Hello! I've been watching you opal cutting videos for a while and have taken an interest in jewelry making and stone cutting. You inspired to sign up for a metals/jewelry making class at my highschool for my senior year and I'm excited to begin this hobby. Thank you for sharing your techniques and all your beautiful opals! Can't wait to see how this one turns out :)
I love watching your videos. I have learned a lot about my favorite stone. What I have learned from you, to me is priceless. Thank you for teaching us about opals and how to care for them properly.
I'm glad I found you on my UA-cam. You've become one of my favorite channels to watch. Thank You! It started with buttons for me. They would be beautiful on a blouse. You are very informative. Thank You!
Every time I see an Opal I remember one of the sweetest most kind lady I had the privilege to know, she touched my life and the life of my son in such a way, it gave me the belief that there are truly some very good hearted people in the world...and when she passed away with only me at her side in a hospital in Houston, I wrote a poem in homage to her wonderful life...it felt like the right thing to do for a woman who could not bare children of her own, but on a cold Christmas eve, she was brought an orphaned baby to raise as her own. He grew to become a successful man, that then married my eldest sister. 29 years and they have no children of their own but helped me raise my fatherless son and daughter... it made the bond between them strong as a husband and wife. For that help, I owe her, a mother in every sense, my up most gratitude...
Option #2 love the creative cut & should get the most value. Keep'em coming! Love ur work! One day when i grow up, i would love to purchase one of your Pulitzer opals
Beautiful opal! Good luck to you on how ever you choose to cut it. I rather like option 2, evaluating as you go. Seems like this would lend itself to some lovely larger stones. Should be exciting to do.
Everything i know about opal gemstones is from your youtube chanel and i subscribed some time ago just for the pleasure of watching your amazing work and listening your warm voice.I do think that opal is the most beautiful stone ever...
Great to watch you working again. For my initial thinking, I look at such a large piece and my first thoughts are of a complete matching set which includes a ring, necklace / pendant and earings. But with such a large piece the options are seriously varied, including carving if you enjoy carving opals. seeing all that ed and orange, Iwould also be inclinied to see what amount of these colours I coud put ino one higher value piece or set.
Marisa Pasumala Australian opal is very expensive-because of rarity and desirability. You can get small opals for less than $50, and many substantially less then that.
Just started working with opal-black opal from lightning ridge & Ethiopian opal. It is My birthstone so am naturally connected to it. Recently diagnosed w/ R.A. I slowed My spa business down after 30+ years to follow My opal passion(s). I think you should cut as many match sets as you can in various sizes for matching earrings & pendant. Thanks for your videos & consideration-love your work
I would choose option #4. Cut one piece at a time and re-evaluate after each cut. I really enjoy yoyr videos. Opals are my favorite and you take such care getting the best out of each one. I like the whole process and find it very fascinating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent.😊
Wow!! I live in Willow Alaska and I love to carve opal. All kinds!! Option #4 is where it's at!! It seems you do your best work on the fly. Your good at it!! I would gladly except a piece of that beautiful opal. That's an option that works. Happy carving from Missy in Willow Alaska.
Had to watch this one again also. I finally got a piece of Coober Pedy large enough to have to explore. I really like like way of taking off the sand and potch. Rolling the edges. I've started doing that with every stone and it's working great. Thanks for the video because I'm still learning and every little trick or I guess tip helps.
@@PulitzerOpal thanks for the reply. Yes I put it away for a while especially because my saw blade was just to thick to cut gem quality opal. The new saw blade to put me on is fantastic and I've been able to go back to several pieces that just was worth way to much to just hack away at or grind away good color. Now with the new ultra thin blade I've been able to cut small stones from material I would have wasted. Prime example is I have some dark base CP with full red caps on both side of the dark gray potch that I've been able to get two stones out of it now with zero waste. Thanks again for the lead on the blade and your videos. They do help people like me and do make a difference!
Used to be really interested in geology and minerals when I was a kid. Watching some of your videos is really bringing me back! Such a cool hobby I wish to get into in the future. I think the single large piece looks pretty cool to be honest.
Don I learn so much from how you explain what you do, I know even though I want to, I'll never do any lapidary, but watching you I feel like I know what I'm doing Thanks man
Wow!!!! What a beautiful piece of opal! My Father was a Goldsmith and gemologist. However, I was never able to watch him cut. I just love gemstones and agates. I’ve thought about taking some classes myself..
Hello, I too am a flint knapper. Many years ago my friend Joe had some Opal and ask me to knapp some arrowheads with it. I declined because all I knew about Opal was it was expensive and I didn't feel I was up to the challenge. We live here in Florida and the best knapper around was our friend Claud Van Order. Claud made three little points that were just superb. I'm sure I could have done something with it but never as good as Claud had done. Would like to see some of your stuff you've knapped.
I enjoy watching your video very much. I would suggest 50% of this opal block goes under Option 1 and the remainder comes under option 4 to have some flexibility for custom-made pieces. Keep up your good job in sharing interesting videos! Thank you.
Hi there. Always enjoy your videos. So informative. Know I am new to cutting . But I think #2 might give you more wow! #1 would be more yielding. But, I think #2. And that's because of the color bars. Can't wait to see what you decide.
Well, I did like option 1 mainly because it gives you so many similar sizes and shapes. It's good for making matched sets that people tend to look for. It is a beautiful piece as it is though
I would love the chance to win a piece of that! Thank you for the opportunities you give us all to do so and the informational videos. Fantastic job! As for how to cut it, maybe horizontally or lengthwise rather than vertically.
wow another amazing video! i would say cutting half of it into slices like option #1 and leave the other half for option #4! it would be great to have some smaller pieces as well as larger ones left over to work with! thank you for sharing your amazing work!
Here I am, a year and a half too late, as usual, lol. I like to see your work. I probably will never have any opal but it teaches me how to work other stones(agate and crystal quartz). Thanks for the informative vids. Havagudun my friend.
Pulitzer Opal I chose option four, The color bars of the opal are continuous throughout stone, maybe you could do something with that, like a cut (along the longest side) that well showcases this feature. Or make a collection or set of jewelry from it. Also, within this stone there are many colors that are able to be displayed depending the orientation of each cut stone. Like on the longest, widest sides, (the top and bottom of the stone), reds, yellows, and greens and blues, and even some speckles of purple. The possibilities are endless, these are just a few of my suggestions.
I appreciate you explaining why you cut where you cut & your thought process. If your so inclined to share a teensyist piece with me, i would humbly accept. Much love from Ohio. Thanks!
Marvellous piece. I think vertical and horizontal cuts should be utilised. Perhaps even a nice 45 degree, cross sectional cut, would produce an interesting stone 😁🖒
Very cool piece and nice fire in there! And i would leave it as is with all the lines visible and a big top and bottom surface with lots and lots of fire
Option 4 for sure. Need to be flexible to yield the best possible outcome, depending on what you are trying to achieve! I have always loved Opal, but never had the pleasure of owning a piece. It would be an honour to be able to work with one!
In that case, I would do option 2 to start, then option 4. :) I saw that you do sell on eBay in one of the comments, if you don't mind me asking, what's your ebay ID? Thanks!
Hi Don, I watched your video again, and I think there are valid reasons for each option. I’m leaning more toward option number 4......but I do see a place for number 2 next, then number 1 only if volume production were the goal. I love your graphics...and again, thanks for sharing. Marc Pruett
I chose option four, I really think this stone has infinite potential when it comes to what can be made from it. The color bars of the opal are continuous throughout stone, maybe you could do something with that, like a cut (along the longest side) that well showcases this feature. Or make a collection or set of jewelry from it. Also, within this stone there are many colors that are able to be displayed depending the orientation of each cut stone. Like on the longest, widest sides, (the top and bottom of the stone), reds, yellows, and greens and blues, and even some speckles of purple. The possibilities are endless, these are just a few of my suggestions.
That's a pretty piece! I'm interested in the giveaway. I'd say that, because of your skill with cutting, option 4 would be the most interesting choice.
hi, I was thinking about option 2 my self too before you show the options the stone it is clean enougth to evaluate it. maybe cut some pieces in half or recheck it . thanks a lot to let your opal tribe enjoy your videos. thanks, and of course, I will be more than happy to get some opal always.
Recently subscribe to your UA-cam channel and now I'm hooked. I think you should slice the Opel and just make arrowheads. Maybe one or two cabochon to keep Sheila happy.
I would do 3 or 4 cross cuts for some nice large cabs. Then see if the pattern keep on the same then maybe slice it down the middle to get the 2 color bars for some nice pendants out of the blue as well. But I also collect opal so would be hard for me to do anything to such a nice peace as this.
Thank you for both this video and for offering this giveaway. Both show your amazing generosity my friend. It would be fun to have a piece of this as I have yet to work on any Lambina material. To me, the way to go is an option 2&4 hybrid. It would make nice cabs with option one colorwise but you would lose the incredible true pattern of these color bars. Option 2 would show the patterns of the layers and let you still get all double sided stones. 😉
Well Donald I think option 4 would be the best. Being able to cut and reevaluate is SAFEST for me for a specimen like that. Of course leaving it alone as a beautiful specimen is a great option also!!
Option # 2 of corse. , a well thought out approach to large slabs of the best color bigger is better. And the remaining portion the area about the size of a nickel that has no color on the surface, I see a great high dome large size round cab hidden just below, a ring fit for Merlin or a King would be in order. HAPPY CUTTING !!
Wow, beautiful piece... i am interesting first at gaining of information and experience. Also how to respect what our mother nature offers us. Some kind of opals, are almost gone, and perhaps i am not imaging working on pastle colors opal without any fire in them... I do sometimes also polish those not really interesting material, i they do really surprised me. I got few stones from Honduras, but it is a really not easy going material to work with. At least i get it directly from the mine owner, she does choose really valuable ones. She understand also, my intention on grinding and plishing opals. After too many years on international peacekeeping missions, i would slowly start to do the 2nd most important part for me. Join the family and enjoy my hobby with a good purpose.
This is a very pretty opal. As far as how to cut it, you could cut it in a way that you get the most money or volume of pieces. I think every opal should be cut to enhance the most beautiful color and size. Opal is also my birthstone and I’d love to have a piece of the crystal opal in the larger part of the seam of opal. A big piece! Lol
I think option #4 is the one I like best. You can't see what's in the middle of the opal piece, so by making a cut then deciding what cut to make next would seem to be the best option. The opal is beautiful, so I hope you get many gems fro. It.
Beautiful stone! Slicing a stone like that I guess would be a hard decision but really depends on what drives your business. If there's a market for a very large stone or pendants, matches for ear rings. So many choices! I could see that in a necklace in a string of stones in white gold.
@@PulitzerOpal I watched that one just a while ago tonight. Very nice choices in the cuts. I've just recently started working with opal. I don't have any machines and been doing everything by hand. My hopes is to aquire and make enough to purchase a nice machine. My biggest problem so far is finding opal to buy. I've only been able to get a couple of small parcel of lower quality Australian lighting ridge so far. Hopefully I'll be able to find something soon. Thanks for your videos they are very informative and you make them fun to watch.
I'm probably too late to be in the drawing, but I believe you should adlib this one. I see some red in there and you might have some lovely concentrations toward the core.... love to see this when it's cut.
I think #4 would be your best to make sure you are able to get the most out of it And if I was in your shoes I would have ground it down to see what I was working with as well Good Luck to all that's wanting to win a part of it!!!!!!!
If it was me I'd be looking to end up with a piece large enough for carving. It's such a large piece I can see some beautiful smaller pieces coming from the best of it and then a gorgeous creative carving from a piece that still has great opal but maybe some not so great parts. Sorry I didn't pick one of your options.
I don't have those skills either, and haven't done any cabbing for years. Just could imagine a white dove carved from that opal. Would be something to see I think.
Option #4 would be the way to go. There's a bar with no color running lengthwise, so it might be good to take a thin blade and cut into it that way because if you want to make stones you would need the color bars to face up or down. But I'm too late! I've subscribed but I never saw this post. Guess I'd better manually go to the site more often.
Definitely option two but, I’d slice the end that doesn’t have that red cap vertically. That way you get that beautiful top red color bar on that one end, but still get some vertical slices that show all the bar’s.
Option 5 Slice longitudinally along the potch line into 2 halves. Make a pendant ring and earring set from the thinner bottom opal and use you’re imagination for the thicker top layer of opal.👌
I always enjoy your videos! You have some amazing material, and you always do a great job explaining, which not everyone does. If it was me, I think I would try something like your #1 option, but with the intent to make maybe half or a third as many slices. After each slice, I'd re-evaluate, just to be sure. But my reasoning on the thicker slices, is that it would allow you to cut each slice in any of several different ways, as that particular slice is best suited, and likely get 2-4 fair sized stones from each piece.
I just found your channel today. I have to say that it's quite amazing what you are able to do with opals. I would be interested in finding your finished pieces on eBay to purchase some of your work and so I can see you work on opal more. I think option 4 is tour best bet.
Pulitzer Opal Donald U should put links to ebay in description, realize it change, but u listings are awesome. Really love your opals and especially the mount designs. I still searching for that beautiful mans ring a guy had listed as made to order. I called him about 8 years ago and he told me diamond sizes etc, and then was about 6k to make. Really kick myself for not having him make me one. The idea we mutually agreed on back then is I try to cut center stone since I had the opal to save the cost of opal and he mount in the ring. Then life took turns and had to help mom and lost track of him.
id be delighted great video and gorgeous speciemen but id go option 3 leave as is very nice color im in arizona out here you find alot of agates and lots of others occassionally you find some agates with small amounts of opal in them in certain spots will glow green under a black light only on certain pieces of agate were there is translucent grey spots that i believe is opal wonderfull video and nice stones brightest of blessings to you my friend
Better to proceed with caution, possibly going with option #4, although option 1 does look interesting; I like how it would be a sort of cross section of all the color bars, but the poch in the middle is probably not ideal in that orientation. I've always been obsessed with gemstones and minerals, I was always collecting rocks wherever I went growing up, and I can't say I've ever had a piece of opal, would love to add to my collection =)
Going for option No 4 seems to be the most obvious, but I would give option 2 at least one try, as concidering the pattern inherent and already visible might imply some really nice striped patterns coming out of that cut. Good luck anyway! Love your vids and opals!
You are the inspiration to opal cutters . And miners . I enjoy every video you put out. And learrned an awful lot. Thank you.
I love watching your catalog of older videos! This huge chunk is absolutely fantastic!!
Your craftsmanship with these stones is incredible!! I love your videos sir very informative.
Hello! I've been watching you opal cutting videos for a while and have taken an interest in jewelry making and stone cutting. You inspired to sign up for a metals/jewelry making class at my highschool for my senior year and I'm excited to begin this hobby. Thank you for sharing your techniques and all your beautiful opals! Can't wait to see how this one turns out :)
Thats pretty cool to hear.
good luck. That's how I started
I love watching your videos. I have learned a lot about my favorite stone. What I have learned from you, to me is priceless. Thank you for teaching us about opals and how to care for them properly.
I'm glad I found you on my UA-cam. You've become one of my favorite channels to watch. Thank You! It started with buttons for me. They would be beautiful on a blouse. You are very informative. Thank You!
Every time I see an Opal I remember one of the sweetest most kind lady I had the privilege to know, she touched my life and the life of my son in such a way, it gave me the belief that there are truly some very good hearted people in the world...and when she passed away with only me at her side in a hospital in Houston, I wrote a poem in homage to her wonderful life...it felt like the right thing to do for a woman who could not bare children of her own, but on a cold Christmas eve, she was brought an orphaned baby to raise as her own. He grew to become a successful man, that then married my eldest sister. 29 years and they have no children of their own but helped me raise my fatherless son and daughter... it made the bond between them strong as a husband and wife. For that help, I owe her, a mother in every sense, my up most gratitude...
Option #2 love the creative cut & should get the most value. Keep'em coming! Love ur work! One day when i grow up, i would love to purchase one of your Pulitzer opals
Just stunning.
No suggestions on how to cut it. Too mesmerized by that opal!
I think you are a great teacher and cutter,thank you so much,my best to you. M
Beautiful opal! Good luck to you on how ever you choose to cut it. I rather like option 2, evaluating as you go. Seems like this would lend itself to some lovely larger stones. Should be exciting to do.
Everything i know about opal gemstones is from your youtube chanel and i subscribed some time ago just for the pleasure of watching your amazing work and listening your warm voice.I do think that opal is the most beautiful stone ever...
Great to watch you working again. For my initial thinking, I look at such a large piece and my first thoughts are of a complete matching set which includes a ring, necklace / pendant and earings. But with such a large piece the options are seriously varied, including carving if you enjoy carving opals.
seeing all that ed and orange, Iwould also be inclinied to see what amount of these colours I coud put ino one higher value piece or set.
Love watching the finished piece emerge. Opals are so beautiful.
When I look into an opal, I get transported to another world.
Yeah... I get transoted to wakanda now....
Whoa!
I love opals. The play of color is so magical and fascinating. How I wish I could have one, a real one I mean.
Marisa Pasumala Australian opal is very expensive-because of rarity and desirability. You can get small opals for less than $50, and many substantially less then that.
Just started working with opal-black opal from lightning ridge & Ethiopian opal. It is My birthstone so am naturally connected to it. Recently diagnosed w/ R.A. I slowed My spa business down after 30+ years to follow My opal passion(s). I think you should cut as many match sets as you can in various sizes for matching earrings & pendant. Thanks for your videos & consideration-love your work
Wow, totally enjoy all your talent and info. Opals so many kinds
, so beautiful. And that’s a big one. 👍🦋
I would choose option #4. Cut one piece at a time and re-evaluate after each cut. I really enjoy yoyr videos. Opals are my favorite and you take such care getting the best out of each one. I like the whole process and find it very fascinating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent.😊
I love opals and love watching you work. Thank you
@@PulitzerOpal I wouldn't know where to start or which direction to cut; I think that is why I enjoy your videos
@@PulitzerOpal An Outfielder just makes the impossible catch but doesn't explain how it was done. You don't need to explain.😉
Wow!! I live in Willow Alaska and I love to carve opal. All kinds!! Option #4 is where it's at!! It seems you do your best work on the fly. Your good at it!! I would gladly except a piece of that beautiful opal. That's an option that works. Happy carving from Missy in Willow Alaska.
Had to watch this one again also. I finally got a piece of Coober Pedy large enough to have to explore. I really like like way of taking off the sand and potch. Rolling the edges. I've started doing that with every stone and it's working great. Thanks for the video because I'm still learning and every little trick or I guess tip helps.
@@PulitzerOpal thanks for the reply. Yes I put it away for a while especially because my saw blade was just to thick to cut gem quality opal. The new saw blade to put me on is fantastic and I've been able to go back to several pieces that just was worth way to much to just hack away at or grind away good color. Now with the new ultra thin blade I've been able to cut small stones from material I would have wasted. Prime example is I have some dark base CP with full red caps on both side of the dark gray potch that I've been able to get two stones out of it now with zero waste. Thanks again for the lead on the blade and your videos. They do help people like me and do make a difference!
Used to be really interested in geology and minerals when I was a kid. Watching some of your videos is really bringing me back! Such a cool hobby I wish to get into in the future. I think the single large piece looks pretty cool to be honest.
I live in southern/central Wisconsin. Do you know if there's anything interesting in that area offhand? Not sure how to go about figuring that out.
Don I learn so much from how you explain what you do, I know even though I want to, I'll never do any lapidary, but watching you I feel like I know what I'm doing Thanks man
Thank you , Michael. I don't do hang-gliding, but I love to watch it!
Wow!!!! What a beautiful piece of opal!
My Father was a Goldsmith and gemologist. However, I was never able to watch him cut. I just love gemstones and agates. I’ve thought about taking some classes myself..
Pulitzer Opal my sister and I have loved searching for raw gems and agates since we were about 4 yrs old. 😊
Beautiful opal! And definitely option #4, but always do what makes you feel happiest!!
Hello, I too am a flint knapper. Many years ago my friend Joe had some Opal and ask me to knapp some arrowheads with it. I declined because all I knew about Opal was it was expensive and I didn't feel I was up to the challenge. We live here in Florida and the best knapper around was our friend Claud Van Order. Claud made three little points that were just superb. I'm sure I could have done something with it but never as good as Claud had done.
Would like to see some of your stuff you've knapped.
I enjoy watching your video very much. I would suggest 50% of this opal block goes under Option 1 and the remainder comes under option 4 to have some flexibility for custom-made pieces. Keep up your good job in sharing interesting videos! Thank you.
Hi there. Always enjoy your videos. So informative. Know I am new to cutting . But I think #2 might give you more wow! #1 would be more yielding. But, I think #2. And that's because of the color bars. Can't wait to see what you decide.
Love your channel. I became fascinated with opal as kid, and have learned a lot from you thanks for the vids
Well, I did like option 1 mainly because it gives you so many similar sizes and shapes. It's good for making matched sets that people tend to look for. It is a beautiful piece as it is though
Thankyou for the lessons fella,,,,keep up the great work,,,,your clips help me out heaps,,,cheers, jason
I would love the chance to win a piece of that! Thank you for the opportunities you give us all to do so and the informational videos. Fantastic job! As for how to cut it, maybe horizontally or lengthwise rather than vertically.
wow another amazing video! i would say cutting half of it into slices like option #1 and leave the other half for option #4! it would be great to have some smaller pieces as well as larger ones left over to work with! thank you for sharing your amazing work!
Here I am, a year and a half too late, as usual, lol. I like to see your work. I probably will never have any opal but it teaches me how to work other stones(agate and crystal quartz). Thanks for the informative vids. Havagudun my friend.
Option 4 seems safest :) Gorgeous opal!
You must love your work! Thanks for great information about my favorite stone. Option 4
Beautiful slab. Love your videos thanks for sharing.
I think it best to select the first option for best results. And I can't wait to learn my fate. Thanks for all your videos.
This is a straight up nice piece of opal. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
Pulitzer Opal
I chose option four, The color bars of the opal are continuous throughout stone, maybe you could do something with that, like a cut (along the longest side) that well showcases this feature. Or make a collection or set of jewelry from it. Also, within this stone there are many colors that are able to be displayed depending the orientation of each cut stone. Like on the longest, widest sides, (the top and bottom of the stone), reds, yellows, and greens and blues, and even some speckles of purple. The possibilities are endless, these are just a few of my suggestions.
I appreciate you explaining why you cut where you cut & your thought process.
If your so inclined to share a teensyist piece with me, i would humbly accept. Much love from Ohio. Thanks!
Outstanding explanation and thank you. I believe that I would cut as I go, simple because the Poch obscures the details.
Marvellous piece. I think vertical and horizontal cuts should be utilised. Perhaps even a nice 45 degree, cross sectional cut, would produce an interesting stone 😁🖒
Very cool piece and nice fire in there! And i would leave it as is with all the lines visible and a big top and bottom surface with lots and lots of fire
Great work! Love your channel! Always a blast to watch 😁
Always nice to watch your videos. Keep up the good work. If I was going to make a plan I would go with #2.
Option 4 for sure. Need to be flexible to yield the best possible outcome, depending on what you are trying to achieve! I have always loved Opal, but never had the pleasure of owning a piece. It would be an honour to be able to work with one!
In that case, I would do option 2 to start, then option 4. :)
I saw that you do sell on eBay in one of the comments, if you don't mind me asking, what's your ebay ID? Thanks!
Thank you! :) I will definitely check out your ebay listings! I'm hoping to own an Opal piece in the near future!
That’s a Pretty impressive Opal. Thanks for sharing
There is a lovely blue cabochon in the bottom of #2 and those green bars on top will give you a lot of options as you begin to cut.
Hi Don, I watched your video again, and I think there are valid reasons for each option. I’m leaning more toward option number 4......but I do see a place for number 2 next, then number 1 only if volume production were the goal. I love your graphics...and again, thanks for sharing.
Marc Pruett
I think a mix of option 2 and 4 would be nice, and let us watch as you do it. Thanks for the videos!
Half option #1 and cuts length wise, dividing each layer of colour to make some big shallow stones on the other half! Beauty of a block!!
I’ve just realised that this was posted today, but a year ago today! I can’t believe you not cut it yet, I look forward to the video!
Oh what a beauty, I would love to win this. I enjoy watching your videos with my friend. You create such beautiful objects 😍
I chose option four, I really think this stone has infinite potential when it comes to what can be made from it. The color bars of the opal are continuous throughout stone, maybe you could do something with that, like a cut (along the longest side) that well showcases this feature. Or make a collection or set of jewelry from it. Also, within this stone there are many colors that are able to be displayed depending the orientation of each cut stone. Like on the longest, widest sides, (the top and bottom of the stone), reds, yellows, and greens and blues, and even some speckles of purple. The possibilities are endless, these are just a few of my suggestions.
Beautiful! Option 4 I'm in love with! Forgot to comment that 😂 I would love one❤
That's a pretty piece! I'm interested in the giveaway. I'd say that, because of your skill with cutting, option 4 would be the most interesting choice.
hi,
I was thinking about option 2 my self too before you show the options
the stone it is clean enougth to evaluate it. maybe cut some pieces in half or recheck it .
thanks a lot to let your opal tribe enjoy your videos.
thanks, and of course, I will be more than happy to get some opal always.
Recently subscribe to your UA-cam channel and now I'm hooked. I think you should slice the Opel and just make arrowheads. Maybe one or two cabochon to keep Sheila happy.
Great freakin video! Love the informative nature.
I would do 3 or 4 cross cuts for some nice large cabs. Then see if the pattern keep on the same then maybe slice it down the middle to get the 2 color bars for some nice pendants out of the blue as well. But I also collect opal so would be hard for me to do anything to such a nice peace as this.
I maybe a collector and dont like to sell very often but for some reason giving it away as a gift is easy.
Could make some nice knife handle scales... or scale slabs for a Letter Opener.
I think option 2 Nice big piecesLove all the free info you share
Love your videos! Giveaways are a bonus!
Thank you for both this video and for offering this giveaway. Both show your amazing generosity my friend. It would be fun to have a piece of this as I have yet to work on any Lambina material.
To me, the way to go is an option 2&4 hybrid. It would make nice cabs with option one colorwise but you would lose the incredible true pattern of these color bars. Option 2 would show the patterns of the layers and let you still get all double sided stones. 😉
"large" is the rare word in opal world.. had never had any large.. small is my opal middle name.. but amazing to see such opal at this size ! nice!
Is there an update on how you decided to cut it. Personally I think option 2 would have given some stunning stones!
Well Donald I think option 4 would be the best. Being able to cut and reevaluate is SAFEST for me for a specimen like that. Of course leaving it alone as a beautiful specimen is a great option also!!
I love the colours on this piece. Option #4 cut Depending on the Banding/colour consistency throughout the bar.
Such an amazing block of opal. Wow.
Yes, please! How gorgeous!
Option # 2 of corse. , a well thought out approach to large slabs of the best color bigger is better.
And the remaining portion the area about the size of a nickel that has no color on the surface, I see a great high
dome large size round cab hidden just below, a ring fit for Merlin or a King would be in order. HAPPY CUTTING !!
Wow, beautiful piece... i am interesting first at gaining of information and experience. Also how to respect what our mother nature offers us. Some kind of opals, are almost gone, and perhaps i am not imaging working on pastle colors opal without any fire in them... I do sometimes also polish those not really interesting material, i they do really surprised me. I got few stones from Honduras, but it is a really not easy going material to work with. At least i get it directly from the mine owner, she does choose really valuable ones. She understand also, my intention on grinding and plishing opals. After too many years on international peacekeeping missions, i would slowly start to do the 2nd most important part for me. Join the family and enjoy my hobby with a good purpose.
Just bought a flat top lapidary machine today I’m super excited to get to work on some opal! I think option #1 would be the way to go!
This is a very pretty opal. As far as how to cut it, you could cut it in a way that you get the most money or volume of pieces. I think every opal should be cut to enhance the most beautiful color and size. Opal is also my birthstone and I’d love to have a piece of the crystal opal in the larger part of the seam of opal. A big piece! Lol
Most beautiful stone I'm completely in love with opal
Dang! I missed the giveaway again! Oh well, thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills with us!
Pulitzer Opal oh! You’re a terrible tease! Ok, I will!😁
Great exposure of this opal! I would choose option 4 and cut as you go depending on the opal :)
Still catching up...love the stone as is . 2 years late lol
I think option #4 is the one I like best. You can't see what's in the middle of the opal piece, so by making a cut then deciding what cut to make next would seem to be the best option. The opal is beautiful, so I hope you get many gems fro. It.
Beautiful stone! Slicing a stone like that I guess would be a hard decision but really depends on what drives your business. If there's a market for a very large stone or pendants, matches for ear rings. So many choices! I could see that in a necklace in a string of stones in white gold.
@@PulitzerOpal I watched that one just a while ago tonight. Very nice choices in the cuts. I've just recently started working with opal. I don't have any machines and been doing everything by hand. My hopes is to aquire and make enough to purchase a nice machine. My biggest problem so far is finding opal to buy. I've only been able to get a couple of small parcel of lower quality Australian lighting ridge so far. Hopefully I'll be able to find something soon. Thanks for your videos they are very informative and you make them fun to watch.
I'm probably too late to be in the drawing, but I believe you should adlib this one. I see some red in there and you might have some lovely concentrations toward the core.... love to see this when it's cut.
I think #4 would be your best to make sure you are able to get the most out of it And if I was in your shoes I would have ground it down to see what I was working with as well
Good Luck to all that's wanting to win a part of it!!!!!!!
Yippee! Congrats, Russell Anderson! 😃✨💫🌟
Very nice stone. I reckon what you choose will be the right option. Good luck
What a beauty of a stone. All the seam opal that I've seen so far has been pretty slim compared to that piece.
If it was me I'd be looking to end up with a piece large enough for carving. It's such a large piece I can see some beautiful smaller pieces coming from the best of it and then a gorgeous creative carving from a piece that still has great opal but maybe some not so great parts. Sorry I didn't pick one of your options.
I don't have those skills either, and haven't done any cabbing for years. Just could imagine a white dove carved from that opal. Would be something to see I think.
Please please PLEASE say this is still available! Man, I am so glad I found this channel.
Very awesome piece! I would cut as you go. Keep up the great videos and good luck everyone!
Option #4 would be the way to go. There's a bar with no color running lengthwise, so it might be good to take a thin blade and cut into it that way because if you want to make stones you would need the color bars to face up or down. But I'm too late! I've subscribed but I never saw this post. Guess I'd better manually go to the site more often.
Nice work mate! #4 go for the big colour bar, cheers
Definitely option two but, I’d slice the end that doesn’t have that red cap vertically. That way you get that beautiful top red color bar on that one end, but still get some vertical slices that show all the bar’s.
@@PulitzerOpal I watched that one. I would be up for like a 3pt 2hour mini series of the full footage! 💯😂
Option 5 Slice longitudinally along the potch line into 2 halves. Make a pendant ring and earring set from the thinner bottom opal and use you’re imagination for the thicker top layer of opal.👌
Looks awesome... I would pick #4, keep the options open!
I always enjoy your videos! You have some amazing material, and you always do a great job explaining, which not everyone does.
If it was me, I think I would try something like your #1 option, but with the intent to make maybe half or a third as many slices. After each slice, I'd re-evaluate, just to be sure. But my reasoning on the thicker slices, is that it would allow you to cut each slice in any of several different ways, as that particular slice is best suited, and likely get 2-4 fair sized stones from each piece.
Well, I certainly won't say no! I think I am relatively local to you, as well, as I am in DFW, and if I recall you're down in Austin/SA somewhere?
I just found your channel today. I have to say that it's quite amazing what you are able to do with opals. I would be interested in finding your finished pieces on eBay to purchase some of your work and so I can see you work on opal more. I think option 4 is tour best bet.
Pulitzer Opal Donald U should put links to ebay in description, realize it change, but u listings are awesome. Really love your opals and especially the mount designs. I still searching for that beautiful mans ring a guy had listed as made to order. I called him about 8 years ago and he told me diamond sizes etc, and then was about 6k to make. Really kick myself for not having him make me one. The idea we mutually agreed on back then is I try to cut center stone since I had the opal to save the cost of opal and he mount in the ring. Then life took turns and had to help mom and lost track of him.
#4. I enjoy listening to you tell us your thoughts as you decide where to cut next and why.
Option #4 the small end looks like some flashy color / could produce nicer color cut from 2 different angle cuts ? Reevaluate after each cut
id be delighted great video and gorgeous speciemen but id go option 3 leave as is very nice color im in arizona out here you find alot of agates and lots of others occassionally you find some agates with small amounts of opal in them in certain spots will glow green under a black light only on certain pieces of agate were there is translucent grey spots that i believe is opal wonderfull video and nice stones brightest of blessings to you my friend
Better to proceed with caution, possibly going with option #4, although option 1 does look interesting; I like how it would be a sort of cross section of all the color bars, but the poch in the middle is probably not ideal in that orientation. I've always been obsessed with gemstones and minerals, I was always collecting rocks wherever I went growing up, and I can't say I've ever had a piece of opal, would love to add to my collection =)
Going for option No 4 seems to be the most obvious, but I would give option 2 at least one try, as concidering the pattern inherent and already visible might imply some really nice striped patterns coming out of that cut. Good luck anyway! Love your vids and opals!
I would go with option 4, it sounds like the safest way to get the most out of the rough.