Australian Opals..

Discussion in 'Other Investments' started by RichB, Jul 21, 2019.

  1. RichB

    RichB Member

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    Are Australian Opals a good investment..
     
    RichB, Jul 21, 2019
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  2. spannermonkey

    spannermonkey Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    No
     
    spannermonkey, Jul 21, 2019
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  3. GoldenEye

    GoldenEye Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Why?
     
    GoldenEye, Jul 21, 2019
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  4. spannermonkey

    spannermonkey Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Do you understand Opal ?
    It's nothing like bullion ,
    Opinions vary on color
    Who are you going to sell it too ?
    NOT like bullion ,you just go into a shop & sell it
    Want to be educated in Opal ?
    Send me 1kg of gold first
     
    spannermonkey, Jul 21, 2019
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  5. GoldenEye

    GoldenEye Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    All good points Spanner.
    - I was thinking that Australia probably has the world's best opals, so a trip to the opal fields can get you some nice specimens at a good price (if you know your opals and prices).
    - There is a limited supply.
    - They're very popular with some of our Asian neighbours.

    I might be biased as my family has three opal mines. :)
     
    GoldenEye, Jul 21, 2019
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  6. spannermonkey

    spannermonkey Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Well if you understand it ,that's different
    Yes mainly the Asian market buy Opal.
    IF you don't have access to it ?
     
    spannermonkey, Jul 21, 2019
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  7. Oddjob

    Oddjob Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    I dare say with an asset class such as opal being one without a standard gauge (ie 0.9999 etc), whist some opals maybe of higher value (black opals), it maybe more luck if you can find a buyer who values a certain opal at X dollars no different to a selling some older classic cars I suspect. Also, what drives the price of opal part from type, size and quality? If all of a sudden opal becomes the must have piece of jewellery, then demand will drive prices higher I suspect, but that's no sure thing.

    From my limited knowledge, much if not all of the opal mining in Australia is done via family businesses / sole traders...no big corporates that I know of. If corporates were mining opal on an industrial scale as they do for PM's and diamonds, then I would assume a higher demand and more liquid defined market for opals.

    I not knocking opal as it's a beautiful mineral, but without industrial or mainstream investment demand such as PM's, I honestly can't see the value in buying to hopefully hold and sell for higher price in the future.
     
    Oddjob, Jul 21, 2019
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  8. spannermonkey

    spannermonkey Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Not mine
    Around $10K & on it's way the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival

    [​IMG]
     
    spannermonkey, Jul 21, 2019
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  9. Oddjob

    Oddjob Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Even if opal isn't your thing, if traveling in Australia, take time to visit and stay at Coober Pedy. One hell of a strange but very interesting town to spend some time in.
     
    Oddjob, Jul 21, 2019
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  10. sammy

    sammy Active Member Silver Stacker

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    I’ve been in the jewelry industry for nearly 20 years, and I can tell you that the people selling you opals know what they’re worth and there’s no such thing as ‘a good deal’ unless you are a goldsmith and can make a retail margin in them by turning them into a finished piece.
     
    sammy, Jul 21, 2019
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  11. JulieW

    JulieW Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    I find opals quite fascinating but they hold no attraction as jewellery or as investment. I don't know the technicals, but the samples showing the structure of the ancient animals that assist/cause the opal formation are quite engrossing and incredible under magnification.
     
    JulieW, Jul 21, 2019
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