Cutting Rough Opal: Testing Market Prices vs. Cut Value
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- čas přidán 10. 04. 2023
- In this video, Riley takes some time to cut rough opal that was returned from three of our No Reserve auctions held on Opalauctions.com. By doing so, Riley aims to test the market prices of rough opal compared to their cut value. Whether you're a lapidarist, an opal miner, or simply an opal enthusiast, this video is for you.
Throughout the four minute video, Riley shares his insights and expertise on how to cut rough opal and determine its value. He also discusses the various factors that affect the pricing of rough opals, including color, clarity, pattern, and size.
By the end of the video, you'll have a better understanding of how the opal market operates and how you can make informed decisions when buying or selling rough opals.
If you want to have a play with the opal valuation website you chan check it out here:
opalvalue.com/?fbclid=IwAR0SW...
So, if you want to learn more about cutting rough opal and how to determine its value, be sure to watch this video until the end. And if you found this video helpful, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more informative and engaging videos about opals.
Keywords:
cutting rough opal
opal market prices
opal value
lapidarist
opal miner
opal enthusiast
opal auctions
opal color
opal clarity
opal pattern
opal size
Really quality video as usual man. Thank you for your value to the community not just as a rough/gem resource, but all the knowledge you spread for free.
Awesome video as always Riley ! It doesn’t get any more real than that right there. No exaggerating the end values, real prices material was bought at along with the investment of time to cut the stones should help people understand the opal trade better. Not to mention that he expectations of every stone cutting a gem is unrealistic
Wow - I would have grabbed that parcel immediately man! Beautiful work as always!
Thanks a bunch!
Thanks a lot for this informations. Very helpfull for a me!
Good video Riley. Not too bad for rejected stones. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Thank you for sharing this, it was super insightful into how to work out what a piece is worth!!!!
@@OpalAuctions53Frogs Some sage like advise right there! Thanks again!!!
I BUY FROM YOU GUYS AND SO FAR GREAT
Those turned out pretty good. Maybe not super fancy but I'm happy just getting my moneys worth.
I reckon the finished stone estimator was also undervaluing the stones a tad as well so long as the seller is willing to wait longer for a sale.
@@OpalAuctions53Frogs Haha true!
Well, I would be disappointed if I bought a piece for 70 dollars and it only ended up being worth 5. That's the opal game though. Buying online is more of a gamble than being able to look at it in person. The fact that you allow return of the rough helps, if you are uncertain of it after receiving it. I'm sure that isn't the case when buying rough parcels from miners and wholesalers.
I guess there is safety in cutting large numbers of stones to average out the losses.
If I recall the most I have spent so far was for a lucky dip parcel that was 55 dollars. I haven't really cut any of those stones yet. I don't any single stone will get that back, and may not get enough return to pay for it if I were to cut them all but I did get a nice bit of shell that has some of the top and the bottom shell, with some color, and is held together by sand. I decided not to touch that one. I prefer is as a nice specimen.
Right now I buy rough to practice learning how the opal acts when cutting(dremel user here), how to properly shape, dome, and polish them, and how each field tends to form and the best ways to work and face it.
As a beginner I realize that all that I spend is a cost of learning. Getting a profit is nice, but thats not a priority right now. The money I spend (2k or so now in rough and equipment) is an investment in learning. That seems pretty cheap so far when it comes to developing skills that can be turned into a business (or a hobby that pays for itself and makes some extra money).
I've only been at it a year and for months. I've learned a lot and so have so much more to learn. I have only cut 170 stones, no where near the tens of thousands you have certainly cut. Of those, however, I took a dozen or so with me to Tucson and asked Justin to help me value them. It turns out that if I sell them (as I hopefully will someday) that I will make nearly all of the money I have spent so far back. Not bad, in my opinion, for a complete newbie.
Now, as for the gamble of buying stones, I purchased some rough late last year from another opal auctions dealer, vkhatana. I bought 6 separate stones that totalled about 200 dollars. I haven't cut them all yet but I just cut one that cost 40 dollars. It was an unassuming piece. I could only see some bits of color (blue, green, yellow) on a couple parts of one side. It was 40 dollars at auction (plus shipping split among the six) so probably 45 total. As I ground the edges I could see a nice color bar around most the stone. I kept uncovering awesome color as I removed and and potch from the face. I was thrilled, as I cleaned it up, to see a nice bright opal with broad flash floral pattern that shines from most directions. But the best part is that it has every color I've ever seen in an opal: blood red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, violet and even PINK. It is absolutely the best stone I have cut so far. If I had to guess it could be worth 800 or more (it's still free-form right now and looks like it has a crack or two) but I'm not good a valuing yet. I'm not certain I can keep the pink in it if I make an oval of of it, so I'm probably just going to polish it as is. As it is such a fantastic looking stone I very likely will keep it for my own collection. I swear I could look at it for hours with my loupe.
Anyway, came to say thanks for the video and for providing us with opal rough so that we too can join you, and others, on the opal journey.
Sorry for the lengthy post. But in parting I have to add that your channel needs a LOT more subscribers!
@nnOpals great analogy. That cost is still less than most traditional educations here in the states. Now the question is how quickly did you recoup that other 20 grand after you became proficient?
I'm about 2 years in. My view is opal cutting is a journey, profit on my mind but then again not my motivation. It's a journey searching for that best gem you have ever cut. I am over 200 cuts and carvings. My go to opal is Ethiopian although I do not know how to value them yet I know that my cash to profit margin on Ethiopian is better than other types. I shop for Ethiopian and browse others. If I see some photos that I like on Australian then I pull the trigger. With great pics like Global Prospecting they are fairly easy to read.
Riley, could you link the site you used for the valuation? Thanks
Hi! Do you mean the retail value per carat?
I'm lucky. I buy from you lol
Thank you.
why is owe opal sold in US dollars and not AUD if it comes from here just makes no sense to me and people have to convert into AUD before buying is the site a US site where it auction is
@@OpalAuctions53Frogs ok good to now
Or elsewhere 🎉
Who sent it back Roy😂
Oi I see you there @fiegaro
🙋♂🤣
😂😂