[Jewelry making - Article 00326] - Re: [Orchid] Disputing all opal cracks theory

[coralnut]

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Christine,

    What I said about opal was not a slam and in no way meant to
    denigrate the industry!  Goodness knows I have cut enough opal over
    the past 30 years and still do cut it.  I also teach opal cutting. 
    What I said was a statement of reality based on my experience and
    what I have seen with my own eyes.  I have had many many opals come
    in to me that were from one Grandma or another and a percentage of
    them were crazed...not cracked....but crazed.  Many were chipped
    many scratched, etc, etc.  That was, after all, what the original
    point of this discussion was - how to repolish an opal.  I doubt the
    statement was unfair either but I totally agree with you that
    education is the way to preclude 'old wives tales'.  That is why
    many people talk about opal being 'unlucky' which is pure nonesense.
     On the other hand, there are certain aspects of nature that we
    cannot ignore and the delicate nature of opals is one of them.  But
    then the same is true with Tanzanite which has its own problems of
    acceptance as well as other stones. 

    By the way, I have a nice piece of  LR black that ....guess
    what....its crazed! Guess its just part of that 1%!!  Would I make a
    general statement about LR black crazing because of this one stone? 
    No way..I have cut too much of it to say that.  But, its crazed. 
    Bolder opal?  Well, I haven't seen it but woudn't bet it won't
    craze!  Mexican opal?  It crazes.  Baltic Opal?  It crazes. Two opal
    materials I don't think crazes is Louisianna opal and Hondoran
    black. Nonetheless, opal is one of the most beautiful stones on
    earth and nothing I would or could say from my little studio will
    have much effect on the world opal market! 

    Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
    elegance IS fine jewelry! dcdietz AT comcast.net 


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