Australian Opals..
- Thread starter RichB
- Start date
No
Why?
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
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.
- 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.
Well if you understand it ,that's differentAll 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.
Yes mainly the Asian market buy Opal.
IF you don't have access to it ?
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.
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.
Not mine
Around $10K & on it's way the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival
Around $10K & on it's way the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival
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.
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.