How to Cut and Polish a Blue Lightning Ridge Opal

Blue Lightning Ridge opals are some of the most beautiful and valuable in the world. They are found in a small area in New South Wales, Australia, and are prized for their unique colour and patterns.

If you are lucky enough to own one of these opals, you will want to take care of it and keep it looking its best. So here are some tips on how to cut and polish a Blue Lightning Ridge opal.

With proper care, your opal will last a lifetime and be a beautiful addition to your collection.

About Lightning Ridge Opals:

These opals are found in the southwest corner of New South Wales, Australia, in Lightning Ridge. They have been mined since about 1915, although there was no significant mining until after World War II.

Cutting the opal:

When cutting an opal, you want to make sure that you cut it so that as much of the colour is exposed. This means that you should not cut corners or round edges; instead, try to keep your cuts straight with minimal rounding or rounding only on corners that would be impossible to cut straight.

Choose a design for the face of your opal:

Choose a design for the face of your opal that complements its shape. You can use any design you like, but it should fit comfortably on the surface of your gemstone without cutting into its depth or obscuring any part of lightning ridge jewellery shops. It would be best if you chose something that fits well because otherwise, it will look awkward.

Create a pattern on paper:

Create a pattern on paper by drawing out what you want to carve onto your opal. Make sure that all sides match so that they look consistent when finished. Use graphite paper to help draw out your design before carving into the stone itself so that there’s no need for guesswork when sculpting with chisels.

Cut the opal to match:

Before you start opal polishing your Blue Lightning Ridge, make sure that it is cut to match the pattern on the outside. Many different shapes can be used for cutting this type of stone, but most people use an oval shape because it allows them to see more of the pattern on the stone itself.

Conclusion:

The most important thing when caring for a Blue Lightning Ridge opal is to avoid heat. Never place your opal in direct sunlight, as doing so could damage it. Also, keep your opal away from any heat source. This includes saunas, hot tubs, and any heating or cooling appliance.