One thing about Justin’s videos that is special, is that every video has a valuable lesson to be learnt about opal. We are so lucky Justin shares these lessons and secrets with us to further develop the industry. You will go down as a legend my friend 🙏 Amazing video and gorgeous gems as always!
100% and he is not an elitist moralist telling us what to think but he takes us along for the riveting ride, potholes and speedbumps included and he doesn't make excuses. This is a gripping and frequently thrilling channel narrated by an expert and I don't have to pay for the experience.
@@alistairmills7608Very true that's what I love about watching Justin ! The magic that he works on a rough opal bring the beauty within is always stunning .
Even though the piece didn’t make one big giant gem, the pieces it did make are beautiful ! You just brought out the shapes hidden inside. A masterful job.
I really appreciate that you're willing to share the investment you have in the stones and what the stones are worth after being cut. Thanks for taking us along 👍.
Justin , sir , you did it again ! You amazed me with your talent of cutting and polishing Opals that made me just say WOW at the beauty you're able to bring out of them !
The mark of a true professional is often not the end product. Rather, the ability to make something special from imperfect circumstances. Thank you for sharing you're made of the right stuff!
You have been hugely missed these last few weeks, Tuesdays have not been the same without your videos. Welcome back!. Again Justin, you show your expertise, how you birth amazing gem stones. Great result, very tricky though., Thanks to Justin and Black Opal Direct for another great video......until next week.......
They were all beautiful pieces Justin, I can imagine the pear cut as pendant, the 2 cusion cuts as earings, what a fabulous set they will make. Well done! Had me on edge of my seat , but was very relaxing with your voice. Thank you 😻🏴
One of the best things is that you keep learning, and you know & acknowledge that opal is tricky and you can be surprised. Even if someone doesn't cut opal, they can still learn from that. Thank you!
Maestro, you never cease to amaze us!! I hear your pleasing voice, the soothing sounds of the wheels, watch your dexterous hands and we're catapulted to happiness. As always our journey is equal to the destination. And may I compliment you on a wonderful workshop. Thank you!!!
lovely timing. i finish cutting 3 small welo opal cabs, and when i sit down to relax and watch a video, theres a new one from one the best opal cutters out there!
@blackopaldirect they may have some very significant differences, but a lot of your advice and techniques do still work for Ethiopian opal, and I honestly think your videos helped cut better opals. Love your channel, keep cutting beautiful stones, and being the fun, goofy, informative guy you are!
I think given the knowledge that the potch curved inwards, I would have been tempted to cut it lengthwise to see if there were a pair of long drops in it. Of course, I would only have known about the curve from you telling me!
I'd been so ill what a time to start feeling better just in time for another great video beautiful gems i could honestly watch the final shaping and polishing all day long 😍
Turned out well! If I had the pleasure of cutting stones from that rough, I’d probably be thinking about creating earrings and matching pendants. The value added by creating matching sets of jewelry would be a good way to maximize profit.
My daughter has all of this equipment but she hasn’t used it in a while . She is a CEO of a large company and this was her hobby. I wish you great success.
Thanks so much for your great instructions ❤. I’ve started Opal cutting and cabbing two years ago and I truly love it. With your videos I I’ll be learning more from day to day. Big hugs from Germany 🤗
Our ship was tied up at HMS Sterling back in 1982 ( near Rockingham WA). I picked up a few loose opals from a vendor that came aboard. My wife gave them to a jeweler from Hong Kong to make into finished pieces when we were stationed on Guam a few years later. I love seeing all the colors that are revealed in these videos.
This is truly amazing to watch the process. The stone is gorgeous and radiant. Opals stand on their own, they don't need to be massive. A small opal is always a joy to see
I think you did a great job in cutting them. While I personally would have loved to see a big single stone it unfortunately wasn't there. Have a ripper Justin!
You did the right thing in cutting up the opal to make pieces and they all look stunning. You have a good touch with what you do, all your pieces are works of art! ❤
Every one a beauty. Pear and cushion are two of my favourite cuts, so really good to see those, although I know you favour ovals. I love greens, but also blue purples so either side I'm sure would have been stunning.
Thank you this is just so fascinating. What a special thing it is to learn about opal cutting. Such beautiful stones you make and its really interesting to see how much knowledge and talent you need to do this.
Know anyone who plays guitar? Because that drop shaped stone looks just like a guitar pick. In the end it looks like 2 cushion cuts, a square cut, an oval, and honestly I'd take the drop into a heart shape.
Hi Justin, so glad you are feeling well. You were missed! Tricky stone to start with. I have no idea how I would have handled such a large odd stone. You did a wonderful job saving the day again! Thank you as always ❣️🎨
I have two pieces I was given on a trip to Australia in the 80's. I so wish I could get them to you to tell me if they can be cut to produce an opal. You are a true marvel at what you do. It's my gemstone. I have rings and pendants made from stones purchased on that trip. White opals and two dark.
Having watched this yet again, you asked what would you have done, had i attempted something like this i would be uncertain but, I hope I would like you have made the right decisions and gone for the best productive cuts that look really nice and eye catching. Again enjoyed watching this a second time round. Cheers mate Les.
I love all the smaller pieces! Especially the two close in size. And all the Crystal Opals turned out stunning, in my opinion, Justin. Your friend, the Retired Paramedic and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦
First time watching the video, my family owned a large rock and gem shop in the North Bay for about 30 years and I have loads of old nice opal,jade,ruby,sapphire,fire agate and I'm thinking of getting into cutting. I would love a chat some time and have hundreds of thousands of pounds of rough material on my family property, perhaps we can have a chat at some point. Thank you for the amazing video, I used to work stones when I was younger, your video is inspiring
Great Video Justin, love to see the Opals cut and polished. I backpacked across Australia in 1981, got stranded in Coober Pedy, couldn't get transport out, as all the busses were full. So, I had nothing to do, so I went door to door among the Miners, and bought Opals, some raw, some polished. The Miners were very helpful, the schooled me on Opals, what was good, what was bad. They were happy to get some Bickies, I was happy to get some Opals.
Thank you for getting the soundscape so much more pleasant to listen to! This was a pleasure to watch over our breakfast in Bath, UK. Has anyone ever worked with a bicycle-tire-shaped cutting wheel, to manage concave stones? Just wondering...
One of many situations that shows just how much skill you have to create quality finished stones that show the best play of color in the stone. I have to agree with your choice for the most part. No section showed anything to different too distinct to change what you did. Well done Justin! IMO to keep it one piece would've cost you over a third of the color.
After studying and buying different types of opals You can really get to tell what is black opal and what is not or lower grade I’ve gained a tiny bit of knowledge doing so
Two beautiful pendant stones, a lovely ring stone AND matching earrings....all proper Sisters too. A Jeweller buying them would make a nice profit setting them right....😎 Missed watching you birth Opals... glad you're back Justin 🤗
Awsome, Thank You sooooo much for making these Videos. I'm learning so much, and with the way my heart races watching you cut. I know I'll be cutting them one day.
When my 11 year old was a baby, he would always pick up pretty rocks and put them in his pockets. This has developed into such an interesting hobby FOR BOTH OF US! We have boxes of "pretty rocks" we've collected over the years, going to mines, at the park, walking around the neighborhood... anything that catches our eye! Sir, you are very good at your craft so I must assume you love rocks as well😊😊😊!
Those two square pieces would make a fantastic set of cuff links.
True that
Agreed. And it's harder and harder to find matched pairs. Seems no one wants to do splits anymore.
One thing about Justin’s videos that is special, is that every video has a valuable lesson to be learnt about opal.
We are so lucky Justin shares these lessons and secrets with us to further develop the industry.
You will go down as a legend my friend 🙏
Amazing video and gorgeous gems as always!
Thank you so m much WM
100% and he is not an elitist moralist telling us what to think but he takes us along for the riveting ride, potholes and speedbumps included and he doesn't make excuses. This is a gripping and frequently thrilling channel narrated by an expert and I don't have to pay for the experience.
Very true
@@alistairmills7608Very true that's what I love about watching Justin ! The magic that he works on a rough opal bring the beauty within is always stunning .
@@alistairmills7608 couldn’t agree more, honesty goes along way and he never hides the truth of how difficult opal can be
Even though the piece didn’t make one big giant gem, the pieces it did make are beautiful ! You just brought out the shapes hidden inside. A masterful job.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I really appreciate that you're willing to share the investment you have in the stones and what the stones are worth after being cut. Thanks for taking us along 👍.
You turned a potential disaster into a win. Very nicely done Justin. They turned out really well.
lol could have been
@@blackopaldirectqa
Justin , sir , you did it again ! You amazed me with your talent of cutting and polishing Opals that made me just say WOW at the beauty you're able to bring out of them !
Wow, thank you! Steve
The mark of a true professional is often not the end product. Rather, the ability to make something special from imperfect circumstances. Thank you for sharing you're made of the right stuff!
You are the true Australian treasure here! Thank you for all your interesting videos and information.
So nice of you ❤️
I like to see the other side of the stones! nice video!!!
Thanks for sharing the cutting and polishing of these beautiful stones. Very pretty!
Thanks so much 😊
I would loveee to have a giant opal regardless of holes and blemishes, and make a giant natural opal pendant. Its my dream necklace, one dayyy!
You're videos are super instructive and the quality you cut is awesome.
You have been hugely missed these last few weeks, Tuesdays have not been the same without your videos. Welcome back!. Again Justin, you show your expertise, how you birth amazing gem stones. Great result, very tricky though., Thanks to Justin and Black Opal Direct for another great video......until next week.......
Aww thank you Topcat I am glad you are still watching on
They were all beautiful pieces Justin, I can imagine the pear cut as pendant, the 2 cusion cuts as earings, what a fabulous set they will make.
Well done! Had me on edge of my seat , but was very relaxing with your voice. Thank you 😻🏴
You did your magic, and the end result was 5 beautiful gems! You are a master gem cutter.😊
Thank you! Kim
One of the best things is that you keep learning, and you know & acknowledge that opal is tricky and you can be surprised. Even if someone doesn't cut opal, they can still learn from that. Thank you!
The master calmly at work. Cutting beautiful pieces. Never gets old.
Maestro, you never cease to amaze us!! I hear your pleasing voice, the soothing sounds of the wheels, watch your dexterous hands and we're catapulted to happiness. As always our journey is equal to the destination. And may I compliment you on a wonderful workshop. Thank you!!!
lovely timing. i finish cutting 3 small welo opal cabs, and when i sit down to relax and watch a video, theres a new one from one the best opal cutters out there!
humbled 🙏
@blackopaldirect they may have some very significant differences, but a lot of your advice and techniques do still work for Ethiopian opal, and I honestly think your videos helped cut better opals. Love your channel, keep cutting beautiful stones, and being the fun, goofy, informative guy you are!
Wow those cut super nice . Good job
Thanks Rob
@@blackopaldirect visited oz years ago sydney alice springs uluru cairns gbr and port douglas. Luv. It there. Always love black opal too
I think given the knowledge that the potch curved inwards, I would have been tempted to cut it lengthwise to see if there were a pair of long drops in it. Of course, I would only have known about the curve from you telling me!
Nice to see you back Justin. These are the vids I love, when you take on challenging/interesting cuts and explain your thinking and the process.
If you had been able to save the piece in its entirety, what would you have created?
I could see that set of five as a wedding set -- necklace and brooch for the bride, cufflinks and tie tac for the groom. ^_^
How would I cut it.
That seems like a perfect piece to represent water and waves.
I can see the green tips of a crashing wave.
Beautifully done! I wouldn't have done it any other way! Also, amazing quality in this video. Light and sound was perfect!
Yes I got it all figured out
Wow, what skill you have to make something gorgeous..
i like the clips of footage showing the space youre working in looks cozy
I'd been so ill what a time to start feeling better just in time for another great video beautiful gems i could honestly watch the final shaping and polishing all day long 😍
Loved this one
This is how I thought all opals looked until I began learning.
One of the most beautiful unique gems God made
Turned out well!
If I had the pleasure of cutting stones from that rough, I’d probably be thinking about creating earrings and matching pendants.
The value added by creating matching sets of jewelry would be a good way to maximize profit.
I admire your patient struggle not to lose the green color. It is a great video with everything. Thank you very much.
Great work and really nice set Justin
Glad you enjoyed it
My daughter has all of this equipment but she hasn’t used it in a while . She is a CEO of a large company and this was her hobby. I wish you great success.
It would be a wonderful gesture to pass it on to the next generation of gemologists ✨💖✨
Lighting much better, thanks.
Great choices. Love the minimalist yet softened shapes.
You always make the best decisions and best shapes Justin. It's a privilege to watch.
Watching you cutting opal, revealing the colour in every gem is as fascinating as ever 🤩
Thanks so much for your great instructions ❤. I’ve started Opal cutting and cabbing two years ago and I truly love it. With your videos I I’ll be learning more from day to day. Big hugs from Germany 🤗
Always a pleasure to watch you tease out the best in a stone, even when they're stubborn.
Your thumb looks like it's healing nicely. 👍
wow what a deceptive piece ! So happy you made the right choice to cut it up for the win !
There is no doubt with your years of experience you can assess and cut the best stones possible, good work Justin!
I've missed you and your Opal.
I missed you more
Jesus, I haven't seen one of your videos for 24 months and obviously opal business is going well! Brand new studio with machinery galore. Well done
Our ship was tied up at HMS Sterling back in 1982 ( near Rockingham WA). I picked up a few loose opals from a vendor that came aboard. My wife gave them to a jeweler from Hong Kong to make into finished pieces when we were stationed on Guam a few years later. I love seeing all the colors that are revealed in these videos.
Thanks for the show Justin and Co., from Granby, Colorado!!
🙏🙏
This is truly amazing to watch the process. The stone is gorgeous and radiant. Opals stand on their own, they don't need to be massive. A small opal is always a joy to see
I think you did a great job in cutting them.
While I personally would have loved to see a big single stone it unfortunately wasn't there.
Have a ripper Justin!
Wow.. such beauty. I could never even see or do that! The world has beautiful opals, because of you!
humbled ❤️🙏
I wouldn't have cut that any different. The stone showed you how it wants to be cut. You did an amazing job. Well done 👏
Thank you! Cheers! I do agree
Nice admin!
You did the right thing in cutting up the opal to make pieces and they all look stunning. You have a good touch with what you do, all your pieces are works of art! ❤
Every one a beauty. Pear and cushion are two of my favourite cuts, so really good to see those, although I know you favour ovals. I love greens, but also blue purples so either side I'm sure would have been stunning.
Justin, it is simply fascinating to watch you do this. Thank you for sharing your skills.
Thank you this is just so fascinating. What a special thing it is to learn about opal cutting. Such beautiful stones you make and its really interesting to see how much knowledge and talent you need to do this.
Know anyone who plays guitar? Because that drop shaped stone looks just like a guitar pick.
In the end it looks like 2 cushion cuts, a square cut, an oval, and honestly I'd take the drop into a heart shape.
Thank you for the motivation at the end. Applies to all things , never down and out
Hi Justin, so glad you are feeling well. You were missed!
Tricky stone to start with.
I have no idea how I would have handled such a large odd stone.
You did a wonderful job saving the day again! Thank you as always ❣️🎨
Thank you 🙏
You’re so welcome 🙏🏻❣️
Another work of wonder
Fantastic cuts. Awesome job Justin
Glad you enjoyed it
I have two pieces I was given on a trip to Australia in the 80's. I so wish I could get them to you to tell me if they can be cut to produce an opal. You are a true marvel at what you do. It's my gemstone. I have rings and pendants made from stones purchased on that trip. White opals and two dark.
Lovely gem.thank you for showing.
Excellent video Justin. I would love to see a video on various girdles and cutting techniques for those
Why slice instead of you using some tool to preserve the shape of the gem part of the opal?
The green and lilac colours are gorgeous.
You did a great job with the voice over! Nice work! Thanks Justin!
I appreciate that!
Welcome back and good to see you!
Thanks! You too! Obie
Thank for sharing these beautiful pieces of Opal with us.
Having watched this yet again, you asked what would you have done, had i attempted something like this i would be uncertain but, I hope I would like you have made the right decisions and gone for the best productive cuts that look really nice and eye catching.
Again enjoyed watching this a second time round.
Cheers mate Les.
Thank you Leslie
I love all the smaller pieces! Especially the two close in size. And all the Crystal Opals turned out stunning, in my opinion, Justin. Your friend, the Retired Paramedic and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦
Thank you so much!
First time watching the video, my family owned a large rock and gem shop in the North Bay for about 30 years and I have loads of old nice opal,jade,ruby,sapphire,fire agate and I'm thinking of getting into cutting. I would love a chat some time and have hundreds of thousands of pounds of rough material on my family property, perhaps we can have a chat at some point. Thank you for the amazing video, I used to work stones when I was younger, your video is inspiring
Great Video Justin, love to see the Opals cut and polished. I backpacked across Australia in 1981, got stranded in Coober Pedy, couldn't get transport out, as all the busses were full. So, I had nothing to do, so I went door to door among the Miners, and bought Opals, some raw, some polished. The Miners were very helpful, the schooled me on Opals, what was good, what was bad. They were happy to get some Bickies, I was happy to get some Opals.
Hey, I wonder if Justin posted a video today? I should check. Yes, 5 seconds ago. Nice! Thank you Justin and all!
Haha perfect
welcome back justin.
Thank you
I agree 💯%
I enjoyed watching you cut this opal 👍🏽😉 thank you for sharing this with all of us. They turned out really beautiful 💜
You are so welcome
Had to subscribe. Bought black opal from lightning ridge in 1975 while stationed in ramasun Thailand. Retired in Richmond Va with my Thai wife
MATE, YOUR A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR THE OPAL INDUSTRY, ALSO YOU ARE FUN AND REALLY EXPLAIN THINGS STEP BY STEP , KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, 👍👍👍👍
Thank you Steve
It’s sooooo relaxing to watch your videos❤❤❤ your talent and your humility together make you shine more than any other gem!
God bless you!
Thank you for getting the soundscape so much more pleasant to listen to! This was a pleasure to watch over our breakfast in Bath, UK. Has anyone ever worked with a bicycle-tire-shaped cutting wheel, to manage concave stones? Just wondering...
One of many situations that shows just how much skill you have to create quality finished stones that show the best play of color in the stone. I have to agree with your choice for the most part. No section showed anything to different too distinct to change what you did. Well done Justin!
IMO to keep it one piece would've cost you over a third of the color.
After studying and buying different types of opals
You can really get to tell what is black opal and what is not or lower grade
I’ve gained a tiny bit of knowledge doing so
Two beautiful pendant stones, a lovely ring stone AND matching earrings....all proper Sisters too. A Jeweller buying them would make a nice profit setting them right....😎
Missed watching you birth Opals... glad you're back Justin 🤗
Yes, you are right
My favorite stone. Simply stunning. Great job
What a beautiful video Justin! Thank you for everything you share with us.❤
Simply awesome, the way you reveal the beauty of the Opal.
Justin, you Rock.
You rock!
Awsome, Thank You sooooo much for making these Videos. I'm learning so much, and with the way my heart races watching you cut. I know I'll be cutting them one day.
A really good move in telling your viewers the final calculations on your work !!
Evening all from the south east UK, back down from the Scottish mountains and back behind the cutting wheels 😀
Where about in the south east are you mate? Fellow south eastern here 🙌hidden in the confines of surrey 👌
@@W.MOpals just below you in East Sussex
@@tattoedmat nice! 😁
They were so pretty nice work Justin
This is one of my favourite videos. Not black opal, but really interesting and instructive to see how you made the most of this large gem.
Love this one :) Just curious, could you have sliced it long ways through the center of the potch to end up with 2 very long pieces?
Yes it was possible but how would you know which way it could have curved until you open it up
Enormous respect for your daring Justin. Respect.😊
Thank you
You are so right. Take care and good to see you again.
Oh how beautiful. The gems took my breath away.😲😲🤩
I adore that color blue❤ you did well. I had anxiety and big hopes that it was one piece but beautiful indeed
All of your sessions are amazing!
When my 11 year old was a baby, he would always pick up pretty rocks and put them in his pockets. This has developed into such an interesting hobby FOR BOTH OF US! We have boxes of "pretty rocks" we've collected over the years, going to mines, at the park, walking around the neighborhood... anything that catches our eye!
Sir, you are very good at your craft so I must assume you love rocks as well😊😊😊!
This set is lovely. Really like your cutting and talking videos best
Thank you so much 🙂