Hi all,
I would like to dispute the claims made that all opal cracks
eventually, this is simply not true, Some unstable opal will crack
and craze but this is a very small percentage considering the
amount of opal in the market place. Claims like this is not good for
any industry just like some people will slam opal from certain
counties, this is an unfair and uneducated claim as there is
unstable and risky material in any gemstone category and the only
way to avoid this risk is education, education and more education
on the particular gemstone you wish to purchase. I have cut and
carved black opal here on the field in Lightning Ridge for 13yrs
now and have spoken at length to long term opal buyers and their
percentage of stones cracking over some 30 and 40 years in the
trade was less than 1%, yes less than 1%, Keep in mind that these
buyers deal mostly in Black opal and Queensland boulder opal.
I am only responding to this as it’s the 2nd time in the last 3mths
that these suggestions have been made.
Just a quick comment on all the orchid posting contributors, you
people are just wonderful and so sharing with your hard won
experiences, this is probably the most valuble thing in the
jewellery trade today. WELL DONE TO YOU ALL.
Christine