Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Not every gem opal story ends in a win…

In this video, I start carving a promising Coober Pedy opal that looks like it could turn into something special—but things don’t go to plan. What begins as a hopeful piece quickly turns into a harsh reminder of the risks involved in rough opal carving.

Opal can be unpredictable. Internal fractures, hidden sand, and stress points can turn a great stone into a loss in seconds—and that’s exactly what happened here.

This is the reality of opal cutting that you don’t always see: sometimes you win, sometimes you learn the hard way.

If you’re into opal mining, carving, or just want to see the real side of the process, this one’s for you.

Let me know—would you have cut it differently?

#opal #cooberpedy #opalcutting #lapidary #gemstones #roughopal

Opal donated by Opal Empire & Jewellery: facebook.com/groups/388295645909820

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Website: roysrocks.com
Facebook Group facebook.com/groups/178708427289073
Facebook facebook.com/roy.lehmann1
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Email roys.rocks@yahoo.com

Mailbox:
PO Box 13080
University Of Adelaide
South Australia, 5005
Australia

Timestamps
00:00 Rough gem Coober Pedy opal
00:53 Torch investigation
01:17 Carving broken opal
04:40 Final stone
09:10 Thanks channel members