This is our full catalog of rough opal single gemstones and parcels of rough opals. Also included in this selection are Opal rubs – the preformed opals where all you need to do is finish the polish on them. READ MOREAll of the opals you’ll find here are from Lightning Ridge, Australia. These are all natural precious opal gemstones in their original and or rubbed state, without any treatments. These are strong, stable opals that won’t easily fall apart or crumble so you can cut, sand, polish, and carve them into the shape you need for your own custom opal jewelry creation.
Opal cutters looking for parcels of rough opal can browse through this catalog to find the right parcel for your budget and needs.
The two types of rough opal you will find in these parcels will be nobby and seam opal. Both come from different opal fields in the region of Lightning Ridge. The nobby formation is unique to Lightning Ridge and comes in nodule form or rounded and peaked rocks. This type can show a matrix of white caps with the play of color showing underneath those caps.
Seam opal is a formation that is in plates or flat shapes. These are formed in fissures and cracks or cavities naturally occurring underground from the movement of the earth. How the opal can be cut will depend on which field the seam opal comes from. The majority of all opal fields in Lightning Ridge can produce top-quality opal.
Rough and Unfinished Black Opal
The opals here are completely unfinished but we may have snipped some of the pieces to give you a clear understanding of what you may find inside the nobby or seam. It’s always a bit of a surprise what mother nature dishes out, and that’s half the fun – the other half, of course, is the challenge of working with the opal to show its best face.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make money from a parcel of rough opal?
As we are cutters ourselves we put together parcels in a variety of price ranges depending on your expertise. Because we individually handle and evaluate each piece of opal, some parcels will have a lot of material in them for a lower price and other parcels may be smaller but yield far better quality of opal. This means that you’re paying a fair price for opal and not just a standard per gram price across the board which may or may not yield a profit for you.
Can you make up a parcel for me?
Due to the limited supply of opal we are able to obtain, what you see on the website is our total availability. We are unfortunately unable to make up parcels of rough to order.
You mention beginner parcels, how can I buy one of these?
Beginner parcels from Black Opal Direct include rough to practice on as well as to cut. We also send emails with links to videos in order to get you started. They sell out quickly so if you see one – purchase it straight away. We try and provide parcels at least twice a month depending on the availability of material.
What is Rough Opal?
Rough opals are uncut, unpolished and untreated. They are precious raw opal gemstones. They are in their original and or rubbed state, without any treatments. Uncut opal gives you the chance to experience discovering the true beauty of opals for yourself by cutting them yourselves, with our helpful guidance of course.
How do I cut rough opal?
Rough opal can be cut with machines or even by hand. We generally cut Australian opal on sanding wheels with grits ranging from 120 – 1200. Why don’t you check out our opal cutting guide for tips on how to cut opal.
How much is rough opal worth?
Rough opal is difficult to obtain beyond the opal fields. Thus, it can command a high price if those assessing the opal don’t know exactly what they are looking for. Rough opal is difficult to assess without detailed knowledge and cutting expertise. Purchasing rough opal is always a gamble because you never know how the gem will turn out until you place the rough on the cutting wheel.
With our 30 day 100% money back guarantee you have the added security of purchasing the parcel and if it’s not to your liking you can send it back for a full refund immediately (as long as none of the stones have been cut or worked on in any way).
With our 30 day 100% money back guarantee you have the added security of purchasing the parcel and if it’s not to your liking you can send it back for a full refund immediately (as long as none of the stones have been cut or worked on in any way)." } }]}
FAQs
Husband and wife team Justin Thomas and Ruth Benjamin-Thomas operate the global opal retail and wholesale business Black Opal Direct, which was started in 1961 by Justin's father Jurgen.
How do you value a rough opal? ›
The value of an opal depends on many factors. The type of opal, body tone, brilliance, pattern, colour bar thickness, the play of colour, and faults all play important roles in determining the value. Other important factors include the quality of the cut & polish, and the size of the stone.
How to tell if black opal is real? ›
How to Tell If an Opal Is Real
- Inspect the Stone's Surface. Opals have a smooth, waxy surface and are often somewhat translucent. ...
- Look for a Play of Color. ...
- Check the Stone's Hardness. ...
- Look at the Price. ...
- Check for Doublets and Triplets. ...
- Be Aware of Common Synthetic Opals.
There are two different price estimates for the Opal from Uncut Gems. At first, Sandler expected the Opal to go for $1 Million Dollars at auction. Much to his displeasure, the Auction House appraises the stone to be around $150,000. This is a wide disparity.
What color opal is most valuable? ›
Black Opal
Black opals are the rarest, most valuable opal variety. They can be gray, black, or even dark blue sometimes, so they're also called “dark opals.” Part of black opal's value lies in the contrast between the dark background and bright play-of-color.
Why is Black Opal so expensive? ›
Value. By comparison, black opals are the most valuable form of opal – due to their dark body tone and the resulting vibrant play of colour. Top of the range gem quality black opal can fetch prices up to AUD $15,000 per carat. However, just because an opal is black doesn't make it valuable.
What is the rarest colour in black opal? ›
Due to its rarity, red is the most valuable colour in Black Opal. However, the blues and greens can be very beautiful yet still affordable as this colour is not as rare. Black opal is becoming increasingly scarce, due to the cost of mining and government legislation on small miners.
How to identify rough opal? ›
Things You Should Know
Feel the stone beneath your fingers—real opal won't have any extra pigment or paint coating the surface. Real opal won't look especially shiny under a light; if it appears this way, it might be made of plastic or resin.
What does a fake opal look like? ›
To distinguish these fake opals from their authentic counterparts, look for what gemologists call a 'Columnar' structure or 'snake skin' pattern. To do this, turn the Opal on its side and look for straight columns of colour running vertically. This is the sign of a fake opal.
Is black opal rarer than diamond? ›
Silica is one of the most common minerals on the planet, but precious opal is very rare – far more rare than diamonds. Precious opal is rare because the natural processes that create it rarely occur.
The “Aurora Australis” was found in 1938 at Lightning Ridge and is considered the world's most valuable black opal. The oval, cut and polished stone has a harlequin pattern with dominant red, green and blue colors against a black background.
What's more expensive, opal or diamond? ›
Why is value important? Because the value of most diamonds will be higher than opals, while high-quality opals are rarer than diamonds.
Who is the parent company of Black Opal? ›
Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack have acquired Black Opal from Mana Cosmetics. No terms of the acquisition deal have been disclosed. According to WWD, industry sources said Black Opal has more than $10 million in retail sales.
Who owns opal Paper Mill? ›
Opal is the local subsidiary of Japanese paper giant Nippon and runs a paper production mill at Maryvale in Victoria's Latrobe Valley. It also operates a stationery manufacturer in the Melbourne suburb of Preston and has a site in Botany, New South Wales, which produces container board.
Who owns opals? ›
Opal's is owned and run by Chip Hight and inspired by his grandmother, Opal.
Who manufactures opal? ›
Hang Fong Opal Company (HFO) is a renowned manufacturer and exporter of Australian opal products, established in 1983. With a commitment to delivering exceptional value, our company has become a leader in the industry.
