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Let's Rock => Opal => Topic started by: vitzitziltecpatl on July 24, 2021, 08:03:09 AM

Title: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on July 24, 2021, 08:03:09 AM

Hi, y'all.

A while back irockhound posted that it's been too quiet around here. Realized I haven't started a thread in a while, so here's one.

Worked on this one back in February and March this year. Took a while 'cuz it made me nervous.

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: R.U. Sirius on July 24, 2021, 08:46:58 AM

Splendid! Excuse my ignorance, but is this treated to obtain such a dark colour?

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on July 24, 2021, 02:00:25 PM

Thanks.

No treatment. This one's all natural.

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: irockhound on July 24, 2021, 10:11:01 PM

Yay Vince!  way to go.  I think I would be nervous as heck cutting that too!  Great piece, grats

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on July 25, 2021, 07:09:02 AM

Thanks!

Didn't post link to mediocre video earlier, but since there has been some curiousity about the stone, here's the link:

https://youtu.be/F53pHuelY0M

Video still doesn't show all of what can be seen in hand - but it's better than the still shots.

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: irockhound on July 29, 2021, 01:28:55 PM

Awesome, I feel it is hard to really get a feel for opal unless you are holding it yourself or a video showing the fire in movement.  Classy.  Wonderful stone  a single image couldn't do it justice.

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: ileney on August 01, 2021, 07:51:06 PM

Beautiful job getting that lazer fire centered in a nicely shaped oval. It was hard to picture how this would come out based upon the original stone. Well done!

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on August 02, 2021, 06:55:41 AM

Thanks.

The orientation was definitely the trickiest part.

The colorplay was oriented best at about 45 degrees around the long axis from the way the the rough chunk was shaped.

Lots of material removal and stress there. Grind sides and back, check orientation, repeat... . That's why it took so long.

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: axllaird on August 04, 2021, 06:00:30 PM

Love Opal and that one's a beauty. Good work :occasion14:

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on August 04, 2021, 08:21:38 PM

Thanks!

Photos or video don't show it, but this opal is translucent. There's actually more color visible in hand - it just gets lost in photos because it isn't as bright as what shows here.

It is a cool opal, with the color moving around deep inside it. I like this type better than opaque stones with brighter color bars.

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: southerly on August 09, 2021, 04:36:51 AM

Nice colour shift from the blue to red, well done

Title: Re: Lightning Ridge N1 Nobby
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on August 09, 2021, 09:34:11 AM

Thanks! Good to hear a positive opinion from someone in your "neighborhood".

We just had our local club show, and I showed it to some vendors there whom I've known for years. They all said they'd never seen one like it in person. Some of those folks have travelled or lived all over the world, and have been in the trade for decades. The subtle colours seen throughout the stone are so much more striking than just the bright parts captured by the camera.

If I were never to cut another opal, I could be fairly happy knowing I cut this one.