becomes a gem fossils.
The stone turned out great! Such a play of colors... And I really like the irregular shape; if I could buy a similar opal, I would definitely choose an irregular and asymmetrical one.
My gosh what a beautiful stone... from such a common fossil shell!
Absolutely beautiful! I would imagine part of the decision-making process would have to be whether the fossil is whole or not, as well - I understand that whole opalized shells have a lot more value than broken ones.
Hello Opal.
it always amazes me how the prettiest things come from dirt or a rock or both , anyway comes from dirt ...
It didn't look like an important fossil, but as a jewel, could be very important to someone, now! GJ!
that opal pinecone is amazing
One of the nicest opals I've ever owned came from the center of a full shell.
What a stunning beauty, love the colors!💎❤️👏👍
Really happy you didn't make it an oval. It's so pretty!
Plenty of fossils are found by opal miners that aren't gem grade, so the only other purpose is a flashy museum\collector piece.
That was educational, beautiful and relaxing to watch. Thank you.
Now if you have a matching piece for the other side you could make a pair of sunglasses for a chihuahua.
Stunning! I think this one was worth it. That color is so bright!
wow, that's serious colour.
Absolutely beautiful. Perfectly worked in the hands of a pro and lover of opals. Thank you.
I've tried many times over the past year to find real opal at a fare price and I don't doubt the worth of what's on your website. I love your videos and wish I had the money to buy from you. You buy most of your opal straight through word of mouth with the miners and I love that. No middle man but you and to the customer.
I have no customers only loved ones I wish to show my love towards with a lovely flash of color in a one of a kind stone.
I'm sure many people including myself would love the opportunity to buy random individual stones at a $5-20 range with shipping being separate perhaps. I don't know anything about shipping and handling but I would appreciate the chance to try a piece of true opal.
Your opal is valuable even your beaten by sand opal are pieces I dream of one day having the opportunity to buy. I kinda hurt to see those pieces of opal trapped in resin but to see such beautiful captured forever in its peak form is truly beautiful. But none the less any piece that has color that you don't want let me know or maybe post it on your website if you have the time. Don't waste your time but you may be able to make many more people smile with a poor man's chance at making somthing beautiful as a sunrise for the light in my life.
well i still live and learn after all these years , never knew fossil opals exsisted . i love opals and fossils so that would be an expensive rabbit hole to go down LOL
Beautiful outcome btw
I loved your story about fossils and opal. It makes a lot of sense to me. And I understand why you choose to cut the one you had. I love your videos. ❤️
I love these sparklies!
As a fossil collector, it really depends on the fossil! If it’s bone, from a vertebrate animal, it’s likely scientifically valuable and shouldn’t be altered without first being evaluated by a paleontologist. But if it’s something like a clam which are quite common you’re not losing anything scientifically it may be worth cutting. However even common fossils might get be worth more as fossils if they’re a particularly good specimen such as a complete specimen. The piece that you have would not be particularly scientifically valuable so there’s nothing lost in cutting it.
The opalized pinecone was amazing.
Nice stone. You have come a long way in your videos from when I first was introduced to you, mate. Solid production and well done.
Much appreciated!
Thank you so much for the education. BTW...That gem was remarkably beautiful to me. The price seems really nice for such eye candy. Merry Christmas tou you and your circle of friends and family.
Stunning white opal. Thank you for explaining.
Beautiful piece and well done, Justin. I completely agree with cutting it. IMO you could save the small pieces instead of rubbing them away. They have so much color they would work for inlay jewelry. Even if you don't finish them. Someone else might buy them to do that.
That is just gorgeous! Thanks Justin!
Oh Justin!! That became an incredible stone!! Wow! I appreciate you explaining the difference between a fossilized stone vs. only a stone. It completely makes sense and if I ever have to cut and polish a stone, I will use your secret tongue in cheek secret! Tee hee! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Beauty piece, I've never cut any opal but one day I will have to try.
4:00 well put. Also that "pine cone" gem is pretty cool- it looks like an intact hemlock cone even though it's just a fragment of a much larger cone- and isnt a pine cone- pines only occur in the northern hemisphere. It looks like an Araucaria cone- which is very cool indeed! Too bad the rest of it wasn't there too.
That is a beautiful piece! I think the fact is it holds some of the spirit of trace fossil makes it full of character.
That’s the most beautiful opal I’ve ever seen!
I may never own such beauty, but i really can enjoy and appreciate what you have shown us!
Just GORGEOUS!!!
Once again, IMO - you've made the right decision!!!
I live in Central Texas.
In other words,
I live on top of a gigantic Limestone quarry!
This also translates to fossils everywhere.
This includes that kind of limestone which looks to be made of nothing but sea shells stuck together, and when you cut it into slabs, it's really quite cool looking.
I even have fossils that serve me as stepping stones.
I have one that looks like a part of a giant ammonite, the piece I have is about 16 inches long, it's my favorite, I'm still wondering just what the heck it is!
And-
I've been walking on it for over 20 years!
I really don't know what animal it's from, but I've always wanted to find out.
It's just that there are SOOOO MANY partial fossils around here, nobody I can find, wants to bother looking at them for an evaluation.
I could only dream that my boring/not so boring, fossil yard could even POSSIBLY be filled with the kind of color you've got there!!
All my stuff looks like white limestone.
Which really, IS pretty great too!
This was really neat learning about opal in fossils!
I had no idea!!
Thanks for the lesson. ❤️
And Thanks for bringing the beauty out of that shell fossil.
❤🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜❤
Very beautiful the color is stunning.
Omg! That is flipping beautiful !!
Happy to see you cutting free forms more often. This piece will make a stumming pendant.
I think so too!
Besides THE prime example of any one thing which should belong to a museum, any lesser piece should be done with however the owner pleases.
Absolutely gorgeous!
Wow! So much beautiful color!!
AWESOME color ..great idea for that one.
I love you so much! of how you are taking your time to educate others on the importance of cutting and altering fossils, be mindful of what you hold in your hand
You are so welcome!
I collect them, I have a few real pretty branches with color and quite a few clams
I think opal is the most beautiful gemstone on the planet. Magnificent. Your a legend 🎉
Now That's My Kind of Colored Opal,Stunning,Love The Channel...
As a fossil it wasn’t the best, but now as a stone, beautiful.
Thank you for the information 👍👍👍👍
Wow! I really love that piece! Great cour and shape. Thanks for the interesting video.
I think a shard of fossil like this doesn't matter as much as an entire shell. Possibly got a simular, not as valuable piece in a parcel I've got coming. Have deliberately been avoiding fossil opal pieces but when they cut as good as that it's worth it
Polishing off a fraction of the shell and giving it a classic gem shape is quite fine. For animals where there is visible structure, I would probably just polish the surfaces smooth, without forcing a new shape, so that the structure remains obvious. For the whole animal, I would not interfere with the shape at all, just polish the surfaces, and align the chipped areas.
This opal is beautiful
That is one beautiful stone!❤
Nice! Very interesting.
I wonder if there are coral fossils like this. I bet that would look beautiful
WOW such a nice piece of shell I don't see the point of keeping a bit of a shell if it was whole then maybe keep it as is colour determines whether or not to cut I think well done Justin
Justin, I know you're an LR guy, but I'd love to see some CP stones being cut on the channel. It's a very different type of opal and more affordable/easier for a beginner to start with.
I don’t see a problem because it was simply a small piece of a fossil, not the entire fossil.
Oh wow that’s gorgeous!
WOW that was a pretty fossil, but it's far prettier as a gemstone, no question. I would have cut it too. I think I would not have had the heart to grind away any amount of that brilliant colour thought no matter how thin it was, and would have cut the thin parts away and done something with them, even though they were tiny. But that's why you're a master gemcutter and I am not. 😉
I've cut an amazing piece of belemnite this week....was my first time.... Loved it!!!!!!
That was fascinating and that thing is gorgeous
Thanks for the rational explanation, and for presenting both sides of your decision.
My pleasure!
Just catching up with you mob. Had an horrific car accident last Monday week. Tottaled the car and nearly myself. Was helicoptered to RMH Trauma unit. Off to rehab. facility tomorrow. Love to all JOOLZ.
I'm praying that you have a quick and complete recovery from your injuries! Take care!