Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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In this video, I carve an Ethiopian crystal opal from rough stone all the way through to final polish—but with one intentional mistake.

By skipping a grit stage during the sanding process, I show how a common beginner error can affect the final finish of an opal. Even with a stable cutting method and careful handling to avoid cracks, this one step makes a noticeable difference in the end result.

This is a full start-to-finish carving process with no commentary, focused on the real outcomes of technique—both good and bad.

If you’re learning opal carving or lapidary work, this is a mistake worth understanding.

#opal #ethiopianopal #opalcutting #lapidary #gemstones #opalcarving

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Timestamps
00:00 Ethiopian opal rough
00:19 Crust picking
01:24 Torchlight inspection
01:48 Carving Ethiopian opal
02:29 Hydrophane opal behaviour
02:53 Carving Ethiopian opal 2.0
04:24 Skipped a grit...
06:03 Polishing with cerium oxide
07:00 Drying Ethiopian opal safely
09:25 Thanks channel members