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Post by parfive on Jun 29, 2017 11:20:58 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,541
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Post by RWA3006 on Aug 1, 2017 23:00:13 GMT -5
Just curious, but can anyone verify that there's currently a "booming" demand for opals? I noticed the article was written by a reporter who appeared affiliated with the Australian opal industry, thus I suspect an agenda on their part.
I ask because I know an older guy who is liquidating inventory and might give me an attractive price on several opals he's hoarded away.
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Post by parfive on Aug 2, 2017 0:19:10 GMT -5
I noticed the article was written by a reporter who appeared affiliated with the Australian opal industry, thus I suspect an agenda on their part. Serena Solomon: “I am an award-winning multimedia freelance journalist based in New York City. My work has appeared in the New York Times, VICE and in DNAinfo where I spent five years as a staff reporter focusing on local news and citywide feature stories.”
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,017
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Post by gemfeller on Aug 2, 2017 9:07:52 GMT -5
I have a fairly long personal experience with the opal market. As the article points out, demand from rising consumer economies in India and China, where precious opals have always been appreciated, are the main reasons for the opal boom. Low mining production is another factor. Japan used to be the world's strongest opal market before its economy slumped.
My personal observation and experience is that Americans have never quite taken strongly to precious opals. There's a growing niche market but the myths about opals being "bad luck" still persist quite strongly. Also, American jewelers have never until recent years promoted opals (or most other colored gems) with the same enthusiasm as their bread-and-butter product, diamonds.
Just my experience FWIW.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,541
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Post by RWA3006 on Aug 2, 2017 21:37:17 GMT -5
Thank you for your insights everyone. Interesting subject.
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