Rough Opal Buying Guide 

I love how brutally honest you are about these opals! Thank you so much! This is what I really need!

I actually just recently found out I have some Spencer Idaho opal. I got them in spring in a bag of rocks from a yard sale for about $3. I didn't know what they were at first and tossed them out in front of my shop, but just last week I saw the glimmer of color in the sunlight and pulled them back in and started cutting and grinding. Got quite a few of them with all color fire bands about 1-3 mm thick.

I'm glad you decided to pass on this knowledge. Lapidary is kind of a dying art in the west. Thanks for sharing ! Here's one opal buying experience I had 20 years ago. I once had a parcel of Coober Pedy opal that was from too deep of a mine. It crumbled into dust when you tried to cut it. It was full of stress & once a crack started to propagate - that was it. It made a "screeeeee" noise on the 600 grit wheel just before it sorta exploded lol. The miners, a couple named Lucas & Eva, made good on the parcel & replaced it. Lucas said the bad opal came from deeper than 30 meters & apologized profusely for the goof up. For the beginners out there, this is extremely unlikely to happen to you.

I didn't know anything about opal until I ran across your videos, and I must say they're informative and funny as hell. I love your sense of humor and that dry delivery, plus the dad jokes slay me. Keep them coming! Subbed.

Definitely subscribing. And I appreciate the generosity you show when you share your knowledge.

Oh I am excited to watch this!! I've been wanting to know this info. Wary of buying until I know for certain what to look for! Thank you so much!!

Informative. I go to quarter year gem shows to see what opals are available. I've had some good luck on eBay but my best buys have been at a dealers table. I liked the faces.

Just found this video, easily one of the best on RU-vid on looking for rough. I might have to bend a few rules though since I can’t afford that incredible rough you have. Love the faces too!

Now that's what I'm talking about, teaching the masses..... Great lesson taught Donald... Thanks, mate... Teaching like this will divide the serious from the eager...

Thanks for also sharing about pareidolia. My mom was always pointing out faces in random things, had no idea it had a term.

Thank you for yet another video of great content. I really enjoy hunting faces with you, and you always get a chuckle or 2 out of me. :) Have a great rest of your week. Can't wait til your next video. ✌👀

Hello Donald, I watched another great video...and I'm glad I didn't message you earlier because you covered exactly the topic I was interested in here. I am really new to the "OPAL OBSESSION" though I've loved gemstones for many years. Watching your opal videos and truth be told those of some other folks I too want to buy some rough opal and get myself a polishing wheel. But the prize in the bottom of this box was learning about PAREIDOLIA...I see faces in so many inanimate surfaces...now I know what's happening! Thanks again! Anthony in Seattle

What you say about dealers that allow returns is such good advice - thank you

Great information, from a great knowledge with humor and love

Had been looking for a video addressing this specific issue. Thank you

idk how i ended up on your channel, but god dam am i happy i found it. super interesting

One day, when I have the money, I will buy a parcel, so thanks for this valuable information! Keep up the amazing work, and make more arrowheads! Those are my favourite!

Content: 10/10, humor: 100/10

Thanks for the video! I bought some rough opal on ebay and some of them even though they look like they are good pieces to work with, its hard to see they had sand in them and inclusions in them that you really just could not make good stones worth anything out of. Such a waste of money! I mean a few I could make tiny stones from, but I soon realized these were pieces they could not work with and just trying to off them to make money from. Thank goodness my lesson was cheaper than $50.00US to learn that on my own. But your video also just helped me understand other things. Like instead of being pissed, take it as a lesson and use those as training stones for knowing how to be ripped off on ebay as well as use them to learn how to cut on since I am still new to the basics of opal and learning more everyday. SO thank you for taking the time to make a video for us new people and what to look for.

I got your package and the wife loves them!!! Enjoyed and gave a Thumbs Up for this video

I will watch this several times, as it is very good info.

I do like you ramblings, sir. Always make me laugh.

Love all that rock formations and other examples with paredolia hitting You hard lol. It's so pleasant that every second of those videos are pure black nobby quality. Thank You for sharing those with all Your knowledge Don ❤🤩

So many questions have been answered. Was thinking bout doing this as a hobby

Thank you for another fantastically informative video! ☺

Yup, as previously mentioned. I'm still sending my wife your wonderful educational advice on opals. She's going to become a pro and make me thousands, she's still dosen't know the big picture yet.. So I'm going slow. I'll get to play with OPAL every day, if i can do this correctly. Maybe I can quit my day job... any advice would be vary appreciated, Ideas are welcome, I'm truly addicted to Opals. Hopefully i can play fulltime. Thanks again for sharing your talents, awesome stones they are!

Thanks for another great video!

Great video !!! I really enjoy them, Keep it up, and thank you again

Extremely knowledgeable as always another great video. Thank you. Take care and God bless.

Thank you sir👍This video, I absolutely needed👌🙏

Very good video Sir. When I send any of My Opal to buyer always seek happy smile on his face. That's My profit really. Amazing gift from nature opals are really. 🙏🏻🌹

I love the content and the commentary!

Can’t wait to get home from work to watch this one duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!

Again, great info! My lots are all your Mardi Gras parcels, lol. But that's OK, I didn't want to cut anything that was expensive or had potential until I had a little experience under my belt & a better feel for how opals react under my fingers... thanks for the tutorial!

Okay, I thought I was crazy. I see faces in ceilings and trees all sorts other things. Thanks. Oh and very informative about buying opal.

I learn so much from your videos thank you ....

Thank you Russel. I have to say a lot of opal on line the quality they offer looks pretty poor not easy to find a decent lot. Thanks for this update I think a lot of people will appreciate this

Good information to have, thank you. I’ve been considering buying a small parcel to start a hobby with. Armed with some tidbits of knowledge I just may do that. Obviously I don’t have all the expensive abrasive wheels and such, but we all start somewhere and me ? I’ll be starting with paper lol, as in sand paper. But yeah, this really is something I want to do, at least once

Had to share this video. One of my favorites

Your videos are the best!!!

Thankyou for sharing your expertise.

Love to find out some of the places that you buy from. No gems shows where I live and am just getting into the opals

Hello! I wanted to start off by letting you know I love your videos and i think you have a keen eye for beautiful opals! Opals are my very favorite precious stone, the play of colors that flash to and fro always make my eyes grow big and my palms sweat. i was wondering if you would be able to help me find a uncut small sample of opal so that i may try to polish it into a stone that i could set into a ring for my fiance. i don-t need a-lot of opal and I don't have a-lot of money but if you could help in any way I would greatly appreciate it. thanks again your fan Steve.

Love it! And over 40 areas of the brain contribute to Visiual perception.

Thanks twice. 1 for opal info, & 2 for giving my propensity of seeing faces its correct name. Have a good day.

Thanks for sharing your info, I do want to try to make just one nice opal. Bucket list!

Sir, I must be 1/2 the way there because I have learned to live w/ disappointments..... yoda/yoda otherwise I find this stuff rather amazing & I believe I can deal w/ your style to learn about this. Once I know a little more about equipment I may jump right in for a bath

Very interesting video and great tips! :)

Love it, good info Sir

Hiya doing, I love the video, I did see the faces, I'm not one for looking for them unless it's on a catfish, lmao like always fun to watch your videos. I hope you have a great day.

Could you make a video about polishing opal? I have an opal that I'm trying to polish with a dremel and some diamond paste, but I know I'm doing something wrong because it didn't come out polished. I'm thinking I either didn't take enough time doing it or the paste I bought has a very low diamond particle content in it. Could it be one of those things? Or both maybe? Regardless I would love a video from you on how you polish your opal.

Do you sell your cut offs or rubs on eBay? If so what is your eBay store name I would like to look into buying some. Great video

😱 I'm the second comment!!! Yay.... and I'll watch this when I get home in 20 minutes ☺

Informative, educational, and fun. That is what this video is.

OUT STANDING tutorial PROFESSOR , when it comes to opal I am one of the many poster children ( a fool and his money) have yet to get a great one . Must be going too cheep , obviously opal traders know what they have it's what they do. By the way, (. SMILING FACES SOME TIMES ) . $$$$

Great information thanks 2nd video i have watched on to your next video of yours

your humor is very funny thanks for the fun

Great video again, love your work and wealth of knowledge, lets FACE it your awesome Cheers digger

Thank you. This video is for keeps.

Hi Pulitzer, MAGITRAL you video, so glad i've found you. In two words: i'm broke because of Covid, looking for advices, where to buy rough opals and make the best of it, any ways to communicate with you, won't take long! Best regards Walter

Thanks for this I have struggled!!!! Trying to find a good opal parcel I’m still struggling to find one but this video Will help to narrow it down !!!

Fantastic video. Thanks mate.

I enjoy your videaos still!

Excellent video!

Glad to find you. Subd and look forward to more.

Oh my god I’m embarrassed ive been had lol, I just bought a oz of rough opal chips for 80 dollars Australian and yes it looks like the crap from the disposal, when I first looked at it, it looked ok, but as soon I have started trying to do some rubs it all keeps crumbling or chipping, it’s all full of sand right through it, I bought it from a guy on Facebook, which to say will NEVER happen again, lesson learnt, I have bought better from eBay for less, mind you I’m only learning but still I know when I have been treated for a mug. Thanks for your vid it helps a lot.

Great information and particularly funny! 👍

What about ‘Boulder Opal’ - how do you pick good pieces of it?

Can you please do another video like this. But have the focus just for rough boulder opal, and boulder rubs???????? Please

Nice info about selecting opal. I could of used more info on rough prices for fair, good, and great quality.

Thank you for the lesson ☃️

Very informative! I Saw a Lot of faces😊

It looks like some of those off cuts may make some good doublets... They look clear enough... I think some sellers show their parcels under black light to enhance the color... Many items on opal auctions have videos so you know they didnt use a photoshop program, but I think blacklight enhances the color beyond normal...

Still trying to work out what the problem was with that quite nice lightning ridge parcel.. 🤔

Do you see the stone face natural sculpture, green brush hair and Orange and grey rock for face cheeks?...blessings...m

Thank you! Very helpful!

do you have small sliver pieces of low low or no value that is for sale, looking to add something new to my colection of gem stones

Well. I just got done watching this. It's a pretty educational video. I actually thought about buying some rough opal few years back but I was too worried about all the misrepresentation out there. And that opal at 2:40... so pretty! I didn't know they could be so blue! 😊

Does it come in white rock (boulder). Found in friends property in Pa extruding the soil about 60 lb

I can't wait to buy my first rough parcel! I may not do my first cutting for several years , but thanks for the enlightenment. So as a flintnapper did you ever get into dichroic glass?

Great Video Don !

I’m incredible at finding faces in stones and other things. Better than anyone I know.

Well I took the plunge and bought some opal at the Rapid City Gem and Mineral show! anyone know how I could possibly cut this stuff at home without a cabbing machine?

Lol yep heads are everywhere lol I seen alot in some the opals I cut from almost human faces to a face of death , skulls etc and that brings a uniqueness to that stone

Great video thank you

Love it. Paredolias..amazing fact

Could you possibly give some examples with a price? I could maybe pick a good parcel now but have zero idea how much would be a fair price. Love your videos! I can't believe how much time I've spent watching these videos but I've never even held an opal.

Hello, I was wondering if you sell opal?? And how come I absolutely love faceted opal but I NEVER see faceted Australian opal?? If you sell opal, please let me know! I buy Ethiopian and I’m wanting a large hunk of Australian but good lord it’s expensive. And your very southern, where you from friend? I’d love to sit down with you and saturate all your information!!

Great information.

I really like ur videos

How do you bring out color do you polish the poch

What are your thoughts on smoked welo opals?

You are the Tucker Carlson of the opal world! No one does it better! Thank you souch!

Thanks for sharing!

buying rough is fine but how do you sell finished stones?

I keep hearing warnings of Etheopean opal being very brittle, is that true of all Etheopean.

Can you recommend some reliable places to buy Australian opal

That statue is amazing

your a modern day legend

Sir . How about presenting a vid on , How , as a beginner fossicker , to know what you , as an expert , requires . IE: l go out and find some opal bits .. what should l present to you . And what should l ... not . I enjoy your droll voice . But .. l feel you are only talking above my head , as l am just an almost amateur.. As l said , l enjoy your presentations , thank you . Regards Steve