In the unique new DVD Guide to Black Opal we are taken on a step by step opal cutting tour revealing the tips and tricks of three experts - each with over 30 years of opal industry experience.

Lightning Ridge commercial cutter Elisabeth Pal shows precision and speed cutting techniques, inlay into a ring and doublet making, as well as cutting the spectacular "red on black" featured on the cover into the 30 carat gem opal "Princess Mary".

Former President of the Opal Association Mike Burfitt shows how to cut difficult and baroque stones with a hand piece.

Finally long time opal wholesaler and President of the Opal Association Peter Evans compares a wide range of commercial cut black opals and explains how to determine wholesale value.

The DVD runs for 73 minutes and covers the following:

Chapter 1: Introduction - what is a black opal
Chapter 2: Evaluating rough opal - nobby, seam & fossil
Chapter 3: Overview of equipment
Chapter 4: Dopping and Removing Stones
Chapter 5: Cutting a gem "red on black" into the "Princess Mary"
Chapter 6: Making Doublets
Chapter 7: Calibrated and Small Stones
Chapter 8: Cutting Matched Pairs
Chapter 9: Doing Inlay into a Ring
Chapter 10: Tips for a Well Cut Stone
Chapter 11: Using Small Tools
Chapter 12: Valuing opal


Available in formats to suit the US, Canada, Japan (NTSC) and also to suit Europe, Australia (PAL). DVD players for SAGEM format countries (France, Russian and related countries) can also read PAL format disks.

This DVD is a visual feast for opal lovers. As a European customer said about the cutting of Princess Mary: "da fallen jedem von uns unter Garantie die Augen heraus!" which means roughly ".. guarantee everyones eyes will fall out!". Most people never get to see gems of this quality, let alone see them getting cut from a difficult piece of rough with such exceptional skill.

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