160 carat rough opal cut an unbelievable gem. Totally unexpected 

This is the healthiest gambling addiction I’ve ever seen

What a wholesome man, you are the bob Ross of gems.

My dad and grandfather had all sorts of lapidary machines in the garages. My dad and grandfather made some beautiful jewelry out of very large opals, encased in gold. Both were also silversmiths. I remember sometimes my grandfather placed thin layers of quartz behind some opals for rigidity when he made jewelry for my grandmother. Sadly, my crooked uncle stole all of her jewelry when the grandparents died. I remember the machines my dad had, giant rock saws, flat laps, polishers and grinders with carrying Diamond wheels and water “bubblers” to keep the wheels wet and cool. GemTech, Covington were just a few of the names that I remember of his machines. We’d go camping once per month 9 months out of the year, searching and digging for various rocks and gemstones across the western USA. Good times.

Learned everything I know about opal from Black Opal Direct. Found a passion I never knew existed! Thank you.

I am literally thinking "why not use a Dremel to carve out the sand and see what's underneath first." He then takes me to school.

It’s not unfinished on the back, it’s a “live edge” cut. Stunning work as always, Justin!

Your videos are my favourite thing to wake up to. Coffee + opal cutting with Justin is the perfect way to start the day.

My dad and I love your channel during the summer before school we just chill and watch you do your ople cuttings thank you for being hear and teaching me about opal

I am absolutely gobsmacked! ! The most STUNNING opal ever! I was afraid you would end up cutting too much off and instead I swear it grew! Beautiful, just beautiful!

Two words: living dream. With those flashy colors that stone is so attractive! Thanks for sharing Justin

That looks so great with a rough side that still has flashes of color and the rocky surface. The wonderful perfected side. It tells you a story. When you look at it this stone it almost says, “This is what i look like in the earth when I am first found and here is what was hidden on the inside of me. Just waiting for thousands of years to be discovered.”

The universe in the grain of sand. Looks like a nebulous star. All thing sing the awesomeness of the creator. So breath taking!

Beautiful. I enjoy watch you create such gorgeous gems. I did a little lapidary work when I lived in Perth W.A. And my pride and joy was a pair of opal cufflinks I made for my hubby. I am 71now. I no longer can do many of the things I used to enjoy, so I watch you instead. Many many thanks

These more lighter coloured “muted” colour opals are my fave.

Wow! My favorite colour spectrum! Nice job!💜

As he's grinding, I'm like; "that enough, stop!"

A magnificent stone... and the cutting was pretty good too!!!!! Thanks for sharing. I didn't think all that sand would come out, but I'm happy it did. Be safe and stay healthy 😷⚒

My brain just exploded with the wire wrapping design ideas. Wowzer! ❤️

Beautiful piece... this is why I love opal. Vibrant turquoise, greens, and blues just like a tropical beach and her lovely waters. You did her justice...

That's one of the prettiest opal's I've ever seen!

That blue in the opal is beautiful.

Beautiful surprise to have that much surface area without sand! Glad you got a WINNER :)

Wow! What a beautiful stone! The more I learn about opal, the more I love it. Thank you for the best content!

setting an opal like that with such a fine girdle could be tricky . but it has such a nice apperance , shows well

Hello Justin and the gang , really great vid mate and what a stone thanks as always for sharing and all the best to you all for Christmas .

There something relaxing about watching you cut opal and witnessing the colors come through. 👍

Isn’t nature amazing, a few million years stuck under ground and with a little sanding (thanks again nature for the sand) a beautiful Opal full of colour that changes when you move it. Stunning.

Love love love this! The way the colors change with every little movement is just incredible ❤

Really Stunning piece. Love Opals

I love how you take us with you in the journey with the stones. despite all your amazing experiences they still catch your breath and of course ours too!! amazing

Always enjoy the grind and shine!!! Ty again Justin for your time and efforts and sharing your knowledge!

This is absolutely beautiful! It looked like the offspring of opal and turquoise, especially on the rough side. Keeping one side rough was good; the whole thing is spectacular. An turqopal.

The are absolutely my FAVORITE videos. From start to finish. I've watched every one of your videos, even your originals and it literally NEVER gets old!!

Gosh ,thats BEAUTIFUL OPAL 😍 💖 💕 ❤ 💗 I've always ❤ 💖 ♥ wanted an opal necklace ! Like on a chain !!!!! Love the color

Thanks for bringing back memories of my grandfather working with his tools. Love your work.

very beautiful opal almost looks like an open trapped in the stone. Well done.

Man, just beautiful, the video and the stone. I love how the sand finished just perfectly to expose that beauty. Honestly loved this. What a piece.

Watching your videos is making opals become my favourite gem.. they're all so gorgeous 😍 I need one

So therapeutic watching you work. Thanx for sharing.

I've binge watched so many of your videos recently 🤣🤣 absolutely fascinating content with such beautiful gems too! Keep up the great work! 🤙🏽

Absolutely awesome. Thanks Justin.

That knobby turned out beautiful !! Great job!!

This stone would make a lovely Heart 💙 Shape..yes I see a Heart of Ocean.. Well Done 👍

It is absolutely beautiful and looks like a lovely pool drawing you in for a virtual swim! Great watch the second time around too!!

Ok this is just WOW !!! It's like look J.T. just ground the Aurora Borealis and is holding it in his hands. :-) Lucky is the person who gets that in a wire wrap. Total Stunner. Congratulations.

Such a fantastic camera you have! Every detail is so clear--and so enjoyable to see.

That is the opal of my dreams, so happy Justin left it whole and in it's natural form. As magnificent as the opals he usually creates are, I much prefer this. Sometimes watching him cut the standard shapes out of the wild stones saddens me, like seeing a butterfly lose it's wings, as if they lose that wild spirit somehow. But that's just me, marching to the wildest drummer.

WOW..that is stunning! I LOVE opals! When we lived in Long Island, my son was in a student ambassador program in highschool. He went to Australia and brought back an opal pendant for me. He spent 21 days travelling around the continent. He liked it so much he wanted to move there.

Brilliant decision to leave it 'rough' on the back. Love it.

Gorgeous work and outcome!!!

Another BEAUTY, Justin!!! And another great video too! I truly look forward to your videos - thank you for sharing your work with all of us. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and the staff at Black Opal Direct!

One more reason I'll never work in opal. I saw all that sand and thought just cut it up and sell it to the new folks to practice on. . . Yikes! Glad you're the champ and not me!

When I was a kid, my father purchased a business. I was rooting through the drawers finding old knick-knacks, coins, and whatnot. I realized then my love and excitement for treasure hunting. When I started watching your channel, the look in your eyes brought me back to that moment when I was a kid. The work you do is just that, treasure hunting. I'm sure what you do is full of peaks and valleys but then there's that moment when you find a gem. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

That opal turned out well Justin. It's got such a beautiful scintillation of blue colours. Thank you for sharing

I like this style of video the best! The beautiful light music, the soft words into the mic after the film is shot...this made for an even more pleasant and almost magical experience.

Justin I watch your videos so much I can watch one video 15 times and still in love/ amazed by the outcome every time you sir are an artist of gems

Love that you polished up one side and left the other natural. The best of both worlds!

A beautiful piece. Loved watching it be revealed!

Wow; the colors are beautiful! Very nice piece. You do some awesome work. Thanks for sharing with us.

I really enjoyed the style of this video. Awesome job and an awesome stone!

Very very nicely done! Love that piece.

These finished stones take my breath away!

That came out looking fantastic. Missed your funnies!

I keep catching these within an hour of posting... perfect timing!!

I wish there's a simulator game like this

The colors in this are amazing. I love the cooler tones.

Beautiful opal ...always love groovin' to your videos!

Just beautiful Justin👏🏼

I'm hypnotised by the colour and your skills. Awesome 👌

Even though life can be rough, like now for example, life still finds a way to be beautiful

Wow, somehow stumbled upon a video of yours, instantly became fascinated and could not stop watching! I had no idea how beautiful Opal was or how much I would enjoy watching you cut, polish and talk about it. Of all the videos I’ve watched so far though, this stone really speaks to me. It reminds me of a beautiful ocean reef where life is peaceful and flourishing, I paused it and starred in amazement for a good 2 or 3 minutes when you showed the final gem! Absolutely stunning, good call I think to leave it whole! Thanks so much for sharing your amazing work and wealth of knowledge with us!

I have to say this might be my favourite stone so far the colour is so gorgeous. I like the subtle blues and green over the really bright reds. Love love love.

I love watching the transformations

Great video mate🤠 Love your channel

So relaxing watching these stones coming to life

You sir, are truly a Man amongst Men. I always feel honored to be able to observe the process as I struggle to learn this arduous and painstaking art of creating something breathtaking, from the literal rock that allowed us to Breathe. I sincerely appreciate you and your wonderful channel, Cheers!

Great looking forward to seeing this new opal

I just love watching your videos. The perfect relaxing distraction I need right now. Thank you.

Beautiful piece, love watching the colours come life simply stunning

Love the video format!

So beautiful 😍 love watching your videos and can't wait for the next one.

Love the channel.... you do a great job!!! Getting my crabber fully rebuilt right now! Can’t wait for it to be up and going.

Wow! You've done it again, Justine. It is gorgeous. It had a somewhat heart shape to it. Was surprised you didn't shape it on the edges more into a heart. However, it will make a stunning pendant. If I ever win Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes and become a multimillionaire, I shall be knocking on your door.

This one is amazing. I like these semi natural pieces a lot more then jewelry pieces. Too expensive for my personal collection but very nice to watch!

Great job J

So nice to see a man who loves his job

I just discovered this channel and I am totally hooked 😱 I know that the deep brilliant colours in stones are the most valuable and sort after but I am absolutely in love with the colours in this one they are stunning..🤩

Incredible finish. Beautiful opal. Thks for the lesson.

That opal is packing a whole lot of wow!

What a beautiful chunk, well done!

love your shows keep up the great job!

Glad you kept it so nature. Beautiful stone.

well done, the organic look of the cut is spectacular!

Seems many life lessons are contained in the opal. Your cutting the nobbies illuminates those lessons. As always thank you.

Epic! Opal 101👍 A real feirytale🤩 Thank You for sharing Boss👍👍👍

this is such a rewarding job/hobby on so many levels

That color is stunning.

Love your videos and your work. This Opal is beautiful just wow, amazing, and always you do great work looking forward to your next video

You've got one of the coolest jobs, J. I'm envious 😸

What a lovely job to have!