Australia Andamooka Opal Cabochon 8.8ct 17 mm X 15 mm Spangled “Glorious Galaxy”

Description: NOTE: All prices are in USD. Free Domestic shipping. This listing was written from my heart and mind, with a detailed knowledge of and a love for our OOO products. Since June 2023 eBay has been promoting Artificial Intelligence-generated listing descriptions. I am not faulting AI generation. AI is a wonderful development. I just prefer to do it my way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did Christmas gift shopping sneak up on you last year? Oh, NO! Don’t let that happen again! This is a very good time to buy for next Christmas — or for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Graduations, Birthdays, Quinceaneras, Weddings, Anniversaries, Why not 4th of July? Or even to celebrate Any Day with a very special and unusual gift. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Australia Andamooka Opal Cabochon 1 7 x 15 mm @ 8.8 ct. Vivid Reds in Spangled Play of Colors. “Glorious Galaxy”. Fathers’ Day, Graduation, and Birthday gifts are in order. How about giving this one-of-a-kind Andamooka opal? It is perfectly suited for, and ready to be set as, a Ladies pendant or a Men’s ring. And, there is no shame in buying this for yourself! We are offering here a striking Australian Andamooka matrix opal oval cabochon with vivid reds in its spangled full-spectrum play of colors. Measurements of the gemstone are 17 mm x 15 mm x 4 mm; the weight is 8.8+ ct. This gemstone will make a huge statement pendant set in 18k or 14k gold; silver would work as well. The gem displays a striking “Play of Colors”, including brilliant sparkles of red, red, red! Andamooka opals are outrageously beautiful and far less costly alternatives to the revered and much more expensive Lightning Ridge black opals. For this reason, Andamooka matrix stones have become increasingly popular as the cost of black opal has become exceedingly expensive. The stone has been in our possession since the early 2000s. It is a natural solid Australian opal, we do not sell any lab-created stimulants or “opal” from any other countries. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT IS ANDAMOOKA OPAL? Andamooka matrix opal is composed of precious opal disseminated throughout a light colored porous limestone host rock. As mined, the play of opal color does not present a strong contrast with the pale color of the limestone. In order to accentuate the opal play of color against the limestone matrix the stone is cooked in a heavy sugar solution. Opal has a glassy internal structure so it is impervious and unaffected by the sugar bath; however, the porous limestone matrix allows penetration of the sugar. The sugar in the limestone is then blackened/“carbonized” in a strong acid bath, a process that doesn’t affect the precious opal but allows the opal play of colors to “pop” against the dark background. This results in a stone that is a beautiful and a far less expensive alternative to the much more expensive Lightning Ridge black opal. For this reason, Andamooka matrix stones have become increasingly popular as the cost of black opal has become exceedingly high. The “cooking” process is time-consuming, tedious, and dangerous, but so worth the effort. Listing photos show the natural light-colored limestone before it is carbonized. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DIGITAL REPRESENTATION OF OPAL With digital photography it is impossible to represent an opal with 100% accuracy. We strive to accurately describe and depict our opal offered for sale. Our listing photos are taken with an iPhone camera in different natural light during different times of day. Some photos may have the light exposure adjusted to best show the color play of opal against background, however the color balance is not adjusted in any way. We note any imperfections and show them in the photos if possible. All measurements are as accurate as possible using standard gemology instruments. The size of our stones may be depicted with ruler or a brass caliper that shows actual dimensions, or with a US penny for scale. Please read the description and examine the photos carefully to ascertain if the stones are acceptable before placing your order. We try very hard to avoid returns as they are time consuming and costly to us, and disappointing to you. RETURNS We recognize that opal can be a major purchase. We encourage questions and conversation about our opal so the buyer knows exactly what is offered. If you feel this opal is not as represented please contact us to discuss any issues you may have. We try hard to avoid any returns. If it is agreed the opal will be returned for refund, you may return it in its’ original condition in protective packaging within 7 days of receipt. Refund to the buyer will amount to the purchase price minus outbound shipping charge and eBay seller fees. PAYMENT AND SHIPMENT We ship by USPS First Class Mail which includes tracking and full insurance. Shipping is usually completed in 1 - 2 days. FEEDBACK Positive Feedback from a satisfied buyer is very important to us. If you are displeased with any aspect of our transaction, please message us so that we may rectify any problem and eliminate the need for negative feedback. We appreciate your business and thank you for trusting us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OUTBACK OZ OPAL The “we” of this narrative was a two-Geologist family unit, aspiring to acquire Australian opal rough to cut and sell in the US. Our initial opal purchase from a miner-cutter was made in the middle of the main street of Coober Pedy, South Australia. What an adventure! Subsequent opal purchases of rough and finished stones were made at the Tucson, AZ Gem and Mineral Show where we developed some valuable friendships with Australian miner-cutter vendors. We learned so much about grading and cutting opal from them. Eventually we were able to purchase the bulk of our opal off the kitchen table at our Flagstaff home from miner-cutter dealers who routed through on the gem show circuit (Albuquerque, Durango, Denver, Las Vegas, etc). Ultimately one of the opal miners stored hundreds of pounds of rough cutting material in a SeaLand container on our property to avoid the expense of returning with unsold goods to Australia. For several years we sold opal in Flagstaff, Arizona under the name Outback Oz Opal. We sold on eBay and locally to Native American artists on the nearby Reservation. Additionally we travelled each month to a New Mexico Pueblo where we sold with the native traders from the back of our pickup truck parked “under the tree”. What a dream hobby for two Geologists! But, as is always the case, life happened — a great job opportunity for the Dad in another state and Military service for the Grandson, who had grown up with us in the opal business and cut his first opal fetish when he was in Kindergarten — a Turquoise bear with tire tred tracks on the bottom of its feet. As you can guess I, the Grandmother, still have and treasure that fetish! We are again selling our opal online. We are OznAzOpal on eBay and OutbackOzOpal on other internet selling platforms. In addition to opal and Native American trade goods, we are listing items of the accumulation of family treasures, a.k.a. “stuff”. Please check out our listings which we truly believe are good value, as this is primarily a downsizing effort rather than a business. “I AM HAVING MY OWN ESTATE SALE”. We appreciate your business and thank you so much for trusting Outback Oz Opal. 060623.5

Price: 288 USD

Location: Flagstaff, Arizona

End Time: 2024-10-08T00:55:46.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD