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You are the perfect person to discuss this topic!!! You are an absolute selling machine these days with your opal auctions store and your thoughts are very interesting and helpful. Supply and demand baby! The best thing you said that many forget, is a cut and polished opal is NOT an end product! I love a great finished stone BUT I am well aware that its just the start of the jewellery process. Like you said this could be an entire course and I might make a video as well looking at it from another perspective.
Awesome information, I started carving and cutting 2 years ago and have sold 2 wire wrapped opals. It's a hobby for fun but I would like to start selling more. Craft and art fairs are an option I will look at. Using silver is a great key as well, thanks for that, people will get more opal for less. I was thinking of gold but the price is pretty high.
I’m glad I ran into this video. Lots of good information from someone who’s been there. I’ve been considering learning how to cut opals myself and have yet to take the first step. I’m not fooling myself though. I am a journeyman diesel mechanic and it’s take me over 3 decades to reach the potential I have in that field. I do not believe this is a “get rich quick” situation. I do understand the value in building a good solid decent reputation.
@@nnOpals Been subscribed for years and have really enjoyed the content that you've put out in the past. I'd love to see more of this kind of content and if you'd ever like to be on the Rockhound Podcast, we'd love to have you on!
Excellent advice thanks I can't cut accurately, no machine, and I kinda like free forms, so I make silver to match shape, it works for me , but here's the but,, I do it for fun, not profit I give them to family and friends as gifts They arnt top grade, lol Love the 53 frog Edited to add Love the lapidary diamond burrs, nova tips, felt tips, cutting blade and of course all the opal I've won at auction from 53 frogs
I never tried to sell the opal I cut by themselves. I started buying blanks of all kinds and setting my opal because I thought I would get more for my opal. I didn't think people would want to buy stones and have to buy a ring and get it set. You are absolutely right. Thanks for all the helpful videos.
new-ish to watching videos about Australian opal. brand new subscriber to this channel. imo you explained this topic in a simple & logical manner that made it easy to comprehend. this is the first time i've heard a cutter talk about what one will face starting out if that person wants to try to become an opal cutter themselves. i've heard references made about you from Phil, the Colonel, and Justin (the path that led me here) in videos on their channels. even though i think one can learn from watching each of them a lot, they don't address the process(es) that led to their respective present skill levels. nor much about the business side of the world of opal. hopefully the invaluable experience you graciously shared gets the appreciation deserved. ✌️🐝➕️
It’s really glad I came across your page , I’m just getting started and instantly obsessed. I can tell I’m going to cut long term and I keep thinking how do I sustain my hobby. Im getting close to taking that next step to a better stone and have a few of yours in my favorite list on opal auctions. Thank you for the insight! Best regards Chris
I'm in the trap ATM but I hope to be out of it soon... thanks for the tips as always...one of my favorite pieces came from a piece of rough I purchased from you a couple years ago! Thanks for everything you do my friend.
I am a consumer and will state upfront that any stone that is already in a setting makes a huge difference. As for selling gems or stones on eBay. I think that is one place where the competition is just too vast. And people also worry about purchasing on places like eBay because of all the sellers who are not so honest. You will see ones set into rings where they state is a solid and will not tell you it's a doublet or triplet or even worse synthetic. As a buyer I look for established sellers who deal just in opal and I only order from select countries. Australia, the UK sometimes and the U S. . I stay away from India and China completely. I know India has some very good cutters but there are just way too many that are not. Like a recent Tanzanite purchase which was actually a purple dyed quartz crystal. I am also particular about what opal I purchase. For me Australia is the best way to go. And I like black opal and crystal opal. I have a bit of an edge though as I own quite a bit of opal rough out of Australia. My father in law mined in NSW for years and he gave a bunch of rough to me. He also was able to show me a bit of the process of digging for opal and what to look for. I am actually getting ready to have a 14k setting done for a superb black opal my father in law gave to me. I am glad I found this channel again. I have been kinda interested in a possible purchase from you.
I'm learning hard and quick. But luckily only blown a couple of hundred. I'm being more patient now and taking the time to look for better material. I was way too excited in my first couple of weeks and made a few bad judgements on ebay parcels.
At first it is really all just about getting your shapes right and seeing if you like the feel of working the material. Just think about it like paying tuition and going to the next class.
@@nnOpals The shaping seems to come naturally to me. Hard to explain but I somehow see the finished stone as I'm going, and it's fluid, changing as I work around inclusions and such. Definitely something I like doing. I am unhappy now if I'm not cutting opal or planning a cut or looking at opal. That feeling will only get stronger as I work my way into better material. I really should just save instead of buying gamble lots.
Thanks for this. I'm just at the beginning of my adventure and I have thought the selling end of the process. I wondered about opal auctions and realized that a: I don't have enough finished stones of quality or calibration and b: I can't afford whatever cost they charge to put them in the site. I have the same concerns about other places like ebay and easy (or an actual dedicated website). I don't want to give up as I really enjoy the fun(and, of course, frustration) of revealing opals from rough. As a beginner I know I have to be able to make the best stone possible and in the dimensions that can be used for jewelry. I think that will be the most difficult part. That being said, I fear I may have to learn to wire wrap or set my stones to be able to"easily" all them. Learning another process will take more time and, worse, money. I'll have to decide if that is something I can afford to do. Again, thanks for making this video. It would be nice to know even more in this aspect of the opal industry.
@@nnOpals thanks. I'm naive, I suppose. I was thinking I'd be able to get average people who might want an opal to own as a specimen at a low cost, even if it wasn't the top gem color. I think everyone should have an opal to lovingly stare at, for minutes or hours on end. But perhaps I'm just the only one who does that.
Beginner here. As always, excellent, excellent advice and observations. I have improved sooooo much over the last 2 years now I can see the potential. What I have been doing is, as primarily a jeweler I can use my own medium quality and add value by setting it myself. As a one stop shop I can survive and slowly up my game.
Hey, Riley. Great video. 👍. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I'm still at the lower end of the pyramid, but I am experimenting with various ways of using the stones I cut (poorly at this stage) to add value to things that should help them sell. Sadly I can't even give enough time to it to call it even a hobby atm, let alone a side hustle, however I work on contract and I have no idea when this will end so I may be thrown in the deep end soon, but who knows. 😅. Once again, thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. Much appreciated. 😊
The smell of Coober pedy rough reminds me of wetlands. You may find this silly, but, have you ever wondered if witches hat nobbys are fossilized bird poops on sand or rocks.
Awesome, this stuff is so interesting to me thank you for sharing!! I have vision problems from MS and cataracts from the steroids that help with the vision problems from the MS 🙄 that being said I don't drive. I was riding back from the store the day you sent this and a lady turned out from a parking lot in front of me. There was a fence so she couldn't see me and likewise. Hit the side going about 20, fractured my wrists and thumbs. Injured my si joint, left knee and a bunch of scrapes and bruises. I have PTSD from a car accident my friend died in, when that happened it triggered my fight or flight response and I just wanted to get away so I told them to leave. Anyone else would of been getting a settlement. Oh well at least I wasn't.5 seconds faster and under the car. "Tis but a scratch" "your arms off" "no it isn't,... have at you"! It was a great article to learn from, very intriguing. Cheers
Im almost done cutting my first stone. I bought 5oz potch with color and an ounce of treated andamooka and some semi precious. Just so I can build that skill, I use a Dremel flexshaft for now. Im a welder by trade 20 years. Im good at metal work. Im going to buy some copper to learn how to do settings then when skill level is good I will start cutting higher quality stone and make my own silver possably gold and finish my own product. Thats whats going on in my head now. Is this a good idea?
I like PHIL/OPAL MILLS, JUSTIN, COL, NNOPALS, . I just want tooo begin just for me, wife, family. Don't want to sale. What is the best starting lapidary machine for me?
That sounds a lot like trying to sell your paintings. There's a big difference between painting pictures people will say are good and painting something that they say they want to Buy.
@nnOpals I liked him a lot. He said that when he quit trying to paint his masterpiece and then just relaxed and did those quick paintings, suddenly he was making a good living from it and enjoying it.
You are the perfect person to discuss this topic!!!
You are an absolute selling machine these days with your opal auctions store and your thoughts are very interesting and helpful.
Supply and demand baby!
The best thing you said that many forget, is a cut and polished opal is NOT an end product!
I love a great finished stone BUT I am well aware that its just the start of the jewellery process.
Like you said this could be an entire course and I might make a video as well looking at it from another perspective.
Awesome information, I started carving and cutting 2 years ago and have sold 2 wire wrapped opals. It's a hobby for fun but I would like to start selling more. Craft and art fairs are an option I will look at. Using silver is a great key as well, thanks for that, people will get more opal for less. I was thinking of gold but the price is pretty high.
I’m glad I ran into this video. Lots of good information from someone who’s been there.
I’ve been considering learning how to cut opals myself and have yet to take the first step. I’m not fooling myself though. I am a journeyman diesel mechanic and it’s take me over 3 decades to reach the potential I have in that field. I do not believe this is a “get rich quick” situation. I do understand the value in building a good solid decent reputation.
The Opal Kraken, perfect. What a great video, thanks for taking the time to create these resources.
@@nnOpals Been subscribed for years and have really enjoyed the content that you've put out in the past. I'd love to see more of this kind of content and if you'd ever like to be on the Rockhound Podcast, we'd love to have you on!
I've found your videos very helpful. Thank you!
Great advice, appreciate you sharing and validating what I was thinking. Makes perfect sense
Excellent advice thanks
I can't cut accurately, no machine, and I kinda like free forms, so I make silver to match shape, it works for me , but here's the but,, I do it for fun, not profit I give them to family and friends as gifts
They arnt top grade, lol
Love the 53 frog
Edited to add
Love the lapidary diamond burrs, nova tips, felt tips, cutting blade and of course all the opal I've won at auction from 53 frogs
Thank you so much for this video!!!
Great Advice!
I never tried to sell the opal I cut by themselves. I started buying blanks of all kinds and setting my opal because I thought I would get more for my opal. I didn't think people would want to buy stones and have to buy a ring and get it set.
You are absolutely right. Thanks for all the helpful videos.
Thanks for this video.
You're welcome
Thanks heaps man, very informative
Thanks. Great advise, mate.
Any time!
Great video please make the longer version
Such good honest information. Thanks for sharing
new-ish to watching videos about Australian opal. brand new subscriber to this channel. imo you explained this topic in a simple & logical manner that made it easy to comprehend. this is the first time i've heard a cutter talk about what one will face starting out if that person wants to try to become an opal cutter themselves. i've heard references made about you from Phil, the Colonel, and Justin (the path that led me here) in videos on their channels. even though i think one can learn from watching each of them a lot, they don't address the process(es) that led to their respective present skill levels. nor much about the business side of the world of opal. hopefully the invaluable experience you graciously shared gets the appreciation deserved.
✌️🐝➕️
It’s really glad I came across your page , I’m just getting started and instantly obsessed. I can tell I’m going to cut long term and I keep thinking how do I sustain my hobby. Im getting close to taking that next step to a better stone and have a few of yours in my favorite list on opal auctions.
Thank you for the insight!
Best regards
Chris
I'm in the trap ATM but I hope to be out of it soon... thanks for the tips as always...one of my favorite pieces came from a piece of rough I purchased from you a couple years ago! Thanks for everything you do my friend.
I am a consumer and will state upfront that any stone that is already in a setting makes a huge difference.
As for selling gems or stones on eBay. I think that is one place where the competition is just too vast. And people also worry about purchasing on places like eBay because of all the sellers who are not so honest. You will see ones set into rings where they state is a solid and will not tell you it's a doublet or triplet or even worse synthetic.
As a buyer I look for established sellers who deal just in opal and I only order from select countries. Australia, the UK sometimes and the U S. . I stay away from India and China completely. I know India has some very good cutters but there are just way too many that are not. Like a recent Tanzanite purchase which was actually a purple dyed quartz crystal.
I am also particular about what opal I purchase. For me Australia is the best way to go. And I like black opal and crystal opal.
I have a bit of an edge though as I own quite a bit of opal rough out of Australia. My father in law mined in NSW for years and he gave a bunch of rough to me. He also was able to show me a bit of the process of digging for opal and what to look for.
I am actually getting ready to have a 14k setting done for a superb black opal my father in law gave to me.
I am glad I found this channel again. I have been kinda interested in a possible purchase from you.
The direct to the public outlet for product is the key to money to continue. Less for finished work, sells to buyers.
makes perfect sence
I'm learning hard and quick. But luckily only blown a couple of hundred. I'm being more patient now and taking the time to look for better material. I was way too excited in my first couple of weeks and made a few bad judgements on ebay parcels.
At first it is really all just about getting your shapes right and seeing if you like the feel of working the material. Just think about it like paying tuition and going to the next class.
@@nnOpals The shaping seems to come naturally to me. Hard to explain but I somehow see the finished stone as I'm going, and it's fluid, changing as I work around inclusions and such.
Definitely something I like doing. I am unhappy now if I'm not cutting opal or planning a cut or looking at opal. That feeling will only get stronger as I work my way into better material. I really should just save instead of buying gamble lots.
Thanks for this. I'm just at the beginning of my adventure and I have thought the selling end of the process. I wondered about opal auctions and realized that a: I don't have enough finished stones of quality or calibration and b: I can't afford whatever cost they charge to put them in the site. I have the same concerns about other places like ebay and easy (or an actual dedicated website).
I don't want to give up as I really enjoy the fun(and, of course, frustration) of revealing opals from rough.
As a beginner I know I have to be able to make the best stone possible and in the dimensions that can be used for jewelry. I think that will be the most difficult part.
That being said, I fear I may have to learn to wire wrap or set my stones to be able to"easily" all them. Learning another process will take more time and, worse, money. I'll have to decide if that is something I can afford to do.
Again, thanks for making this video. It would be nice to know even more in this aspect of the opal industry.
@@nnOpals thanks. I'm naive, I suppose. I was thinking I'd be able to get average people who might want an opal to own as a specimen at a low cost, even if it wasn't the top gem color.
I think everyone should have an opal to lovingly stare at, for minutes or hours on end.
But perhaps I'm just the only one who does that.
Beginner here. As always, excellent, excellent advice and observations. I have improved sooooo much over the last 2 years now I can see the potential. What I have been doing is, as primarily a jeweler I can use my own medium quality and add value by setting it myself. As a one stop shop I can survive and slowly up my game.
I heard buying copper to start making settings is an inexpensive way to learn jewlry.
Great video Riley
Hey, Riley. Great video. 👍. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I'm still at the lower end of the pyramid, but I am experimenting with various ways of using the stones I cut (poorly at this stage) to add value to things that should help them sell. Sadly I can't even give enough time to it to call it even a hobby atm, let alone a side hustle, however I work on contract and I have no idea when this will end so I may be thrown in the deep end soon, but who knows. 😅. Once again, thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. Much appreciated. 😊
At the moment I concentrate on jewelry and design. So. 99%+ I cut for myself. I may start selling cabs to others in the future.
The smell of Coober pedy rough reminds me of wetlands. You may find this silly, but, have you ever wondered if witches hat nobbys are fossilized bird poops on sand or rocks.
Awesome, this stuff is so interesting to me thank you for sharing!! I have vision problems from MS and cataracts from the steroids that help with the vision problems from the MS 🙄 that being said I don't drive. I was riding back from the store the day you sent this and a lady turned out from a parking lot in front of me. There was a fence so she couldn't see me and likewise. Hit the side going about 20, fractured my wrists and thumbs. Injured my si joint, left knee and a bunch of scrapes and bruises. I have PTSD from a car accident my friend died in, when that happened it triggered my fight or flight response and I just wanted to get away so I told them to leave. Anyone else would of been getting a settlement. Oh well at least I wasn't.5 seconds faster and under the car. "Tis but a scratch" "your arms off" "no it isn't,... have at you"!
It was a great article to learn from, very intriguing.
Cheers
Im almost done cutting my first stone. I bought 5oz potch with color and an ounce of treated andamooka and some semi precious. Just so I can build that skill, I use a Dremel flexshaft for now. Im a welder by trade 20 years. Im good at metal work. Im going to buy some copper to learn how to do settings then when skill level is good I will start cutting higher quality stone and make my own silver possably gold and finish my own product. Thats whats going on in my head now. Is this a good idea?
@@nnOpals thanks brother.
Thanks so much for this. Hay I'm just wondering if it's possible to make a cab with a dremel?
Yes, Very possible. Just on channel www.youtube.com/@RoysRocks. Roy specialises in teaching new players how to do this.
I like PHIL/OPAL MILLS, JUSTIN, COL, NNOPALS, . I just want tooo begin just for me, wife, family. Don't want to sale. What is the best starting lapidary machine for me?
Thank you for a job . But I am can't find cutter for my rough I bought I am fill like thru out money with this
Thank you very much
Howdy
That sounds a lot like trying to sell your paintings. There's a big difference between painting pictures people will say are good and painting something that they say they want to Buy.
@nnOpals I liked him a lot. He said that when he quit trying to paint his masterpiece and then just relaxed and did those quick paintings, suddenly he was making a good living from it and enjoying it.
Lol I enjoy cutting and polishing , I'm just hoarding the shit out of mine . Whoever inherits the gems , sellings their problem lol