|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 27, 2020 19:10:25 GMT -5
Sometimes - if you find something good in opal rough with lots of inclusions - it can take days to cut a stone. Also lots of Maalox. Didn't have a "before" photo, but the back of the rough shows what it looked like three days ago. Learned the hard way to take a break from them sometimes.
The last photos show the work yet to be done. Right now it's 16 x 9 x 7 mm, and weighs 6.52 cts. Some of the largest inclusion might have to remain to keep from killing the look of the stone. With lots of luck it will stay above 5 cts, but I'll be happy if it's at least 4.
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,062 
Member is Online
|
Post by gemfeller on Dec 27, 2020 19:31:14 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones2 Beautiful stone Vince. I see a clean pear shape (subsurface potch willing...)
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 27, 2020 19:36:57 GMT -5
Dang! Someone needs to clean their finger nails!  |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Dec 27, 2020 19:51:33 GMT -5
That's gonna be awesome!
That looks and sounds like it takes way more patience than I have.
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 27, 2020 20:56:16 GMT -5
That's gonna be awesome!
That looks and sounds like it takes way more patience than I have.
If you cut opal, all it takes is killing a few and you learn all the patience you need!  |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Dec 27, 2020 20:58:38 GMT -5
That's gonna be awesome!
That looks and sounds like it takes way more patience than I have.
If you cut opal, all it takes is killing a few and you learn all the patience you need! Oh, I bet! |
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
|
Post by Fossilman on Dec 27, 2020 21:20:52 GMT -5
Beautiful stone...
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Dec 27, 2020 22:57:14 GMT -5
That's another gorgeous piece Vince.
Out of curiosity, how much would those inclusions affect the value?
|
|
|
|
Post by RickB on Dec 28, 2020 8:57:53 GMT -5
Dang! Someone needs to clean their finger nails! It's rocksputz |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 28, 2020 9:11:11 GMT -5
Thanks, Nate.
Decreased value for inclusions varies according to where they are, and how much they impact the overall appearance. The ones in this "preform" aren't in the face of the stone, and should hopefully be worked out by making a smaller oval (or other shape as suggested by gemfeller) from it. If some of the large one remained it would be near or under the bezel in a piece of jewelry. Maybe 25-30% depending on how much remained visible.
Small inclusions in the face (if they don't break the surface) are generally acceptable - with small hits to the value if they aren't major distractions.
Larger inclusions in the face, or those that break the surface will kill the value by 50% - or more. That's when you'd cut a smaller, higher value stone or two from it.
|
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 28, 2020 10:38:30 GMT -5
That's gonna be awesome!
That looks and sounds like it takes way more patience than I have.
If you cut opal, all it takes is killing a few and you learn all the patience you need! Same thing could be said for dino bone and a few other pricy and fragile stones. Unfortunately, I sometimes need to relearn the same lesson more than once. hummingbirdstones2 Thanks for showing us the progress on that beautiful stones. Good luck with the inclusions, and no espresso for you, until the cutting is done.  |
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,062
Member is Online
|
Post by gemfeller on Dec 28, 2020 12:40:37 GMT -5
I've taken years to cut some stones. There's usually a small pile of "problem" stones next to my Genie. I started to cut them but decided not to finish because because of inclusions or some other issue.
Often, after months or even years, I take another look at them and suddenly a solution jumps into my head. Lapidary is a long-term learning process. One devises new techniques slowly, over time, learning with each stone. Often you don't realize how much knowledge you've accumulated until you look back and suddenly see solutions to earlier dead-end attempts.
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 31, 2020 21:16:02 GMT -5
Progress Report: It still lives (knock on my wooden head) and the appearance has improved a bit.
The first photo shows where the largest inclusions were, on the right-hand side in the photo. Stone is rotated 180 degrees for the second photo.
Was 16 x 9 mm - is now 14 x 8 mm. Still has work to be done.
Wish me luck - recutting one like this is hard on my last nerve... .
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,062
Member is Online
|
Post by gemfeller on Dec 31, 2020 21:24:01 GMT -5
Luck sent. It's a beautiful black!
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 31, 2020 21:31:59 GMT -5
Thanks! Glad you like how it looks now. I was very happy, and a bit surprised, that so much of that large inclusion came out on this recut.
|
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Dec 31, 2020 21:45:39 GMT -5
Progress Report: It still lives (knock on my wooden head) and the appearance has improved a bit.
The first photo shows where the largest inclusions were, on the right-hand side in the photo. Stone is rotated 180 degrees for the second photo.
Was 16 x 9 mm - is now 14 x 8 mm. Still has work to be done.
...
Wish me luck - recutting one like this is hard on my last nerve... .
Looks to me like you're nearly there, and that your luck gave way to your skill and really paid off!
I have a good sized black that I cut back when I barely knew what I was doing. I thought I did a good job, but an experienced opal cutter took a look at it and suggested that I didn't remove enough material. Unsure of myself, I just left it as is. I should really go dig it out and have a go.
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 31, 2020 21:54:02 GMT -5
Progress Report: It still lives (knock on my wooden head) and the appearance has improved a bit.
The first photo shows where the largest inclusions were, on the right-hand side in the photo. Stone is rotated 180 degrees for the second photo.
Was 16 x 9 mm - is now 14 x 8 mm. Still has work to be done.
...
Wish me luck - recutting one like this is hard on my last nerve... .
Looks to me like you're nearly there, and that your luck gave way to your skill and really paid off!
I have a good sized black that I cut back when I barely knew what I was doing. I thought I did a good job, but an experienced opal cutter took a look at it and suggested that I didn't remove enough material. Unsure of myself, I just left it as is. I should really go dig it out and have a go.
You should, Gary! The fact is, sometimes making a smaller flawless stone is worth the loss of the carat weight. Price per carat goes up and nullifies the weight loss. Took both of us a while to get over cutting off more to get more. |
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 31, 2020 22:04:00 GMT -5
That is coming along very nicely. I wish I had 10% of your patience, and 10% of your willingness to lose material to make a better cab. While we’re at it, 10% of your skill with calibrated shapes. The last one may be related to the first, and a decent workplace.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Dec 31, 2020 23:01:41 GMT -5
Vince, I have zero experience with cutting opals...but I know what my eyes are telling me...Wowza! That is looking really amazing! |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 31, 2020 23:07:07 GMT -5
That is coming along very nicely. I wish I had 10% of your patience, and 10% of your willingness to lose material to make a better cab. While we’re at it, 10% of your skill with calibrated shapes. The last one may be related to the first, and a decent workplace. It's not calibrated -- he does it all by eye. Pisses me off.
Really it's not willingness; it's necessity. Look at the first picture and the last one. Which one would you rather buy and spend good money on?
|
|
