Opal gem quality

About OPAL

In 1978 my work took us to outback country in South Australia. Being a very remote area, about 300 miles north of Adelaide, there wasn't much to do for entertainment. There were the usual social gatherings with others that shared the same fate as we. The socializing was a fulfilling experience, the Australians are a great bunch of people who know how to treat guests in their country. But, we had the urge to explore the vast Australian outback. We traveled in the local area as much as road conditions permitted and as far as I dared to take my 4WD Land Cruiser on a tank of fuel. Another limiting factor was that most of the surrounding area was prohibited government land, no access allowed. There was one very poor dirt track to the north that we didn't venture very far on due to conditions, and it was through the prohibited area. We figured it was just a repeat of the rest of the landscape, and we had already seen most of the wildlife, which by the way, alone, is worth a trip to Australia. Also, I was sure I would run into a government gate and have to turn back. We asked about the road and where it led. We were told it ended at a small primitive opal mining town, and there was nothing there but some tin shacks. We were also told that the inhabitants didn't like outsiders coming there, snooping around. Well, I knew what opal was, I had seen some in big retail stores here in the states. Opal was a plain white dull looking small stone, certainly not worth an 80 mile drive through some of the most forbidding country on earth, on what must have been, at that time, one of the worst roads on earth. We forgot about the road as time passed.

Then one day there was a knock on the door and there stood a scruffy looking character that said he was an opal miner and was in town to try and sell some opal to get together money to buy supplies. We will call him Georg. Georg was an Austrian transplant, having immigrated to Australia several years before I arrived. I thought twice about letting him in, but agreed to at least look at what he had to offer. I knew we weren't going to buy any of those dull white little stones. At least I could get him out of the heat for a while and give him a glass of water. Well, we sat at the table making small talk that I must say was a task at first. I mean, can you imagine someone speaking Australian English with an Austrian twist and me speaking perfect USA true English. To add to the confusion, Georg was very animated and talked mostly with his arms going in every direction. Half of the time I didn't know if he was mad because I kept asking for repeats or if he was just plain mad. Well, he finally opened that black bag that he always kept in sight, within arms reach. What he brought out of the bag was little tin candy can, the contents of which changed my life. In the little tin can was a blaze of fire, like something you never knew existed, and was sure it was something fake, and there was more. You know what, he sold me an opal. It was the start of a long friendship. Georg invited me up to Andamooka, and taught me what I needed to know to opal mine, from the required government paper work of how to get a miners right, to filing the claim. Georg introduced me to individuals, such as the local Mines Warden to bulldozer operators, who are necessary for an opal mining venture. Oh, and by the way, those people who didn't want outsiders snooping around, not true. A fine lot of individuals, from every corner of the globe who were there for the same reason, willing to assist you in any way they could, and talk about anything, except about the reason they were there. We managed to work a few claims of my own in my remaining time in Australia. What drives a person to dig around at the bottom of a thirty foot deep open cut mine, in heat reaching 130 degrees daily, breathing in flies so thick they almost cast a shadow, a thin vein of bright red/green/blue color, that's what. Always with the hope it will turn into a thicker vein, at least something big enough you don't need a magnifying glass to see. Would I do it again, yes, if the working conditions were the same. Now the government is more involved, placing more and more restrictions on the small individual miner, and mining costs have soared. I can't complain, it was an experience that few get to enjoy. I learned a lot about opal, from mining to cutting, and I thank all the people who took time to teach me. Oh, one other small thing, I would have to be 30 years younger. To share in some of our opal adventures, follow the link to Opal adventures.

Over the years we have maintained in contact with many of the people I met while there. The relationship allows me to have first shot at several fine parcels of rough opal, mostly from Lightning Ridge, direct from the miners. My goal is to provide you with quality opal at a fair price, a price that is far less than normal retail, in fact, near wholesale or less. I can do this by buying direct from the field, from people I know and trust, and doing the cutting.

Opal has been supplying cut opals to jewelers in southern New Mexico and far west Texas for the past twelve years. We have been active traders on eBay for the past several years. Please use the above eBay link to view any auctions we may have listed. To see what our eBay customers have to say about OPAL, please view our user feedback information, it will give you an insight to what others think of our opals and service. View our eBay user feedback. OPAL would welcome the opportunity to provide you with the opal you desire at an affordable price. I invite you to have a look at some of our personal opal jewelry collection. View jewelry Thank you for visiting the OPAL web site! [Top]

More Opal

We have several more opals available. Like the opals shown, most are from Lightning Ridge, Australia, and are of the same quality and color. Most range in size from 7x5mm to 10x8mm; however, we also have a good selection of larger stones. If you would like more information about these opals, or would like a more detailed digital image of any opal, please contact us via e-mail or phone us at (505)744-5616 or cell (505)644-8312. [Top]

Guarantee

If any opal crazes within one year of purchase, the buyer will receive a full refund. If the opal is damaged while mounting, or any other means of maltreatment, OPAL does not accept or assume any responsibility. [Top]