herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 13, 2012 1:50:39 GMT -5
Anyone cabbed it? Pics? Anyone ordered from Sanwa or anyone else you could recommend? My wife bought some inexpensive yet stunning jewelry made with synthetic opal and I was wondering if I could get my hands on some to play around with, Sanwa has it, but no prices shown. The selection on ebay seems pretty sparse. Here is the Sanwa web site: sanwapearl.com.hkIs there anywhere else anyone knows of that would be able to sell to a small-timer? Thanks all! John
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 13, 2012 10:07:51 GMT -5
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gerard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 218
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Post by gerard on Jan 13, 2012 12:43:36 GMT -5
It cuts and polishes easily as it is so soft MOHS 3- 4 - sorry no pictures
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 13, 2012 16:24:39 GMT -5
Hmmmm, looks like Rio Grande sells it in 5-8 gram pieces. Most of my cabs are 16 grams and up!
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 13, 2012 18:15:15 GMT -5
Randy, yeah I have no mental picture yet of how many grams a cab runs, but I thought that seemed pretty small, especially since that is un-cut
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 13, 2012 19:00:02 GMT -5
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Post by Tonyterner on Jan 13, 2012 19:15:50 GMT -5
Holy crap that's as expensive as the real stuff.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jan 13, 2012 19:36:42 GMT -5
Although I agree it's cool material, I don't understand that price either. When I was in SD this past summer, you could buy jewelry with this fake opal in it for cheap. The cost here would price you right out of the market.
Nate
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 13, 2012 20:07:59 GMT -5
that Gilson stuff is lab grown opal and the other cheap stuff is plastic resin
The Gilson opal is compatible with using in fused glass and lampworked beads, you cannot do that with the plastic resin garbage
Someday I am just gonna bite the bullet and get me some chunkies. I would only do triplets so I could slice it very thin and make it go a long way.
I do plan on getting the Gilson opal chips and powder to use to inlay
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 14, 2012 2:38:59 GMT -5
GAH That stuff is crazy expensive!
We were in Grand Cayman this summer on a shore excursion from our cruise and we went in one of the 800000000000 jewelry stores and found a sweet little opal set with a pendant and 2 earrings and the whole set was like $40 US.
It is fairly thin, inlaid into silver settings and polished smooth, but GEEZ I was hoping I might get some for under $100 that I could cut a number of pieces from but wow that is expensive.
I am too green to consider cutting triplets or doublets so I think I'll have to wait to play that game.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 14, 2012 9:12:30 GMT -5
I've been coveting the Gilson opal for a long time, since the first time I laid eyes on it, Chatham is the other lab that does simulated gemstones of all types including the opal.
Have not seen any of the Chatham being sold as rough.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 14, 2012 16:28:42 GMT -5
One big difference between the lap grown opal and the real stuff is that with the lab grown, the fire goes all the way through. With the real stuff, if you grind too far the fire goes bye bye. Honestly though, that's expensive!!
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 14, 2012 17:15:50 GMT -5
yep they think highly of their lab grown opal I still would not mind doing a run of jewelry in it, probably wait till I'm good at silver work before I get any to cut how does the price of this lab grown opal compare with the victoria stone in price per gram?
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gerard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 218
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Post by gerard on Jan 14, 2012 18:36:18 GMT -5
Sanwa opal is 1200 to 1300$ per kilo. Minimum kilo per color
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 14, 2012 19:20:14 GMT -5
the sanwa opal is resin impregnated stuff not at all like the Gilson which is much closer to the make up of natural opal
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 14, 2012 22:00:07 GMT -5
Maybe when I get a little experience on the machine I can go in with someone on some, didn't have any notion of how much is cost though.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 14, 2012 23:54:15 GMT -5
how does the price of this lab grown opal compare with the victoria stone in price per gram? This opal stuff is like $100.00 a gram, Victoria stone is between $1.50-$2.00 a gram. Now that I think of it, my Victoria stone was dirt cheap!
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 15, 2012 2:49:08 GMT -5
Never heard of the Victoria stone, does it look at all like an opal? Got and pics of stuff you've worked up?
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 15, 2012 9:23:47 GMT -5
the Gilson is actually anywhere from 20 to 28 bucks a gram so even at that its way more expensive than the victoria stone. this place has it for that www.profoundglass.com/gilson_content/glassblowing_grade_rough_bythegram.htmlthis is where I will be purchasing it for inlay and much later for cutting re the victoria stone - I have been wanting that too but have always thought it was a bit expensive, this puts it in perspective
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 15, 2012 9:38:22 GMT -5
Never heard of the Victoria stone, does it look at all like an opal? Got and pics of stuff you've worked up? this is another beautiful lab created stone that is pricey but just not as pricey as the Gilson opal this page has a lot of beautiful cabs of it www.lopacki.com/stone/victoria/
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