This is the first of a series of articles by Peter Brusaschi of www.opalmine.com on the subject of Opal Cutting. You can get the whole CD online at this site, but if you are patient, you can get the written version for free right here:
You’ve heard it said that the sweetest sound you can hear is the sound of your own name, and I guess that applies to everyone, even an ordinary bloke. But fancy being able to cut away at a stone which has been lying in the ground for untold thousands of years, and finding you’re very own initial inside the rock, highlighted in precious opal…. Then, as if that’s not enough, you find another one with your wife’s initial too.. Hard to believe?
Well, I have the pictures and the stones to prove it! This unique opal matrix is found in the Koroit field near the town of Cunnamulla in Western Queensland, Australia.
My wife's initial inside a boulder opal from Koroit, Queensland, Australia
Although I have included quite a few detailed descriptions, this book on opal cutting and dealing, is not written primarily as a technical guide. I will leave that to the gemologists and the chemistry experts. It is written with the ordinary person in mind who does not really need to know a lot of technical data to learn how to cut, polish, and deal in opal.
I have though, given attention to basic terms that are associated with the stone and have tried to explain their meanings in everyday language so that you don’t have to keep looking up the dictionary. The book also tackles the challenge of how to turn your hobby into a business, for, after all, there’s no point having a lot of stones decorating your workshop while the bills pile up.
Working from home is the dream of many a hobbyist and with today’s revolutionary communication systems, there’s no reason why your hard work and fun in the garage cannot be turned into cash. Cash that can not only pay bills but also buy more sophisticated equipment to make your hobby even more interesting. After all, that’s just what happened to most opal cutters and dealers like myself, and if I can do it, nearly anyone can.
And then there is the aspect of gift giving. How much money is poured into the giving of gifts each year? Unfortunately, the credit card bills that mount up as a result of this cause no little frustration, leading to many unhappy family relationships. But if you can create your own line of jewelry for a very low price, you can have the pleasure of making someone very happy with a new pendant, ring, or bracelet. The appreciation for gifts like this is enhanced in the knowledge that the item is a personal gift from your own creative ability, not just something bought off a shelf. [ to be continued ]
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Peter Brusaschi the author of the CD ‘The ordinary Bloke’s guide to opal’ has been sponsoring the site http://www.opalmine.com with its opal encyclopedia and chat forum, for the past 12 years. Peter has been visiting the Australian outback for the past 50 years and is an expert on the subject of opals, and the Australian outback. [Known by Australians as 'the bush']
The full CD of this subject with full illustrations, is for sale at http://www.opalmine.com along with the ‘Smart Chart’, probably the only computerized opal valuation system in the world. You can get the written version of the opal cutting CD, for free, on this forum in stages, if you are patient. Just keep an eye out for future segments, and feel free to cut and paste it into your records, or send it on to a friend. Keep in mind that you can get raw or rough opal from opalmine.com as well if you want to try your hand at opal cutting.
You can also get unset opal if you are either learning or have experience in jewelry making. There is also a huge range of finished jewelry designed by Brusacci at this site.
