Turning a fossil into the best crystal opal I have ever cut

Turning a fossil into the best crystal opal I have ever cut

Off the back of my last trip out to the Lightning Ridge Opal mines, I came back with this epic Shell Fossil.
This is one of the most incredible Crystal Opals we have witnessed in a very long time.
From its clear and glassy appearance to its vibrant showcase of colors and patterns, this is the deciding factor in taking it from a fossil to a polished opal.
My approach to cutting this gem is to be extremely cautious not to lose any play of color, there is no room for error.

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45 Comments

  1. @aetherseraph on December 4, 2024 at 7:31 pm

    Holy cow, so this is what you are always chasing



  2. @forrestshadow on December 4, 2024 at 7:32 pm

    I’ll give ya 20 bucks for it AND throw in shipping. . . .ok, 25



  3. @hammersavage5504 on December 4, 2024 at 7:34 pm

    Amazing.. simply amazing. Bravo, Justin!



  4. @sherrychaney9946 on December 4, 2024 at 7:34 pm

    Opals are my favorite ! This is truly one of the most Beautiful ones I’ve ever saw.I agree both sides need to be showcased in a setting !!!



  5. @Jurinich on December 4, 2024 at 7:35 pm

    How can one say which is more beautiful?



  6. @trippstickx on December 4, 2024 at 7:43 pm

    Seems every time I’m at a low point in my life the YT Algo brings me back to you to give me that much needed relief and hope in life again. Thank you for always reminding us the beauty of this planet.



  7. @Shukarr on December 4, 2024 at 7:45 pm

    Double side it!



  8. @elisedennis7870 on December 4, 2024 at 7:46 pm

    This one is my most favorite one yet



  9. @ginnicolee2502 on December 4, 2024 at 7:49 pm

    I love the back. Im glad you’re keeping it. So beautiful ❤



  10. @shawnstatzer95 on December 4, 2024 at 7:50 pm

    I am in a delima; I have a large and complete opalized multicolored cockle. Admittedly, I am earnestly thinking of cutting it. I am torn on this, though. So many people in the opal community shun even the thought of cutting it. It could be financially valuable if cut. I do appreciate fossils, but I also appreciate opals. Is there any way to determine how deep the colors run in it? Thanks.



  11. @nikolaostsigolis1188 on December 4, 2024 at 7:51 pm

    Wow. It’s beautiful ❤️❤️



  12. @Aaronbtc4 on December 4, 2024 at 7:51 pm

    Becarefull with precious!!! Lol!!!



  13. @wollvieh2000 on December 4, 2024 at 7:52 pm

    what you call the back for me is the front



  14. @beckydavid4066 on December 4, 2024 at 7:54 pm

    It would be great to put a very thin pin down the middle and make it a spinning gem. It is too beautiful to hide any part of it. Put it on a gold chain and give it to your wife for Christmas. Love your show.



  15. @xandertg6126 on December 4, 2024 at 7:55 pm

    I rather the back side since it seems like if i was looking inside of the gemstone soul. The reason of its brightness.



  16. @Night_Wood on December 4, 2024 at 7:55 pm

    Crystal opal, the ones with color on color like you say, are my favorite looking thing in existence



  17. @bofilen-ii4fs on December 4, 2024 at 7:56 pm

    Why is not the opal cut like a diamond? Is it no use to do that…
    I thought the more facetts the better the shine….
    Thx fore a very interesting channel



  18. @angels0auras on December 4, 2024 at 7:56 pm

    What a great job you have ❣️



  19. @KeithFoster-re5xj on December 4, 2024 at 7:57 pm

    With a gem like that I’d be so tempted to simply polish and then edge in silver to make a 2 sided necklace pendant.



  20. @riazcheema9086 on December 4, 2024 at 7:58 pm

    How can I define my feelings when I see beautiful gem in your hands.i feel happiness.



  21. @cynthiarowley719 on December 4, 2024 at 8:07 pm

    Another 40 years in a bag in a vault. A princess in a tower.



  22. @mysticalbeeson on December 4, 2024 at 8:07 pm

    Make a necklace out of it with a thin setting around the sides so you can see both sides of that beautiful stone!



  23. @douglaswilt5978 on December 4, 2024 at 8:08 pm

    It’s beautiful



  24. @beaugarfoot6735 on December 4, 2024 at 8:08 pm

    Thick enough I’d go for 2 kick arse stones over 3.5ct eachs.



  25. @chrisv6086 on December 4, 2024 at 8:08 pm

    Justin finding the Arkenstone and starting to get dwarven sickness…



  26. @CentralFloridaBowHunting on December 4, 2024 at 8:09 pm

    Back for me, it’s amazing but the depth of that back is amazing



  27. @beckydavid4066 on December 4, 2024 at 8:09 pm

    You wouldn’t have to put a pin in it if you could hug it with gold all around and make a spinner but with a pin you could appreciate it fully when it spins.



  28. @mikelawrence274 on December 4, 2024 at 8:10 pm

    Astonishingly beautiful. The value is Priceless!



  29. @Northstardanes on December 4, 2024 at 8:10 pm

    just stunning… I’d keep it too



  30. @judgetk8327 on December 4, 2024 at 8:12 pm

    I think I know what side is the best. Let me know if you agree with me. That would be the inside. Well done Justin.



  31. @badomaji on December 4, 2024 at 8:13 pm

    It looks other-worldly.



  32. @sylviacrossman4562 on December 4, 2024 at 8:16 pm

    Wow it’s beautiful.



  33. @lindastevens6861 on December 4, 2024 at 8:18 pm

    Back is beautiful but to display both sides would be smashing



  34. @Kimichitsuzuku on December 4, 2024 at 8:18 pm

    I would put it in a pendant cage / spinner setting so that both sides of the crystal get displayed in turn.



  35. @LauraWagner-c3m on December 4, 2024 at 8:19 pm

    I think you should do a swivel bezel setting. It’s a bezel setting with two connections on opposite side inside of Another ring of metal so that you can flip the stone over( If balanced, it would spin when held away from the body). My mother had a pearl in a cage, But I think that might hide some of the beauty



  36. @tigereye508 on December 4, 2024 at 8:19 pm

    Thank you. It was an honor to watch this.



  37. @crystalcleartruth221 on December 4, 2024 at 8:20 pm

    You should drill it top to bottom and it can be put on a headpin and worn as a pendant that way.. that way the whole thing is continuously on display because it can rotate in a circle.



  38. @HuyPham-o7q on December 4, 2024 at 8:22 pm

    Ah there appears to be an inclusion on the "back" of this gem? Beautiful regardless, but did you end up going back to fix that inclusion, and make it truly perfect?? Cheers



  39. @steann1 on December 4, 2024 at 8:23 pm

    It has no back or front..
    .. it is double sided.. twice the price..



  40. @vortexgen1 on December 4, 2024 at 8:25 pm

    It needs to go into a neckless that shows the whole stone.



  41. @chrisberry9017 on December 4, 2024 at 8:26 pm

    Videos like this are a form of meditation. They are totally captivating! Thank you for sharing ‘finding’ this wonderful gem!



  42. @claudiosaltara7003 on December 4, 2024 at 8:29 pm

    Why is it called crystal? If it is not acrystal, what would be called?



  43. @faysitler1211 on December 4, 2024 at 8:29 pm

    Yep, one holy s*** stone. That is gorgeous



  44. @faysitler1211 on December 4, 2024 at 8:29 pm

    Remember how they used to mount mustard seeds. Make that one a double-sided, yep, save it for the kids



  45. @deadletter4317 on December 4, 2024 at 8:30 pm

    The forbidden cough drop…