Missing good time with these fellows, who mines opal for us in Australia !!!

Norm 

(boulder opal miner in QLD, Australia) ...

Peter (left) & Ken (right)

  

black opal miners in Lightning Ridge, 

NSW, Australia.

These guys are amazing.

Working hard under the heat, looking for precious opal (solid, black opal & boulder opal) 

for us so that we can introduce it to the world !!!   ^^

To see beautiful collection  →   http://www.opal-direct.com

And my big duty is ....

Before being able to introduce it to the world, I have to sit down in front of "the most beautiful gem on earth  -  OPAL" and examine its condition first.

And ask myself the following questions.

*  Is there any scratch, crack, damage, obvious imperfection on the opal ?

*  What is the carat weight, the exact measurements and all details of each opal ?

*  How much will it be in today's market (what is the best price to offer) ?

*  How should I design & set it in the jewelry so the beauty will show most ?

*  What's the best method to show its beauty professionally ? 

*  Where & who will be the most suitable place / person to take it home ?

*  Am I confident enough to sell it and guarantee my clients forever ?  etc ...

        

When all is done & prepared, 

we then list our opal collection to show to everyone !! 

Beautiful thing does not come around easily ...

Without these fellows hard work and my part, 

you might not be able to see these 

"rainbow collection" today. 

(^^)

http://www.gemstory.com.au

xxxx     Malayvone

Steal my heart with this opal !! (^^)

What a beauty !!!

I have accidentally found a 'HEART SHAPE' in this lovely boulder opal loose while taking photos and videos. 

Now available to see and buy online.

http://www.opal-direct.com

For more info   :    http://goo.gl/v3gWL2

As you turn this opal loose, 

the color in the center changes dramatically from 

blue to vivid orange, gold, green, 

and at the same time, 

it shows an amazing the pattern of 

clear 'HEART'    

(^^)

Never seen such lovely pattern as clear as this.

This boulder opal loose is ( of course! ) 100% natural 

so "money can not replace its beauty" ... 

You can see how bright the color is, 

its shape so pretty, 

very easy and smooth to set into a ring or a pendant 

right away, clean face, dark body ... 

Exallent value too !!

A popular color range  -  turquoise blue !!!

An "earthy color"  some may call this.

So .... who deserves this 'BIG HEART' ??!!?

xxxx     Malayvone

Lightning Ridge, here I come !! ^^

Another excitement ahead !!!

Visiting Lightning Ridge (N.S.W - Australia)  - home of the black opal  (^^)

For those who's not familiar with this town, 

please check out 

↓

　

http://www.gemstory.com.au/lightning-ridge-history.html

Loving this place for the smile, friendship, passion and more.

Tony (left) and Ken (right) ... 

true legend in black opal mine, 

they own a PUB called 

the Sheepyard & the Hilton !

Successful opal miners do not show their wealth, they just drink a bit more than others, haha.

 

Just hoping to find more 'top quality' black opals 

at Lightning Ridge for my new creations, beautiful opal jewelry and unique artworks. 

And enjoy a bit of party with friends & colleagues. 

Maybe drink a little more  ...

Anyway, can't wait to go home, 

visiting family in Gold Coast!

As well as seeing friends in opal mines  -  

Lightning Ridge & Quilpie & Winton.

Need more time but I shoudn't ask for too much ...

Life is already TOO WONDERFUL !!!

xxxx    Malayvone

OPAL MINING ...

Mining Boulder Opal in Queensland, Australia - 

is not an easy job. It's hot out there, it's a remote area,

can be a lonely place ... and most of all it costs you 

"fortune" to become an OPAL MINER ...

yet not many people understands it.

 

I drove up to a place called "WINTON" from Gold Coast, approximately 1,600km far North from where I live last week.

It was a long drive in max heat but was worth visiting ...

 

 

On my way up, all I could see was lots of

"road works" and "heaps of dead kangaroos" !!!

That was all I could remember anyway  (^^;)

 

 

 

 

Two days later, I finally arrived & met a

BIG BOULDER OPAL MINER in WINTON (Happy Valley)

called Vlado with his lovely wife June,

also Vlado's son (handsome ) Paul.

 

 

What Vlado & Paul do all day is just moving

an excavigator to remove sand rocks,

dig, dig and more digging, non stop !!!!

They spend so much money on fuels just to

keep moving this monster machine.

 

And only rarely ... very rarely indeed, you'll be able to

see a piece of  "rainbow" like an image here,

if you're lucky. Unfortunately not many miners are

as lucky as Vlado though ... sad ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The buyers often ask me "why is Australian Opal so expensive"

or "why can't you supply more high quality black opal 

& boulder opal from Australia regularly" ...

 

And my answers to this is "because it costs a lot to

set up even before start mining opals,

too much costs & too much efforts to find too little opals

and quality Australian black opal & boulder opal

is extremely rare, much more rare & precious

than many other gemstones" !!!!!

 

 

I think you've got to be crazy or unique to stay

in OPAL BUSINESS,

but once you get involved ...

It's in your blood for the rest of your life.

 

Fortunate or ufortunate ??!!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was really a pleasure to get to know Vlado,

beautiful June & Paul at their camp.

They are such hard working miners,

lovely personels, have experiences & histories

in opal industry. Without passionate people like them,

the world won't be able to see or touch an amazing

"Australian Boulder Opal" from Queensland, Australia.

 

www.gemstory.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, not to forget to mention that June is a wonderful COOK too!! She made us home grown salads, vegie pies,

pasta salads and yummy

BARRAMUNDI FRITTER   (^^) !!

 

A hard work can not end without a great meal, right?!?

I guess Vlado loves June so much because she's beautiful inside out, she's patient, she's smart and

above all, she's a great cook.

 

Thanks for their hospitality!!!

 

 

 

xxxx    Malayvone

 

So long my lovely "second home" ...

 

 

 

It's been 10 years since we've opened our retail space

in Surfers Paradise District.

 

The very "EXCITING" 10 years I must admit ...

 

Lots of dramas (usually good), laughters, joy of tears and unforgettable memories

we shared with our beautiful shop staff

& our customer!! 

 

 

http://www.gemstory.com.au/notice.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

But that will come to an end, because we

have to move on when the Lease Contract

finishes this month. (- -;) 

 

Well, one page is ending here and another page is

just about to open, that's all !!! 

 

 

 

 

The business will stay running even without

our retail space. Now that we can concentrate

on more things such as exporting & wholesaling

to Japan, as well as to other markets.

 

With more time at my new office (my home) 

I can design new products for our

new customer and so on ...  

 

Just can't tell enough how much I appreciate all my shop staff, friend and regular customer ...

 

To those who's been supportive since year 2003.

Without you, we wouldn't get this far and be here today so "THANK YOU" sincerely.

 

 

 

I remember my very first item ( K18 Diamonds -

Solid Australian Boulder Opal Pendant )

I have designed for my USA customer in 2003 ...

Sending this item to USA was not easy due to the

 limitation of insurance value and all the rule

I was not very familian with, back then ...

 

Anyway, customer received it after waiting for

several weeks and how happy she was,

she called me from CA just to say "thank you"!!

 

This piece is special, is still one of my memorable item, hehehe ... (^^) 

 

Stay in touch, cheers!!

 

 

xxxx      Malayvone 

 

 

You love RED, don't you!?

Hello everyone.


It's always fun for me to choose an opal with customer.

Everyone has a different taste.

I can see their personality from the way they choose an opal :)

Also, some people like a green piece, some like a large opal, and some only like a black opal.

A gentleman who purchased this beautiful "sunset red" opal likes only RED!!

I explained how blue-green opals are nice, and he totally understood, but he backed to RED :)

Our designer, Malayvone Souvannavong drew beautiful

designs in a pendant.

Because this opal has a natural sandy spot on the surface, so she can design it into a special piece!!

Have a lovely day.xxx

Mayu

can't have the same one

Hello everyone!!

I love taking pictures of  the "sky".

It never let me see the same

scene and keep changing the face.

Opals make me feel the same way.

They never come in the same colours and shapes.

You can enjoy every moment.

I don't think other gemstones have this kind of joy....

I wish more and more people will see their beauty....

Have a lovely night xxx

                         Mayu

a perfect piece...

How was your Christmas ?
Hope everyone had a wonderful moment...

I am really impressed by the colour of this Boulder Opal!!
I'm a blue girl and this pendant is one of my favorite.

This blue is soft but blight, I also like its shape.
To imagine wearing it on my neck makes me super happy and I have a lot of ideas of style to match with it!!

I believe that to have a perfect piece of jewelry is a great pleasure of life!!

Wish each of you have found / would find the one...

xoxo
Mayu