Hi justin stumbled upon your channel im hooked never thought i would find cutting stones so fascinating sort of wont me to learn more about it i like taking risks in life will keep watching almost through your play list great sense of humour m8 🤣🤣
I was so hip on watching you haggle for your opals and a little disappointed that it didn't happen but I took solace knowing we are a free people and privacy is one of the more important tenants of freedom. I look forward to you bringing the beauty out of your purchases.
well, I'd like to see you and your staff re-create the buying/bargaining process that we didnt get to see in this video. looking forward to that scene. silent movie benny hill style would suffice
Mr Justin, I believe you to be a genuinely great person. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say I appreciate you. Thanks for sharing all that you do in such a pleasing and entertaining manner. So much we learn about opal and about you. Thank you!
@@trumpatier well. It's mainly because I'm getting that government check and my identity was stolen 5 months ago and I'm finally almost got my payment and I'll have enough to afford to lose..? I guess that's how youd say it. It's low risk because it's a single blue/green clean skin rough. No sand. Just needs shaped. Want the kicker to it all..? My first Australian opal. I've only ever done 2 little Ethiopian Welos
@@nickmarshall6713 ouch, sorry to hear about the fraud issue. But that's nice that you have some spending money now! So you've got experience with cutting/polishing opals?
@@trumpatier very little but Ive been watching Justin for about 3-4 years now and watching my brother I think I'm ready for the big dawgs! I've messed with plenty of opal chips to learn layers and potch and patterns so I think I'm ready.
Love your channel, you are so interesting and informative and I’ve learnt so much about opal and have a new love! Yes - I love opal - from such a rough start you masterly peel back the layers to reveal the beauty within and it never gets boring. Each is unique and striking and I guess until now a gem I never really appreciated until now! Wow nature in all it’s glory = opal! Watching you work is mesmerising, truly a master in your field. Thank you so very much for letting me share your love of opal and bringing me along on your amazing journey. Debbie 🥳🙏
That was a huge tease Justin, I wanted so badly for you to start your machines and water and get going..... Cant wait for the upcoming videos. Thank you Black Opal Direct for an interesting video, you have me eagerly awaiting next weeks video.
I LOVE how you keep it real on your channel and don’t try to feed people this “Opals will make you rich, and it’s all 💵💵💵💵💵 every time you hit the grinder”. Your passion for opals is what makes you and your channel special. I’m not in the business, but if I was, I’d want someone like you to be my mentor.
Thank you for the little walkabout in lightning ridge. Went back to my 17 birthday when I was there. Parrots in the background and everything. All it was missing was the flying car. Or maybe it was a bus.
I love how secretive the industry is. I think this happens in almost all specialized industries. We build a respect amongst our peers. Our family and personal reputation can have a big effect on how accepted we are. Thank you so much for sharing what you can.
I appreciate how respectful you are with the folks at Lightning ridge... I'd think they need good security there! Can't wait to see what beauties you uncover!!!
It was fun to see this side of it Justin. Thanx mate. Driving 900kms to the very source to get the opals we get to watch you cut over the next weeks or months...awesome!😊👍✌
I hope you decide to put up a couple $50-$100 small parcels of 'risky' roughs for sale on your site, I've been practicing on Welo opals, I'd like to try some of the very different Lightning Ridge stones before I take a chance on buying better quality ones to cut. Either way, thank you for sharing your trip with us, the whole process is endlessly fascinating!
Wow, what a video! You are no longer just a master opal cutter, but a master RU-vidr too! The vibes were on point. Can't wait to see the cutting of these gems! I'm concerned though, I checked out your website and saw that you must have like a million dollars worth of opal at least. Surely it's locked away in a vault somewhere right?
@@blackopaldirect hahaha 😂 one day I'll be able to buy an opal from you. Until then I'll just enjoy the videos 😀 also, it's awesome that you reply to every comment directed toward you. People really appreciate that, especially since it gets really hard to do the bigger your channel becomes.
We enjoyed a lot this video Justin! When I watch most of your videos I have this like "suspense" we can say, in a good way obviously, 'cause I can't resist to look at the final result! But the trip is so entertaining and beautiful at the same time. From a rough stone to a beautiful opal.. Thank you for sharing all this little beautiful journeys with us ❤
Your such a lovely person. I'm so blessed to be here watching you. You always make me smile and in the world today, that is a very precious skill, just like your beautiful opals. Thank you for letting us be apart of your day. Blessings from my heart to you and yours and to everyone who sees this I can't wait to see you work those stones 🙂
Hi Justin and Melinda, this is such an adventure and treat for us! Greetings to you all on Black Opal Direct from me in Sweden! Good luck opal hunting and shopping...
@@lisamoss5796 I really appreciate your reply just had a look at the prices and they are good prices if you are a professional cutter but this will be my first time shaping a stone into a gem so it's way out of my price range.. I found a single stone going for 1k but I don't think I can do it justice as a noob.. Think ebay maybe the only option for now unfortunately.. Me and my mum wants to use the dremel so I think a few stones may go down the drain 😅 hoping to find a nice noobie package if even possible. 👍
@@carolgreathouse7898 I've noticed just need to find the right seller as a noob I'm going to be learning on the stones I buy so hopefully there's a nice cheap package out there much love ✌️
People who love gems need to be educated on the dangers and risks which miners faced as well as the joys and excitement from each discovery while mining, and appreciate how it all started before it becomes a finished product. They can only admire a gem visually and superficially without truly loving the gem unless they learn to appreciate the story behind the journey. I love your channel and been watching for a long time now. Thank you and stay safe!
Thank you heaps mate. I am learning so much from you. I really enjoyed this video to explain what to look for and more. Others have noticed how my skills are improving and my eye for quality is getting better too - thanks to your teachings. I also truly appreciate your wacky larikinisms.... bloody true Aussie. Keep it going mate. Onya.
ok- I have to tell you that my mom has discovered your channel and watches it 24/7. We work together and she has it on all day and at home! She saw your son and ran to get me because your son looks like my sons almost twin brother! Anyway, my mom is your biggest fan. Happy Holidays to you all. :)
Loved it, thanks for showing the journey. I'm learning so much from you, I bought a small rough parcel from Lightening Ridge because you inspired me to learn how to rub and cut opals. I find it quite fascinating to see where the colour goes and what it turns into.
I`m having so much joy in watching your videos! You are funny, lighthearted, wise, friendly, adventurous and SO SKILLED in what you do. Thanks a ton for sharing from Germany!
How long?!? 17 hours?! I can wait, I hope you get some good knobbies and one of the should have a pattern no one has ever seen!!!!!! Good luck mate!!!!!!!!
very Nice Justin, You did very well showing what you actually bought etc. I'm sure you spent more than you wanted but some of those new stones are really nice. Good luck and God bless!
Very fine production, I'm also coming by foot, it may take awhile since I started in Canada I had to construct a very long snorkel tube for the Mariana trench crossing...
So excited to watch next week! I watch these videos to calm down before I go to sleep. Thanks for showing us where you go to purchase & what you picked up. Very understandable about the secrecy on the sellers parts. I've watched gem purchase videos from all over the world and some are well, terrifying to say they least. This was refreshing. What a long drive but so worth the beautiful opals you cut. Was excited to see the black & red opal. Haven't seen one in so long myself. Thank you J.T.
I’d love to know the cost compared to sale value of that bundle (obviously I don’t expect you to actually share the numbers) Must be amazing to be able to turn say a $50 stone into a $500 or even $5000 piece. Especially when you think the miner still makes his money to make mining worth it.
It's like a food chain. Everybody knows the values, and what they can get for what they do. An old timer I once knew said that a good deal (or trade) resulted in an equality of dis-satisfaction, or an equality of satisfaction for both parties. There are always risks on both sides, but everybody's wide awake. It's what keeps the system going.
@@lilacwitch69 Haha well my parents are German so I must've picked it up from them. I live in Africa currently xD but thanks for the comment, nice to see Germans are so friendly :P
Great video Justin, when you film another one, show us some rough pieces and tell us how much it would be worth, and then show it after you cut and polish it and tell us how much it's worth.
Hello Justin ! I like how you put naïve people in their place about opal mining. Some seem to think that opals grow on trees ! I'm also glad you don't reveal the vendors. 👥 Opals should have some mystery to them. 🤔 Magical things that they are ! Now the haggeling prosess could've been a nice little drama. 🤗 📺 ; 💎😍👍🤑🤲💰😳👎💵😠💣😳👈💵💵😬👉💸🙄🤝😎 But no need to reveal the tricks up your sleeve.... 😉 Stay safe and well. Love from Norway 💖 🇳🇴
Nice parcels of opal there. Hope you get some really good stones from them. I noticed that one of the comments was a bit nasty. Hope the local emus find him and kick his dunny down! 😂😂😂😂. Lol. Amazing how envy can rot brains in some people and turn them into trolls. Have a great day, to all of your staff and subscribers. Looking for the next video. 👍. Greetings from Dimboola.
That very dark red stone is gorgeous!!! Please Please please make a video of the polishing of that if you can of course I understand if not. Either way, I will be looking forward to seeing it listed online.
