My Memea has been a collector of real opal all her 89 years. I've caught the opal craze and just found your channel! You sir are a wonderful craftsman and I enjoy your educational tone. Thank you for sharing your craft with the public. Much appreciated, Danielle, Vermont
Man seriously, never stop with your humour, it’s just great to watch you work and have fun with this. And damn! That’s some seriously pretty plastic! Video was as is always the case, just great to watch and full of information. Have a happy and safe Christmas my friend!
As long as they advertise what it really is and don’t attempt to pass it off as real. I love opal and can’t wait for the rock and gem show to come to out town every year.
@@joshjohnopal just need to be able to source it, Flea markets thrifts and self selling platforms like ebay. People sell their items without even knowing what they have after it being passed down 5-6 generations. I’ve hit a few great scores this way
If people know they are buying fake opal that is fine but what brings the whole industry down is when businesses say that their opal is real and it is fake. I just bought opal on line and when they showed it they used pictures of real opals in silver jewellery, when it arrived it was glitter in resin and I don't know what the metal was. I have tried to contact them so many times and they will not give me an answer. I have been dealing in opal for a long time but thought they would be gifts when I sell opal. The company is Wish, I don't mind saying as I have the ad and the product.
This. Also some smaller jewelers don’t know the difference between a convincing synthetic and a natural. My mother bought what she thought was a beautiful investment opal and as soon as I saw it, I knew it couldn’t be real. Simple louping showed it to be fake. The jeweler was mortified when we brought it to his attention, and was (thankfully) willing to refund the money my mother paid, but i can’t imagine how horrible he must have felt. I really like the aurora opals, I think they’re pretty, but there’s nothing like a really beautiful opal.
Wish is notoriously shitty in it's quality control, I only consider buying from them because I really don't have very much spending money but I always keep my expectations really low amd there's sertion things that I would never buy from there. Like if they are going to sell skinny teas, weightloss rings, and bs weight loss leggings then there is no way I'm going to buy things like makeup from them. I've heard the horror stories and frankly I can't trust that that stuff won't burn my face off. But yeah, wish is trash and I'm 99% sure all their reviews are fake.
@@HeferCat I agree, but every blue collar job, no matter how high paying it is, will have its pros and cons. Im a welder, I know what I'm getting into. But, some people choose to be ignorant in there craft to think that they are superior to other careers. I see it all the time. Now that may or may not be the case with this guy, I was just pointing something out. :)
They are all beautiful materials, It's always been strange to me that man made gems etc are considered inferior. I purchased a lab grown diamond for my wife, it's flawless, beautiful and larger than a mined diamond and cost 35% less, plus some African didn't have to die so my wife's finger could sparkle.
Gilson opal has a special quality It can be encased in molten glass and take alot of heat! Up to 2300 degrees fahrenheit ,the working temperature of borosilicate glass.
I've worked with and studied synthetic stones for a very long time. Some of the unique crystal forms are beautiful and even superior in appearance to natural stones. I am especially fond of quartz from the former Soviet Union, ruby and emerald crystals from Chatham, and some of the pulled ruby used in lasers. They have their own back stories and mystique. Recently, it has come to light that most gems form over a period of months, or at most years, as opposed to the commonly held belief that their formation took eons. The heat and pressure conditions necessary to form gem crystals are likely far more transient than was once assumed. They do, however, rest in the earth for uncounted centuries. When I look at a shining natural crystal face, I am in awe of how long that perfect face was protected in its rocky home.
It's not about the length of time it's the fact that its natural, totally random and when you find a particularly beautiful one or one shaped nice then it's even more rare, you can create one however you want it to be if you know how.
A comparison to me is the son of a famous boxer with the access to the best training and nutrition versus some guy born on a farm in some small town, which is more amazing when they become the champion?
It looks better as a cabochon than as a hunk of multi-colored plastic. I think a person could be fooled by that. Since I’ve been checking out your videos I’ve seen more opals than I have seen in my life, so that makes me an expert.....
Fake opal has its place, especially if you like the look of it and don't want to take of your rings every time you wash your hands! Like someone else commented, the only issue is if someone sells you a fake claiming that it is real...
Pulitzer Opal I have one “opal” ring and it turn yellow and it has like a crack inside... I saw it today and it kind of lose colors if I put it on the light... is it fake?
The first opal I bought was for my son & his gem collection last Christmas. I was afraid of getting a fake opal so I bought a small lot of rough stones. They were so captivatingly beautiful I wrapped them last so I could keep looking at them like i was Gollum with his precious. Lol. I just bought my own not long ago & so my own obsession begins!
Most of the price is in the process I imagine. Compared to regular Gilson the pattern is... stirred up? It's very realistic compared to the columnar pattern.
I quite like this faux opal for practicing my bezel and soft stone setting. I’m at the point now that I can set these with ease and they look cool enough in costume jewelry, so everyone’s happy. I would never sell this as natural, obviously, but it’s a lot of fun to design for.
Your humor is amazing! LOL Opal is my absolute favorite precious stone and has been my entire life. When my daughter was born on Halloween of 2008, I was even more excited that her birthstone was the opal along with pink tourmaline! (my favorite color). This is such a fantastic and informative video. Thanks for sharing! :)
I don't know how I got to this part of youtube but I am not disappointed, pretty fascinating video and you got yourself another subscriber. Can't wait for more!
I wish I could afford quality Opal, I work with some very old stock B grade Opal. It is so much fun to work with Opal it becomes addictive! I have color appear and disappear as I work a stone. In the end it all is amazing if one takes the time to educate oneself about how Opal is formed to start with! Thanks for sharing your skill and humor!
The arrowhead is pretty darn impressive all right. I had an old friend, long gone now who said they would never create synthetic opal other than some phony plastic, but I wish she was here to show her my Gilson, let alone Ethiopian opal which she never saw in her life. I hope you are wearing an n95 mask when you ground that plastic.
I wear a mask all the time now when I grind since I understand now that the water droplets off of the wheel that coat your room when they dry are full of particulates
I am so happy that youtube suggested this channel on the main page for me, and after 3 videos i font understand how you have so little subs. you have so much talent, so never stop uploading new videos, subbed!
I'm a jeweler and inlay artist and I specialize in fine opal inlay jewelry. I have 2 lines, 2 price ranges, Gold and Silver. My gold work is 18k jewelry with very time consuming inlay work and very expensive. I only use natural solid Australian black opal in gold. BUT! I ALSO make a silver line and I use laboratory created opals, still very time consuming inlay work but much much cheaper than my gold work. 2 things to note, even laboratory created opal is nearly double the price of the high grade turquoise I also buy. People often don't realize that it is still pretty expensive. One other thing I like about sythenic opal is the durability compared to natural opal, especially in items like my rings. They really hold up to the wear and tear of daily wearing. I tell my customers who buy my gold work that their opal rings they purchased are NOT for daily wear! I get so many past customers returning because they busted the stone out by knocking it on something or wearing it everyday doing dishes, showers, swimming, skiing etc.. They don't realize just how fragile they are and that they are the most expensive part of the ring and repair. Great video explanation of different "opals" and the facts.
Side note, a story I heard in the industry years ago, when I first started using synthetic opals in the late 90s. I used Gilson for about a year I remember and then switched and was buying what they always called "lab grown opal" and the story I was told was that the gentlemen who created it formerly worked at NASA and was tasked with creating a heat resistant material for launching satalites etc and along the way he created what he thought looked like opal. Long story short, when he left nasa he patented the material and started manufacturing and selling the laboratory opal. I don't remember his name and I bought my material from another gem show vendor I new over the years of trade shows. He's the one that told me the story and that was the lab opla I used for a long time. I often wonder if maybe Kyocera acquired his recipe or what because it's very close to what I used to buy which also came in a variety of colors. Anyways interesting story I figured I'd share ✌️ ♥
I just stumbled upon this video on my home feed and now I'm addicted to your content, really amazing stuff! At first I thought it was raw talent but after seeing your wall of arrowheads I see your talent is bourn from years and years of experience, and I can't wait to see more of your content
I stumbled upon your channel the other day and I must say I love your sense of humor. LOL! I was shopping Rio Grande's website for gemstone cabochons last year and came upon the Kyocera Opal. I always read the specs on everything and that's when I discovered it was a manufactured simulant. I saw your demo on how to tell fake from real opals and if I can ever find the 30+ Welo Opal cabochons I bought (and lost) over a year ago to make post earrings with, I could determine whether or not l got ripped off or if they're real by using your test method; HOWEVER, I refuse to spit on them! 🤣😂🤣 Thanks for an informative demo. 👍🙂
I bought a brick of this stuff too! I haven’t cut it yet, so I was really excited to see how it went for you. I do think it’s pretty in its own way. Also, you’re hilarious and I’m glad you put your personality in these videos.
HA! This dude is hilarious! His monotone jokes go unnoticed for a split second and then they hit you and give you the giggles. Haha I'm an amateur mineral collector so this is pretty fascinating. You just earned another subscriber. Love the humor and sarcasm. Lol
I bought a "silver and opal" ring off eBay (from China naturally) for $1 just out of curiosity. It obviously couldn't be opal and silver, and wasn't. But I was disappointed in even the fakery; all they did was take some crumpled iridescent foil, glue it to the back of a ring blank, and put a transparent glass cabochon on top. And I suspect the ring itself is tin.
Just checked the ad: _Metal used in our jewelry is silver alloy with copper base. Top coat is 925 silver._ _Most of our gemstones are genuine. Some are enhanced, faceted or hand-carved. If you have questions about a particular stone, please email us first before placing a bid._ I wonder if that covers them, with the small print saying that not all their gemstones are genuine. I smoke a pipe, and I've run into the same thing trying to buy pipes from Chinese vendors. They claim they're wood in the name of the item ("wooden smoking pipe") and then say in the small print that they're plastic.
@@NoJusticeNoPeace I just avoid Buying from China, as they have a culture, and government that does not have a problem with them ripping off foreigners. It is even applauded.
@@NoJusticeNoPeace pal China has took all the UK manufacturing jobs away bought up most our steel, you struggle to find a foundry now, I guess it's the same in the USA, I don't have much time for China or India, we used to order clutch plates from India and only 100-150 out of a thousand were useable I asked why we bought them the boss said because after we scrap the dodgy ones it's still cheaper than buying from the UK. Get ready for China taking over - I can see them using India soon for cheaper labour and obviously China will take the lion's share of ore,minerals and precious metals from Africa. Everything you buy from China is usually poor quality I just hope America can win this trade war with them and as we enter Brexit we can work alongside America. Sorry for the rant I've just lost too many jobs because they can't compete
I bought a small piece of Kyocera opal from Etsy in the past (not a ginormous piece like you did). Yes it's fake opal but still very pretty (although it did stink like melting plastic while cutting in on my Cabking). I was also surprised at how expensive that stuff is.
He does have an amazing skill set for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Along with hid knowledge base. Well I'm blown away. I wish I could find an educator with his knowledge, skill, and great sense of humor.
Strange.....how fascinating this is as a non jewellery person. I would love a knife handle with this product but not sure how good a grip it offer with a greasy kitchen knife There is deep humour with this gem master! I’m subscribing
The only thing worse than fake gems are stones like goldstone or opalite that are always manmade but are marketed as being "natural". That's where it comes in handy to know what you're buying.
Well, Timtim9o5, it's great to hear that my opal adventures bring you some peace and calm. Don't forget to drop a like and subscribe to keep the good vibes flowing. 🌟🔮
I love your informative video. I've been looking for more info on synthetic opals lately and was wondering about aurora opals. This video answered many questions I've had about them.
It's amazing that humans pay good money for rocks and pieces of carbon when there are some beautiful colors and design patterns in plastics and other materials, much less expensive! Interesting video!
@@PulitzerOpal There is more than enough plastic waste in the world. So much so that they don't know what to do with it. Let's better save our money on real opals.
This is so cool! As someone without a lot of extra cash lying around, I've been eyeing rings made out of that Aurora Opal, already knowing it was fake. I wish I knew how they made it! Love seeing the differences in opal, they're my all time favorite stone
You mix water and alcohol with a chemical called TEOS (Tetraethyl Orthasilicate) blend it for a few hours, pour it out in a tall jar and let it sit for a few months. After some time silica particles will stack at the bottom of the jar forming opal.
You did't hurt the fake opal trade lol Today people into buying junk today and throwing it away tomorrow Be nice to do see a floor done in it Thanks for sharing.
I don't know what I ever did on a crazy Wednesday night before I discovered your videos! I'm still binge watching them all! Thank you! Ps... pretty plastic!
Nice to see you willing to experiment with some 'unusual' material. I've never cut any but I do have a few fake pieces I like just for the color play. The stone you cut would look awesome as the eyes for some kind of art sculpture or puppet with the way the color rolls, like the eyes are moving all the time.
this was actually pretty funny and very neat to watch - i found you by looking up yarn dyeing techniques i used to have a bunch of fake opal jewelry and thought it was pretty, then my friend bought me a real one, and i saw how fake the others looked...
No idea how this showed up in my recommendations?? I myself do some jewelry making and work in lapidary but I don’t know if you tube knew it !? Either way, this was AWESOME!!! You are amazingly stunningly hilarious and this video was a pleasant treat!! Such a surprise 🙏🏻😂❤️
Pulitzer Opal you bet!! I subbed too!! You’re really entertaining and the content interests me as well. I do think the google gods are listening and watching...I often google raw materials and I order things too, just bought parts for my faceting gadget :) Thanks for acknowledging my acknowledgement!! I hope you keep posting because you’ve got that humor balanced with some truly great info. You seem like a really great instructor and I’m excited to learn from you!! I love opals, ohhhh sparkly and I’m a girl so what do you expect? 😂😂😂 All the damn superstition with it turns me off but I still buy it ;) I’ve often wondered about synthetic since it’s sustainable and gorgeous and more affordable but as a real rock hound I can’t get away from my love of natural stones. However, I have a kid who is five and expressing interest, maybe I can try this with her as a project? Anyhooooo, thank you, great content and great humility 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Pulitzer Opal I’ve heard all kinds of rumors and I’ve always worn opals and I’ll say my life has had some really GREAT moments (me, sarcastic?? Never!) but I’m still alive!! It was the first stone I recognized as a toddler, drawn to it so so Early. Then emeralds. They’re soft and I try to take care of mine since I’ve had some split but overall I ignore the many many stories invented to keep people away from stones some greedy ruler wanted!! I appreciate your depth of knowledge and I enjoy listening to anyone who knows their field. I don’t fall into the internet trap too hard since it can be wrong, I’ve found the fastest and most accurate info comes straight from the horses mouth. It’s a sad world when people google a recipe before calling up their mom or dad...where we think we have all we need to know at our fingers, nothing has yet to replace the human mind that has dedicated itself to fully knowing a subject. I’ll be here, I’ll be watching and learning!! And I loved the added note about a bead sans hole! I didn’t notice it the first time around 😂😂😂
Pulitzer Opal I wanted to take my time to make a response because you deserve thoughtfulness and not some half assery:) I’ll be checking your eBay out to see what you’ve got for sale, I’d like to help clear your stash and you really do have some beautiful pieces!! I think making custom pricey pieces is maybe more in your wheelhouse, waste ye not pearls before swine, that said I LOVE pearls! It would be more exciting and less repetitive. It’s also a way to ensure a legacy. I’m not a particularly tough cookie in general but I won’t be a doormat or be treated like I’m a moron, that said I often don’t show my hand abiding by the rule that you treat others the way you’d like to be treated but that haggling brings out my masculine energy, all 2% of it!! Calm, placid people should not be underestimated because we have more energy when need be to stick to our guns ;) I get it’s a business and I don’t think those middle men make very much...I get it and I do not enjoy it! It’s why I learned to cut stones and I thank god every day I don’t gravitate to diamonds or else I’d be in trouble!! That said as I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to appreciate the simple stunning beauty of a nice solitaire diamond. Please do start incorporating a rock segment in your videos!! If you’ve done the rock hounding you’re knowledgeable and people LOVE that stuff! Okay, I love that stuff but I’ll speak for the masses :D If you’d like any amber you may have some...I’ve got gobs of it and it was a stress/grief response. Over the years I look at certain things I went hog wild on buying and it’s all directly tied to GRIEVERY (not a real word but I don’t care). My grandfather was born in Krakow in either 1921 or 1922...he had two birth certificates and due to vanity he said ‘22 but the Polish one was ‘21 and since that was the last year they allowed emigration we lean in that direction. He was lucky, his mom and dad and siblings escaped. They knew, as they said “the writing was on the wall”. They were very close to their cousins and as the years went by my great aunts tried to find them, all the synagogues were burned, that’s where the records were held. We know they went to Auschwitz and they were never seen again. The manner matters little considering the end is the same. As I live my day to day I don’t feel too much about it, it bothered my grandfather until he died, but he was also haunted by WWII, he was a marine who became highly decorated despite hating war. He saw a lot, somehow as the years went by he started opening up but only to me...I was grateful to contact the library of Congress and have his stories documented for posterity, he kept a lot of it clean, I hold the grittiness. When he and I journeyed to his homeland he was all sorts of bound up. It wasn’t home to him, he left as a child but the specter of the holocaust cast a loooong shadow. Now, in case you haven’t seen it!! A gorgeous opal found in OZ, new video, saw it just today and thought I must share with you!! ua-cam.com/video/pbM3xXw4_ps/v-deo.html
Pulitzer Opal agates and jaspers are my faves by the way :) I like simple things. Solid and simple and the more you look the more you see...and I’ve got a lot (obscene amount) of Petosky stones...we had a cabin up there and I grabbed handfuls as a wee thing. Again, more boxes of rocks so people can think what they want!! If you want some you can have them!
Pulitzer Opal I’ll be honest, I tend to not notice errors when I’m reading something NICE, I’ll find a screw up when someone is being a jerk though! Pulitzer Opal they do break but I’ve polished some, personally I like to stick them in beakers and leave water on them so they look polished without the effort :) Thank you for responding!! You’re really a great person, you seem so genuine and laid back. It’s funny you said New Orleans because I just heard the accent ever so mildly! I used to watch Justin Wilson and I’m sort of shocked I didn’t pick up on your accent before. My grandfather was much more affected than me, but being close to him I carry his grief by proxy. He’s gone but not from my psyche. They say when a people lose a significant percentage of their kind (genocide) the damage dwindles by generation but can carry on for centuries to a certain extent, it’s the whole “never forget” thing. What subsequent generations have is perspective and we realize that harboring intense hatred is a choice and to choose it only hurts US, the nazis are gone and to carry resentment for the dead is foolhardy and the whole drinking poison and waiting for the other guy to die business is quite an apt comparison. I suppose that if I were face to face with a Nazi they’d be a denuded weak person and to not have mercy is just wrong. People change with time and regret is possible. I hate what happened, I’m grateful any of us had ancestors that made it because I do believe Jewish people offer some unique perspectives. I like us haha 😆 I think having come from the background we have a tendency to be more empathetic to the underdog and more keenly aware of situations in the world that are inherently unjust. I’ve always thought that the most rotten soil is the most fertile after all. I’ve got these boxes of rocks and I’ll have to scrounge them up. I tend to be a hoarder and admitting that is the first step in recovery! I’m a human squirrel and once I find them I’ll send some samples your way to see what you can do. The petosky shines up real pretty, it can be done but it’s too brittle to tumble I think they’re a 3-ish on the mohs scale?? Sandpaper, a Dremel...nice and tedious :) People in your audience who aren’t in the united states may be interested in them since they’re native. I had a family cabin right there and the stones were right out the front door, I’ve got some Charlevoix stones too :) They’re basically the same thing! The Amber looks lumpy bumpy too but it has the globs of resin giving sections alluring clarity.
As always a most excellent presentation for the opal enthusiast, and to make a purchase of sudo opal to share with your viewers learning experience & entertainment value , quite NOBLE
Great to see another video...even if the opal is plastic. This just goes to prove you can make anything look wonderful. I appreciate all the information as always. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.😊
Thoughts on Bello opal? Doesn't appear to be "plastic" but is synthetic surprisingly cheaper than what you talked about price wise regarding this Aurora opal. Alibaba has quite a few listings from Sanwa.
@@PulitzerOpal I can buy an entire fat chunk of it like you used to make stuff :D? If so I'd love to figure out who sells it on etsy, I'm pretty blind but can see relatively close in front of me and have a few very nice natural opal specimens, but I'd love a MASSIVE synthetic chunk that I could observe the optical dispersion and general quantum physics that's visible with the mineral as Opals photon dispersion is absolutely gorgeous, displaying multiple tones of color with ease. Whereas specimens like ruby or diamond generally always have to be somewhat clean in order for the fire/optical dispersion to be visible. I find that ethiopian opals tend to get a bit more vivid with their optical dispersion when saturated with a bit of water but then lose it once fully saturated and transparent. But I've never EVER had a chunk or let alone a small amount of synthetic opal and would really love to find some. I absolutely love how the rectangular ingot looks.
I’ve been thinking of making opal scales for a small 2.5 inch folding knife. It would be like two scales about 1 3/4 inches long by 3/8 wide by 3/32 thick. So I don’t need that much. But I’m far from able to afford it. A “fake opal” may be a decent alternative. What do you think? An opinion from a pro would be advantageous.
How are tourist opal souvenirs sold so cheaply in Australia? I bought a necklace with a thin leather strip going through one end of the rock. Overall I would say the rock was about 1 inch x 2 inch and about 1/4 of an inch thick and I got it for less than 30 dollars U.S. it's quite lovely, with small gaps between several colored areas that all look like opal patches with a white cloudy background. On the backside, on about 1/3 of the stone is dark brown rock. Please satisfy my curiosity?Thank you so much!
@@PulitzerOpal well it is rather beautiful even though it isn't a true opal...science never ceases to amaze me. In the next couple of days I will send a few pics to you of a couple of things you may find interesting and I would like your input in a couple of things. Such as what they are or if you've ever seen anything like them...I've more than a few mysterious items! Thanks for the info!
@@PulitzerOpal That fake opal arrowhead would be pretty cool as a guys necklace. That's kinda the cool thing at least with the fake opal is you can do larger fun pieces.
Hey, I was thinking...does either the real or take stuff, flip around with these amazing colors, in the dark, or to say, less lighter environments?.. Obviously, in complete pitch black, no, one can't see a darn thing, but, based on the idea, they the colors are 100% dependent on light reflecting and refracting, etc. Would the stone just be opaque off white, in a dark room?
Great video, thank you for the insightful info. Would you say the Gilson Opal is still plastic or no since it’s based on the actual structure of real Opal? Or just the Kyocera and Aurora Opals are mainly plastic?
I have been making synthetic opals for a while now it’s fun and my 8 year old and I sell them super cheap but it pays for our crafting lots of little girls and plenty of big ones like pretty sparkly shiny plastic edited to add she participates in no sanding and we work with a low odor resin with safety gear
How heavy is a plastic opal gem-sized? Because those would be good to use on dress-making so that it looks great but doesn't weigh down the fabric so much as the stone/crystal would. I'm sure the fashion designers would love them.
Very interesting video, but I have a question. You mention several times that the fake opal is plastic. At the start of the video you show a knapped arrowhead. How did you run a flake on plastic. I ask this as I am a knapper and have made points out of about everything that will run a flake. I am also a glass maker and make a lot of "fancy" glass to make points and blades from. I am not try to be negative, just curios. I did leave a "like". Thanks
You are so funny! 😂 I’m loving your humour and commentary. Watching you carve is hypnotic also! Subscribed! Real artists can use fake opal to make beautiful pieces, it’s just when fraudulent sellers try to sell fake as real that it gets bad.
Of course it's fake and costs too much .. what would be kewl though , is if you could figure out how to make it and post the process so we all don't have to pay big bucks for a chunk of iridescent acrylic :) I would love to work with a chunk of that , but not at those prices .
@@PulitzerOpal Where do you get the Aurora opal .. Is it available in the USA ? Oh , Merry Christmas :) Actually the matrix in that Kyocera opal reminds me of them crystal growing kits for kids .
There are good reasons not to support gem mining. Blood diamonds etc. Ripping up the earth, slave labor with unsafe conditions, and the money doesn't go to the actual laborers, it goes to the people that are already rich. Plus the lab grown gems are much better looking in my opinion. So even if it isn't a price thing, it can be a personal choice to try and be more socially responsible. I'd also like to say Thank You for all this wonderful information!
My Memea has been a collector of real opal all her 89 years. I've caught the opal craze and just found your channel! You sir are a wonderful craftsman and I enjoy your educational tone. Thank you for sharing your craft with the public. Much appreciated, Danielle, Vermont
Man seriously, never stop with your humour, it’s just great to watch you work and have fun with this. And damn! That’s some seriously pretty plastic! Video was as is always the case, just great to watch and full of information. Have a happy and safe Christmas my friend!
Please get real knifes :D
"Humor"?? I guess... "and even if you do like cancer..."
@@TMPreRaff Lol good thing we don't all have your sense of humor.
As long as they advertise what it really is and don’t attempt to pass it off as real. I love opal and can’t wait for the rock and gem show to come to out town every year.
We can't afford real opal 🤣😆🤣
@@joshjohnopal just need to be able to source it, Flea markets thrifts and self selling platforms like ebay. People sell their items without even knowing what they have after it being passed down 5-6 generations. I’ve hit a few great scores this way
@@Pandagurl218 very true.
If people know they are buying fake opal that is fine but what brings the whole industry down is when businesses say that their opal is real and it is fake. I just bought opal on line and when they showed it they used pictures of real opals in silver jewellery, when it arrived it was glitter in resin and I don't know what the metal was. I have tried to contact them so many times and they will not give me an answer. I have been dealing in opal for a long time but thought they would be gifts when I sell opal. The company is Wish, I don't mind saying as I have the ad and the product.
This. Also some smaller jewelers don’t know the difference between a convincing synthetic and a natural. My mother bought what she thought was a beautiful investment opal and as soon as I saw it, I knew it couldn’t be real. Simple louping showed it to be fake. The jeweler was mortified when we brought it to his attention, and was (thankfully) willing to refund the money my mother paid, but i can’t imagine how horrible he must have felt. I really like the aurora opals, I think they’re pretty, but there’s nothing like a really beautiful opal.
Wish is notoriously shitty in it's quality control, I only consider buying from them because I really don't have very much spending money but I always keep my expectations really low amd there's sertion things that I would never buy from there. Like if they are going to sell skinny teas, weightloss rings, and bs weight loss leggings then there is no way I'm going to buy things like makeup from them. I've heard the horror stories and frankly I can't trust that that stuff won't burn my face off.
But yeah, wish is trash and I'm 99% sure all their reviews are fake.
never ever ever EVER buy jewelry from Wish. its allll fake and even worse- they hallmark fake metals
Gilson opal is real opal...........
Of course Wish sells fake stuff, anyone knows that, no matter what they advertise.
Did this dude just crack a joke about cancer in a gem cutting video?
Thumbs up!
I came for the art. I stayed for the humor and the art actually lol
I just want to say, silica dust is as harmful as plastic fumes
Agreed
If not worse
Mhm, I was thinking that it helps that he's using water to shape...so there isn't as much dust flying in the air
Watch out for pneumonoultra microscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis! Just wanted to use a big word
@@HeferCat I agree, but every blue collar job, no matter how high paying it is, will have its pros and cons. Im a welder, I know what I'm getting into. But, some people choose to be ignorant in there craft to think that they are superior to other careers. I see it all the time. Now that may or may not be the case with this guy, I was just pointing something out. :)
Brilliant.....not only is this guy good to watch, he's knowledgeable and funny!!! Perfect combo!!!!
I appreciate the nice comment, katie
They are all beautiful materials, It's always been strange to me that man made gems etc are considered inferior. I purchased a lab grown diamond for my wife, it's flawless, beautiful and larger than a mined diamond and cost 35% less, plus some African didn't have to die so my wife's finger could sparkle.
Gilson opal has a special quality It can be encased in molten glass and take alot of heat! Up to 2300 degrees fahrenheit ,the working temperature of borosilicate glass.
Yes, it would be great for people that want opal counters and floors.
I've worked with and studied synthetic stones for a very long time. Some of the unique crystal forms are beautiful and even superior in appearance to natural stones. I am especially fond of quartz from the former Soviet Union, ruby and emerald crystals from Chatham, and some of the pulled ruby used in lasers. They have their own back stories and mystique. Recently, it has come to light that most gems form over a period of months, or at most years, as opposed to the commonly held belief that their formation took eons. The heat and pressure conditions necessary to form gem crystals are likely far more transient than was once assumed. They do, however, rest in the earth for uncounted centuries. When I look at a shining natural crystal face, I am in awe of how long that perfect face was protected in its rocky home.
It's not about the length of time it's the fact that its natural, totally random and when you find a particularly beautiful one or one shaped nice then it's even more rare, you can create one however you want it to be if you know how.
A comparison to me is the son of a famous boxer with the access to the best training and nutrition versus some guy born on a farm in some small town, which is more amazing when they become the champion?
It looks better as a cabochon than as a hunk of multi-colored plastic. I think a person could be fooled by that. Since I’ve been checking out your videos I’ve seen more opals than I have seen in my life, so that makes me an expert.....
Fake opal has its place, especially if you like the look of it and don't want to take of your rings every time you wash your hands! Like someone else commented, the only issue is if someone sells you a fake claiming that it is real...
Pulitzer Opal I have one “opal” ring and it turn yellow and it has like a crack inside... I saw it today and it kind of lose colors if I put it on the light... is it fake?
@@lvialviaquez9146 No it's an Ethiopian... mine did that too. Ruined because of chemicals in hand washing soap.
$300 per ounce, holy cow.
Lol you're awesome Justin
bro u here too tho like stop
EDIT:thanks for the likes... I like em' alot... ill stop
fucking HELL, you're getting bigger and it's seriously fucking impressive
FOR FUCKS SAKE JUSTIN
Everyone like "Justin *Y* you gotta be everywhere I go"
The first opal I bought was for my son & his gem collection last Christmas. I was afraid of getting a fake opal so I bought a small lot of rough stones. They were so captivatingly beautiful I wrapped them last so I could keep looking at them like i was Gollum with his precious. Lol. I just bought my own not long ago & so my own obsession begins!
$300 an ounce for fake opal..........wow....thats seems absurd to me.
I'd just go buy the real thing
Most of the price is in the process I imagine. Compared to regular Gilson the pattern is... stirred up? It's very realistic compared to the columnar pattern.
@@PulitzerOpal You could probably buy a new car for the price if it was real opal, yeah.
I quite like this faux opal for practicing my bezel and soft stone setting. I’m at the point now that I can set these with ease and they look cool enough in costume jewelry, so everyone’s happy. I would never sell this as natural, obviously, but it’s a lot of fun to design for.
SunsetBay Bonnie lmao it should be 10 an ounce
Your humor is amazing! LOL Opal is my absolute favorite precious stone and has been my entire life. When my daughter was born on Halloween of 2008, I was even more excited that her birthstone was the opal along with pink tourmaline! (my favorite color). This is such a fantastic and informative video. Thanks for sharing! :)
even though its fake it would still make some interesting projects. i can think of a few projects right now.
I don't know how I got to this part of youtube but I am not disappointed, pretty fascinating video and you got yourself another subscriber. Can't wait for more!
I wish I could afford quality Opal, I work with some very old stock B grade Opal. It is so much fun to work with Opal it becomes addictive! I have color appear and disappear as I work a stone. In the end it all is amazing if one takes the time to educate oneself about how Opal is formed to start with! Thanks for sharing your skill and humor!
so having a black opal counter top is a reality >:)
#lifegoals
Yeah. You can slice it thin and glue it onto something. Top with resin.
Omg that would be awesome
No, but an ugly rainbow plastic is...
@@PulitzerOpal care to repeat them? I just came across your channel and am intrigued
Pretty! Maybe we should call it fool's opal, like pyrite is called fool's gold.
They are not trying to deceive anyone. I appreciate that.
The arrowhead is pretty darn impressive all right. I had an old friend, long gone now who said they would never create synthetic opal other than some phony plastic, but I wish she was here to show her my Gilson, let alone Ethiopian opal which she never saw in her life. I hope you are wearing an n95 mask when you ground that plastic.
I wear a mask all the time now when I grind since I understand now that the water droplets off of the wheel that coat your room when they dry are full of particulates
Did you end up getting your nails did in opal afterwards? 💅🏻😂
he got a pedicure and his nails did, then he put his thing down flipped it and reversed it...
Jesse C was it worth it? I bet he worked it..
lol I see what you did there..
Pulitzer Opal 💁🏼♀️love it! lol..
@@PulitzerOpal 😂😂thanx for the video I was about to purchase one and it's looks exactly like this fake one,too good to be true
@@nicole_beaumont wanna be black girl so bad lmfaooooo
You could make an amazing pair of sunglasses with that giant opal block!
and matching false teeth!
@@PulitzerOpal new material for the 'fake burled wood' in cars
Pulitzer Opal great idea for knife scales 👍🏼
It's fake opal. So it would be amazig fake opal glasses.
Tomo Polic yeah I know it says fake right in the title... and multiple times in the video
I am so happy that youtube suggested this channel on the main page for me, and after 3 videos i font understand how you have so little subs.
you have so much talent, so never stop uploading new videos, subbed!
I'm a jeweler and inlay artist and I specialize in fine opal inlay jewelry. I have 2 lines, 2 price ranges, Gold and Silver. My gold work is 18k jewelry with very time consuming inlay work and very expensive. I only use natural solid Australian black opal in gold. BUT! I ALSO make a silver line and I use laboratory created opals, still very time consuming inlay work but much much cheaper than my gold work. 2 things to note, even laboratory created opal is nearly double the price of the high grade turquoise I also buy. People often don't realize that it is still pretty expensive. One other thing I like about sythenic opal is the durability compared to natural opal, especially in items like my rings. They really hold up to the wear and tear of daily wearing. I tell my customers who buy my gold work that their opal rings they purchased are NOT for daily wear! I get so many past customers returning because they busted the stone out by knocking it on something or wearing it everyday doing dishes, showers, swimming, skiing etc.. They don't realize just how fragile they are and that they are the most expensive part of the ring and repair. Great video explanation of different "opals" and the facts.
Side note, a story I heard in the industry years ago, when I first started using synthetic opals in the late 90s. I used Gilson for about a year I remember and then switched and was buying what they always called "lab grown opal" and the story I was told was that the gentlemen who created it formerly worked at NASA and was tasked with creating a heat resistant material for launching satalites etc and along the way he created what he thought looked like opal. Long story short, when he left nasa he patented the material and started manufacturing and selling the laboratory opal. I don't remember his name and I bought my material from another gem show vendor I new over the years of trade shows. He's the one that told me the story and that was the lab opla I used for a long time. I often wonder if maybe Kyocera acquired his recipe or what because it's very close to what I used to buy which also came in a variety of colors. Anyways interesting story I figured I'd share ✌️ ♥
@@savestheday258 thanks for sharing, also is it possible to get a Chinese writing/scripture pattern opal that is synthetic?
I just stumbled upon this video on my home feed and now I'm addicted to your content, really amazing stuff! At first I thought it was raw talent but after seeing your wall of arrowheads I see your talent is bourn from years and years of experience, and I can't wait to see more of your content
That was great seeing the different fakes throughout the years ♥
@@PulitzerOpal Merry Christmas 💖
I stumbled upon your channel the other day and I must say I love your sense of humor. LOL! I was shopping Rio Grande's website for gemstone cabochons last year and came upon the Kyocera Opal. I always read the specs on everything and that's when I discovered it was a manufactured simulant. I saw your demo on how to tell fake from real opals and if I can ever find the 30+ Welo Opal cabochons I bought (and lost) over a year ago to make post earrings with, I could determine whether or not l got ripped off or if they're real by using your test method; HOWEVER, I refuse to spit on them! 🤣😂🤣 Thanks for an informative demo. 👍🙂
I bought a brick of this stuff too! I haven’t cut it yet, so I was really excited to see how it went for you. I do think it’s pretty in its own way. Also, you’re hilarious and I’m glad you put your personality in these videos.
Pulitzer Opal- noted. Thanks for the advice! And no need to apologize!
HA! This dude is hilarious! His monotone jokes go unnoticed for a split second and then they hit you and give you the giggles. Haha
I'm an amateur mineral collector so this is pretty fascinating.
You just earned another subscriber. Love the humor and sarcasm. Lol
I bought a "silver and opal" ring off eBay (from China naturally) for $1 just out of curiosity. It obviously couldn't be opal and silver, and wasn't. But I was disappointed in even the fakery; all they did was take some crumpled iridescent foil, glue it to the back of a ring blank, and put a transparent glass cabochon on top. And I suspect the ring itself is tin.
Just checked the ad:
_Metal used in our jewelry is silver alloy with copper base. Top coat is 925 silver._
_Most of our gemstones are genuine. Some are enhanced, faceted or hand-carved. If you have questions about a particular stone, please email us first before placing a bid._
I wonder if that covers them, with the small print saying that not all their gemstones are genuine. I smoke a pipe, and I've run into the same thing trying to buy pipes from Chinese vendors. They claim they're wood in the name of the item ("wooden smoking pipe") and then say in the small print that they're plastic.
@@NoJusticeNoPeace I just avoid Buying from China, as they have a culture, and government that does not have a problem with them ripping off foreigners. It is even applauded.
@@NoJusticeNoPeace pal China has took all the UK manufacturing jobs away bought up most our steel, you struggle to find a foundry now, I guess it's the same in the USA, I don't have much time for China or India, we used to order clutch plates from India and only 100-150 out of a thousand were useable I asked why we bought them the boss said because after we scrap the dodgy ones it's still cheaper than buying from the UK. Get ready for China taking over - I can see them using India soon for cheaper labour and obviously China will take the lion's share of ore,minerals and precious metals from Africa. Everything you buy from China is usually poor quality I just hope America can win this trade war with them and as we enter Brexit we can work alongside America. Sorry for the rant I've just lost too many jobs because they can't compete
I have seen these also. Some folks in India make cabs out of it and sell as real opal.
and its probably radioactive as well!!!!
Thank you for all your brilliant information and your very funny humor!
I bought a small piece of Kyocera opal from Etsy in the past (not a ginormous piece like you did). Yes it's fake opal but still very pretty (although it did stink like melting plastic while cutting in on my Cabking). I was also surprised at how expensive that stuff is.
You are my 💓... Thank you for posting, you are hilarious, genius, and downright witty! I'm still waiting on seeing your opal nails...
Wow! You can even make fake opals look spectacular!
He does have an amazing skill set for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Along with hid knowledge base. Well I'm blown away.
I wish I could find an educator with his knowledge, skill, and great sense of humor.
That arrow head even if not real opal does look amazing. I love it. Great job!!!
The Aurora would make beautiful scales on a pocketknife handle. Nice vodeo!
@@PulitzerOpal Cool! Just stumbled upon your channel today, so I am not fully up to speed. I do appreciate your sense of humor!
Strange.....how fascinating this is as a non jewellery person. I would love a knife handle with this product but not sure how good a grip it offer with a greasy kitchen knife
There is deep humour with this gem master! I’m subscribing
Why do you gotta give me ideas for knife scales 😂😉!
A maioria destas opala são sintéticos, vidro com silicone colorido
I love your videos so much!! They are educational but they make me laugh like hell. Please keep them coming.
My brain wanted him to say "Synthetic Oatmeal" but he never did.
Lol
I don't mind the synthetic as long as it is sold as synthetic. I love the look of these cabochons you designed for this video.
The only thing worse than fake gems are stones like goldstone or opalite that are always manmade but are marketed as being "natural". That's where it comes in handy to know what you're buying.
Every once in a while I come back to this video. I just find it calming. Thanks man.
Well, Timtim9o5, it's great to hear that my opal adventures bring you some peace and calm. Don't forget to drop a like and subscribe to keep the good vibes flowing. 🌟🔮
@@PulitzerOpal
That's a given bro, thanks for the good content :)
Love your humor it had me cutting up the whole time!
I like your humor! Zany yet refined like polished plastic!
It's like rainbow tiger's eye... so pretty.
Looks like a "mood" ring.
I love your informative video. I've been looking for more info on synthetic opals lately and was wondering about aurora opals. This video answered many questions I've had about them.
It's amazing that humans pay good money for rocks and pieces of carbon when there are some beautiful colors and design patterns in plastics and other materials, much less expensive! Interesting video!
@@PulitzerOpal There is more than enough plastic waste in the world. So much so that they don't know what to do with it.
Let's better save our money on real opals.
This is so cool! As someone without a lot of extra cash lying around, I've been eyeing rings made out of that Aurora Opal, already knowing it was fake. I wish I knew how they made it! Love seeing the differences in opal, they're my all time favorite stone
You mix water and alcohol with a chemical called TEOS (Tetraethyl Orthasilicate) blend it for a few hours, pour it out in a tall jar and let it sit for a few months.
After some time silica particles will stack at the bottom of the jar forming opal.
You did't hurt the fake opal trade lol Today people into buying junk today and throwing it away tomorrow Be nice to do see a floor done in it Thanks for sharing.
Bad Santa Claus if I ever became Rich I would love a floor made out of this
Wouldn't flooring be too dangerous grip wise especially when wet, I see lawsuits.
@@airkatmama4 i would prefer sintetic opal tiles for the walls, also a pool made of this would be amazing
I don't know what I ever did on a crazy Wednesday night before I discovered your videos!
I'm still binge watching them all! Thank you!
Ps... pretty plastic!
@@PulitzerOpal What can I say, I'm sitting here making my little wire wrapped trinkets and enjoying your vids! Keep up the great work!
Turn that last one into a deadly fishing lure!
Nice to see you willing to experiment with some 'unusual' material. I've never cut any but I do have a few fake pieces I like just for the color play. The stone you cut would look awesome as the eyes for some kind of art sculpture or puppet with the way the color rolls, like the eyes are moving all the time.
Such dry humor ahahaha! The ceramic knives you actually use xD
@@PulitzerOpal wonder if you can buff them sharp on your opal tools
I know hes classic
Love your voice and humor. Thank you
you know, as fake as it looks, its so pretty and holographic, i kinda want it
I just bought thinly sliced sheets and am making triplets. Not too bad.
this was actually pretty funny and very neat to watch - i found you by looking up yarn dyeing techniques
i used to have a bunch of fake opal jewelry and thought it was pretty, then my friend bought me a real one, and i saw how fake the others looked...
Gilson opal is 300+ an ounce because it's used by borosilicate flameworkers, its one of the only stones that is "compatible" with borosilicate glass
Yessir! I love them and use them often! Look me up! @Atrainglass on Instagram!
@@ajwilson313 whoa ive actually been following you for a while now! love your work.
@@kookookachoo2309 Haha! What a small world! Thank you! I appreciate you! 🙏
@@kookookachoo2309 What is your Instagram tag? If I don't already follow you, I will!
@@ajwilson313 I DM'd you on insta
At the beginning of the video you are holding a large piece of synthetic opal, where did you get it? Where can I buy it, please.
No idea how this showed up in my recommendations?? I myself do some jewelry making and work in lapidary but I don’t know if you tube knew it !?
Either way, this was AWESOME!!!
You are amazingly stunningly hilarious and this video was a pleasant treat!!
Such a surprise 🙏🏻😂❤️
Pulitzer Opal you bet!! I subbed too!! You’re really entertaining and the content interests me as well.
I do think the google gods are listening and watching...I often google raw materials and I order things too, just bought parts for my faceting gadget :)
Thanks for acknowledging my acknowledgement!!
I hope you keep posting because you’ve got that humor balanced with some truly great info.
You seem like a really great instructor and I’m excited to learn from you!!
I love opals, ohhhh sparkly and I’m a girl so what do you expect?
😂😂😂
All the damn superstition with it turns me off but I still buy it ;)
I’ve often wondered about synthetic since it’s sustainable and gorgeous and more affordable but as a real rock hound I can’t get away from my love of natural stones.
However, I have a kid who is five and expressing interest, maybe I can try this with her as a project?
Anyhooooo, thank you, great content and great humility 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Pulitzer Opal I’ve heard all kinds of rumors and I’ve always worn opals and I’ll say my life has had some really GREAT moments (me, sarcastic?? Never!) but I’m still alive!!
It was the first stone I recognized as a toddler, drawn to it so so Early. Then emeralds. They’re soft and I try to take care of mine since I’ve had some split but overall I ignore the many many stories invented to keep people away from stones some greedy ruler wanted!!
I appreciate your depth of knowledge and I enjoy listening to anyone who knows their field. I don’t fall into the internet trap too hard since it can be wrong, I’ve found the fastest and most accurate info comes straight from the horses mouth. It’s a sad world when people google a recipe before calling up their mom or dad...where we think we have all we need to know at our fingers, nothing has yet to replace the human mind that has dedicated itself to fully knowing a subject.
I’ll be here, I’ll be watching and learning!!
And I loved the added note about a bead sans hole! I didn’t notice it the first time around 😂😂😂
Pulitzer Opal I wanted to take my time to make a response because you deserve thoughtfulness and not some half assery:)
I’ll be checking your eBay out to see what you’ve got for sale, I’d like to help clear your stash and you really do have some beautiful pieces!! I think making custom pricey pieces is maybe more in your wheelhouse, waste ye not pearls before swine, that said I LOVE pearls!
It would be more exciting and less repetitive. It’s also a way to ensure a legacy.
I’m not a particularly tough cookie in general but I won’t be a doormat or be treated like I’m a moron, that said I often don’t show my hand abiding by the rule that you treat others the way you’d like to be treated but that haggling brings out my masculine energy, all 2% of it!! Calm, placid people should not be underestimated because we have more energy when need be to stick to our guns ;)
I get it’s a business and I don’t think those middle men make very much...I get it and I do not enjoy it! It’s why I learned to cut stones and I thank god every day I don’t gravitate to diamonds or else I’d be in trouble!! That said as I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to appreciate the simple stunning beauty of a nice solitaire diamond.
Please do start incorporating a rock segment in your videos!! If you’ve done the rock hounding you’re knowledgeable and people LOVE that stuff! Okay, I love that stuff but I’ll speak for the masses :D
If you’d like any amber you may have some...I’ve got gobs of it and it was a stress/grief response. Over the years I look at certain things I went hog wild on buying and it’s all directly tied to GRIEVERY (not a real word but I don’t care).
My grandfather was born in Krakow in either 1921 or 1922...he had two birth certificates and due to vanity he said ‘22 but the Polish one was ‘21 and since that was the last year they allowed emigration we lean in that direction. He was lucky, his mom and dad and siblings escaped. They knew, as they said “the writing was on the wall”. They were very close to their cousins and as the years went by my great aunts tried to find them, all the synagogues were burned, that’s where the records were held. We know they went to Auschwitz and they were never seen again. The manner matters little considering the end is the same. As I live my day to day I don’t feel too much about it, it bothered my grandfather until he died, but he was also haunted by WWII, he was a marine who became highly decorated despite hating war.
He saw a lot, somehow as the years went by he started opening up but only to me...I was grateful to contact the library of Congress and have his stories documented for posterity, he kept a lot of it clean, I hold the grittiness. When he and I journeyed to his homeland he was all sorts of bound up. It wasn’t home to him, he left as a child but the specter of the holocaust cast a loooong shadow.
Now, in case you haven’t seen it!!
A gorgeous opal found in OZ, new video, saw it just today and thought I must share with you!!
ua-cam.com/video/pbM3xXw4_ps/v-deo.html
Pulitzer Opal agates and jaspers are my faves by the way :)
I like simple things. Solid and simple and the more you look the more you see...and I’ve got a lot (obscene amount) of Petosky stones...we had a cabin up there and I grabbed handfuls as a wee thing. Again, more boxes of rocks so people can think what they want!!
If you want some you can have them!
Pulitzer Opal I’ll be honest, I tend to not notice errors when I’m reading something NICE, I’ll find a screw up when someone is being a jerk though!
Pulitzer Opal they do break but I’ve polished some, personally I like to stick them in beakers and leave water on them so they look polished without the effort :)
Thank you for responding!! You’re really a great person, you seem so genuine and laid back. It’s funny you said New Orleans because I just heard the accent ever so mildly! I used to watch Justin Wilson and I’m sort of shocked I didn’t pick up on your accent before.
My grandfather was much more affected than me, but being close to him I carry his grief by proxy. He’s gone but not from my psyche.
They say when a people lose a significant percentage of their kind (genocide) the damage dwindles by generation but can carry on for centuries to a certain extent, it’s the whole “never forget” thing.
What subsequent generations have is perspective and we realize that harboring intense hatred is a choice and to choose it only hurts US, the nazis are gone and to carry resentment for the dead is foolhardy and the whole drinking poison and waiting for the other guy to die business is quite an apt comparison.
I suppose that if I were face to face with a Nazi they’d be a denuded weak person and to not have mercy is just wrong.
People change with time and regret is possible. I hate what happened, I’m grateful any of us had ancestors that made it because I do believe Jewish people offer some unique perspectives.
I like us haha 😆
I think having come from the background we have a tendency to be more empathetic to the underdog and more keenly aware of situations in the world that are inherently unjust.
I’ve always thought that the most rotten soil is the most fertile after all.
I’ve got these boxes of rocks and I’ll have to scrounge them up.
I tend to be a hoarder and admitting that is the first step in recovery! I’m a human squirrel and once I find them I’ll send some samples your way to see what you can do.
The petosky shines up real pretty, it can be done but it’s too brittle to tumble I think they’re a 3-ish on the mohs scale??
Sandpaper, a Dremel...nice and tedious :)
People in your audience who aren’t in the united states may be interested in them since they’re native.
I had a family cabin right there and the stones were right out the front door, I’ve got some Charlevoix stones too :)
They’re basically the same thing!
The Amber looks lumpy bumpy too but it has the globs of resin giving sections alluring clarity.
Could I ask you what are the machines you use for cutting and polishing in the video please?
As always a most excellent presentation for the opal enthusiast, and to make a purchase of sudo opal
to share with your viewers learning experience & entertainment value , quite NOBLE
Corrine Wager thank you for the education I promise to get it right next time I use it ( pseudo.).
You are an effing riot!! I could listen to your reviews all damn day!!
the only synthetic opals that I like are "Dragon Breath". God they are so beautiful
I just looked up the dragon breath and I agree!
Great to see another video...even if the opal is plastic. This just goes to prove you can make anything look wonderful. I appreciate all the information as always. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.😊
OMG ... I love your channel i learn so much thank you...
how do you still have fingers with putting your hands so close to the filing and cutting tools.
Ha! Watching Kyrocera opal on a Kyrocera phone.
How did you end up with a Kyocera phone is the real mystery here 👀 (if you aren't working in Japan)
@@alexvikendi1768 No, I live in the U.S. Go to the website you will see that Kyocera phones are being sold in the States. I have the DuraForce Pro
Thoughts on Bello opal? Doesn't appear to be "plastic" but is synthetic surprisingly cheaper than what you talked about price wise regarding this Aurora opal. Alibaba has quite a few listings from Sanwa.
God I would love to get one of those massive synthetic boules, no clue where to buy 'em though.
@@PulitzerOpal oh! One of the ingots or massive chunks of synthetic opal. I absolutely love how it looks.
@@PulitzerOpal I can buy an entire fat chunk of it like you used to make stuff :D? If so I'd love to figure out who sells it on etsy, I'm pretty blind but can see relatively close in front of me and have a few very nice natural opal specimens, but I'd love a MASSIVE synthetic chunk that I could observe the optical dispersion and general quantum physics that's visible with the mineral as Opals photon dispersion is absolutely gorgeous, displaying multiple tones of color with ease. Whereas specimens like ruby or diamond generally always have to be somewhat clean in order for the fire/optical dispersion to be visible.
I find that ethiopian opals tend to get a bit more vivid with their optical dispersion when saturated with a bit of water but then lose it once fully saturated and transparent.
But I've never EVER had a chunk or let alone a small amount of synthetic opal and would really love to find some. I absolutely love how the rectangular ingot looks.
I’ve been thinking of making opal scales for a small 2.5 inch folding knife. It would be like two scales about 1 3/4 inches long by 3/8 wide by 3/32 thick. So I don’t need that much. But I’m far from able to afford it. A “fake opal” may be a decent alternative. What do you think? An opinion from a pro would be advantageous.
THese are honestly more beautiful than diamonds...
I agree
I like the sound bytes compilation at the beginning of your video...HILARIOUS!
Looks way too uniform. Might look decent in smaller pieces.
How are tourist opal souvenirs sold so cheaply in Australia? I bought a necklace with a thin leather strip going through one end of the rock. Overall I would say the rock was about 1 inch x 2 inch and about 1/4 of an inch thick and I got it for less than 30 dollars U.S. it's quite lovely, with small gaps between several colored areas that all look like opal patches with a white cloudy background. On the backside, on about 1/3 of the stone is dark brown rock. Please satisfy my curiosity?Thank you so much!
You sir, are absolutely hilarious!!! "If I sound like an alien, I'm not saying I'm not one" LOL LOL
Also, how did your opal manicure turn out?
Where did you purchase these Aurora Opals from? I dont see a shop on their site.
Fake says it all I'll stick to real opal even the low grade stuff I can afford. love the sarcasim
Christopher Walken's commentary is always a gas. This video stays true to form.
Diabolical plastic! I liked the arrowhead, of course!
@@PulitzerOpal well it is rather beautiful even though it isn't a true opal...science never ceases to amaze me. In the next couple of days I will send a few pics to you of a couple of things you may find interesting and I would like your input in a couple of things. Such as what they are or if you've ever seen anything like them...I've more than a few mysterious items! Thanks for the info!
@@PulitzerOpal That fake opal arrowhead would be pretty cool as a guys necklace. That's kinda the cool thing at least with the fake opal is you can do larger fun pieces.
Hey, I was thinking...does either the real or take stuff, flip around with these amazing colors, in the dark, or to say, less lighter environments?.. Obviously, in complete pitch black, no, one can't see a darn thing, but, based on the idea, they the colors are 100% dependent on light reflecting and refracting, etc. Would the stone just be opaque off white, in a dark room?
Very expensive plastic but beautiful
Great video, thank you for the insightful info. Would you say the Gilson Opal is still plastic or no since it’s based on the actual structure of real Opal? Or just the Kyocera and Aurora Opals are mainly plastic?
I have been making synthetic opals for a while now it’s fun and my 8 year old and I sell them super cheap but it pays for our crafting lots of little girls and plenty of big ones like pretty sparkly shiny plastic edited to add she participates in no sanding and we work with a low odor resin with safety gear
How heavy is a plastic opal gem-sized? Because those would be good to use on dress-making so that it looks great but doesn't weigh down the fabric so much as the stone/crystal would. I'm sure the fashion designers would love them.
But... is he an alien?
That thing on your avatar certainly could be! 🐱👽
Very interesting video, but I have a question. You mention several times that the fake opal is plastic. At the start of the video you show a knapped arrowhead. How did you run a flake on plastic. I ask this as I am a knapper and have made points out of about everything that will run a flake. I am also a glass maker and make a lot of "fancy" glass to make points and blades from. I am not try to be negative, just curios. I did leave a "like". Thanks
You wasted all the plastic opal!!!
@@PulitzerOpal Reee you wasted too much plastic!
You are so funny! 😂 I’m loving your humour and commentary. Watching you carve is hypnotic also! Subscribed! Real artists can use fake opal to make beautiful pieces, it’s just when fraudulent sellers try to sell fake as real that it gets bad.
Of course it's fake and costs too much .. what would be kewl though , is if you could figure out how to make it and post the process so we all don't have to pay big bucks for a chunk of iridescent acrylic :) I would love to work with a chunk of that , but not at those prices .
Kitchen made opal... tin foil, markers and resin :
www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/258922-antique-silver-and-paste-earrings--kyr?in=user
@@PulitzerOpal Where do you get the Aurora opal .. Is it available in the USA ? Oh , Merry Christmas :) Actually the matrix in that Kyocera opal reminds me of them crystal growing kits for kids .
You can actually dip Gilson in glass and it'll be fine, the only plastic I can see being in it is the microspheres themselves. @@PulitzerOpal
Why would an entrepreneur want to give away what took them hours?
@@PulitzerOpal Much more than a buck a gram I assure you.
Surprisingly good play of light from that fantastic plastic
There are good reasons not to support gem mining. Blood diamonds etc. Ripping up the earth, slave labor with unsafe conditions, and the money doesn't go to the actual laborers, it goes to the people that are already rich. Plus the lab grown gems are much better looking in my opinion. So even if it isn't a price thing, it can be a personal choice to try and be more socially responsible. I'd also like to say Thank You for all this wonderful information!
The fact that there is enormous suffering involved adds to the value and is more of a reason to purchase geological gems.
I understand the temptation to use fake opal. I absolutely love opals, they are such a magical stone!
You wasted too much plastic!
This "plastic opal" looks like a good alternative to mother-of-pearl grips for bling on small-calibre small-size pocket pistols!
I mean I bought my lady a fake diamond ring,told her, she got mad,but I saved African lives😋