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 Post subject: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:36 pm 
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Attachment:
lightning rdge opal A.JPG
lightning rdge opal A.JPG [ 69.95 KiB | Viewed 3862 times ]
Attachment:
lightning rdge opal A3.JPG
lightning rdge opal A3.JPG [ 46.59 KiB | Viewed 3862 times ]
This qualifies as hand-made jewelry, I watched John take a 18kt gold wire & build this framework around this opal. The stone is over 14cts & is gently held in place with the prongs, work took about 2.5hrs & I think it shows very well-stevie... 8)


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 11:28 am 
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Really nice opal.


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 12:00 pm 
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Yes, it certainly is!


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 1:31 pm 
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I think this may be the nicest goldwork we've seen so far on these, too.

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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 3:28 pm 
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Very nice and it gives me an idea as to what to do with that crystal opal I was given a while ago.


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 4:56 pm 
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The pendant is perfect for the stone. I agree with you Stephen.


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2016 11:25 am 
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Am I the only one to think that it looks more like ethiopian opal than Lightning Ridge.


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2016 12:26 pm 
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No.


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 3:15 pm 
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Definitely not the only one. That was the very first thought that came to mind.

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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 3:23 pm 
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I think we all did, it just wasn't an argument worth having when it's such a nice stone anyway. Style of cutting is almost as good an indicator as anything else in most cases (not that one should rely on that of course).

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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 3:55 pm 
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Stephen Challener wrote:
I think we all did, it just wasn't an argument worth having when it's such a nice stone anyway. Style of cutting is almost as good an indicator as anything else in most cases (not that one should rely on that of course).

Well, there's the matter of value. LR produces some extremely fine non-dark "crystal" opal that's valued for its excellent stablity and it isn't hydrophane. It sells at significantly higher prices than its Ethiopian counterpart and carries the LR cachet. I questioned LR origin the instant I saw the images.

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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 5:56 pm 
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Of course--in general it's an important distinction to make. I'm speaking only in this very specific context.

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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 6:43 pm 
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Attachment:
Lightning Ridge opal cert. by Frank Schaffer. resized copy.jpg
Lightning Ridge opal cert. by Frank Schaffer. resized copy.jpg [ 60.83 KiB | Viewed 3514 times ]
Attachment:
Australian opal appr, Paul 2012. - Copy resized.jpg
Australian opal appr, Paul 2012. - Copy resized.jpg [ 77.55 KiB | Viewed 3514 times ]
I get this comment a lot because the opal does show like ethiopean opal at a glance, this stone was bought by F Schaffer, one of 2 or 3 stones he bought at the same time from the mine owner in Australia. He bought the stones, the smaller one cut/polished to over 14 cts, the larger one over 24 cts. & recently sold for about the same price per ct., a little more maybe, within the last year. Im posting 2 papers, a cert from Frank for origin because he bought the stone & knows where it came from, & an appraisal done years ago by Paul who is familiar with opal & locations of said stones, he knows the difference & can make a proper decision with his scope & other tools at his disposal plus he always references his findings with other people he works with. Im satisfied with the results, other appraisers do agree with the findings I present to them. I had a similar issue with the Paraiba tourmaline I have & I finally sent it to GIA for ID, it came back as Brazilian paraiba from the original mine, 1 of 3 in the area, so I can live with the info on the opal as sound- :roll: 8)


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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 7:23 pm 
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Ruby, there's a simple "at-home" test that can pretty much resolve the question. Moisten the tip of your finger and touch it to the opal. If the stone wants to cling to your finger it's hydrophane (likely Ethiopian). If it doesn't it's probably from another source. Mexican precious opal can also be hydrophane, as is some from U.S. sources.

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 Post subject: Re: Opal pendent, Australian...
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 8:33 pm 
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A lot of ethiopian hydrophane opal wont "cling", but will still soak up water and is therefore hydrophane. A non sticky feeling opal may still be of ethiopian origin even if it doesnt have that hydrophane "feeling".

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