In this day and age it does this old mans heart good to see your son following in his fathers footsteps. The pride you feel is exactly what your father felt.

Not everyone can afford those thumb sized beasts. These little rippers can still be amazing gems and open up black opal to us regular folks. Thanks you for putting your cutting wizardry on these little guys, too. 🤩

It is fantastic watching Saxon peering over your shoulder as you cut. I imagine thats what you used to do when your father would cut when you were younger. We’re watching the next generation of master cutter being born! You must be dead proud Justin. You deserve it.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

That I am :-)

Justin, I found your channel about 10 days ago and I was just in the worst headspace. Your work is so wonderful and has given me so much joy to watch - I just wanted to say thanks. I have been learning lots from you and just wanna start cutting opals myself one day!! 💜💜💜

Thanks for the words of wisdom around 10 minutes. It fits in with your personality perfectly. Good gem cutter and a good man.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

I appreciate that!

Beautiful. Ya know Justin, these videos are eventually going to be such a gift to Saxon. When you are no longer here, he and your grandchildren will have your little pearls of wisdom and humor to watch over and over. So not only is this a gift to us, but it'll be a gift to your family for years to come, long after you are gone!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you you are right just like the videos I made with my father

@glenjones5416

4 ай бұрын

Sweet work Maestro. Another wonderful, beautiful journey.

@veganbutcherhackepeter

4 ай бұрын

Bit morbid, don't you think? Justin is in his prime.

@CookingWithCows

4 ай бұрын

You're writing as if he's on his way out. The man is barely 23 years old.

@suep9445

4 ай бұрын

​@CookingWithCows it's never too early to realize none of us ever knows what's around the corner.

Thanks for the dance, that Jem was is fantastic.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man, true nobility is being superior to your former self.” Ernest Hemingway. Another amazing gem brought to life. Thanks.

Another signature gem. One of a kind with a unique landscape to the colors.

Hi Justin, thanks gor the video.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

No Thank you

Your advice at the 10 minute mark was superb, thankyou for caring enough about your viewers to share your wisdom and your skill.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Bigger isn't always better. I love this one

Lovely black opal! I agree, would love to see the other portion of of that stone. Always a pleasure to see what you have in store for us on Mondays. Thanks for bringing us along as you expose the beauty hidden within each piece.

You have awesome manual dexterity, working those smaller pieces. I pray you never get arthritis.❤

Another beautiful OPAL and it is nice to see your Son......Thanks Justin....Shoe🇺🇸

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Our pleasure! Thanks Shoe

I so enjoy watching your skill at gem cutting. I am amazed at the beauty you can reveal from each stone! I enjoy watching your videos! Thank you for sharing your passion with us!

You are truly an artist, that stone turned out so perfect. Thank you for letting us watch you work.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

My pleasure 😊

Beautiful gem, Justin. I also agree that you must live up to your own expectations and not someone else's. Greetings from Dimboola, in Victoria, Australia 🇦🇺 😀.

Such a beautiful little opal dear Justin and Saxon 👋💎👍! Yes, you can only be yourself because everyone else is already occupied! We can only strive to better ourselves, and our better comes with experience as well as from watching others better than us. You Justin are a treasure of experience for Saxon just as your dad once was for you! Greetings to you all at BOD! 👋❤️👍

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you Susan

WOW. That's a beautiful black opal. The . and brightness are extraordinary. And thank you Justin for the words of wisdom. Words to live by!

Even watching your re-runs is delightful! Please don't ever stop Maestro.

Hi Justin. Great to have you back. This was a ripper of a gem, and watching you use your mastery cutting and expertise at work was a thrill. Great video, thank you and to Black Opal Direct.... until next week....

I was a bit worried about that black potch. It came out very nice. Master at work

The delicacy that you sand these stone is amazing! Each stone is a LOVE.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you

Gorgeous! I'm uber competitive. I've been an athlete, so it came in handy, and everything I've had I've done from scratch myself. I've occasionally been accused of been jealous of a person, but I've never been jealous of anyone, their abilities, or materialistic worth in my life. Let's take you as an example; I sit here watching you produce the most beautiful gems from lumps of rock, because they are my favourite gems, but if I wanted to do this too then I can't think of a better person I'd rather watch to learn from. My competitiveness is what drives me to admire those I see with skill that is out performing my own, and using those people to inspire me to keep improving myself. I imagine jealousy and envy is a waste of time that could be better spent improving ones own skills.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

well said 👏

Another beautiful gem opal from the skills of Justin! Loved that Saxon was glued to watching his dad work his magic on this lovely yet challenging gem. What a beauty!

So beautiful. I was wondering how they cut opals and this video explained it very nicely. It was also fascinating to think this guy makes something worth $3000 in 15 minutes of work but still has to remind himself not to compare himself to others. Good reminder.

Of all the beautiful gems you present. You guys are the most precious.

I stumbled across one of your videos while watching watching videos of the middle east and ukraine and became fascinated by the black opal and you, in a day in time where everyone is trying to kill each other it does my heart good to watch someone turn a stone into something so beautiful ...thank you

It looks like a summer pine forest seen with water and moon light... that's priceless in my oppinikn

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

It does :-)

I watched a video of another KZreadr talking to Justin at the Tucson gem show. The guy was talking about how great of a product it is and how every major person in the industry now uses Justin’s Gemfish ™️. I was really happy to hear that. You should be incredibly proud of yourself and everything you’ve achieved Justin. I love your videos.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you 🙏

Nice saying at the End.. we all should strive for a better us.. ☝️

The beauty showed QUICK

amazing to watch and bring back memories of turning fiddleback wood and sometimes wishing you could put back on what just came off, but so differcult . love watching you

Beautiful gem. Thank you, Justin.

Gorgeous job cutting a really tricky piece of black opal Justin! What a beautiful completed stone so full of color ❣️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Beautiful Gem, and Saxon watching his hero, learning from the master Gem Cutter was a treat to see! It's good to know BOD will be going strong for a long time to come! Catch you on the next. ✌️ 😊

You are fantastic at cutting these awesome gemstone.

Thank you Justin for sharing this adventure and seeing the beauty of the Opal was amazing !

Really fantastic Justin. Just beautiful to watch. I really agree that your videos are a gift to all, especially Saxon and the rest of your family. Thank you for sharing!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much!

That is a beautiful gem!! Great job!! Thank You for sharing this with us! 🥰🥰

Love your camera work. Of course opals are beautiful on their own, but you really make them pop.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Glad you like them!

I don’t know what it is about opals but I find them to be very fascinating. It is not my birthstone or anything like that but I just love how they glimmer and the way they shine. They are truly a beautiful gemstone and I’m just fascinated by their colors and the way that they reflect light in all different colors and shades. They truly are magnificent gems and when I find this channel, it only fuels my interest in them.

Yet another gorgeous opal! If you keep making these amazing gems, how will I ever choose one? ❤😂

That’s a beautiful stone. I’m glad to see that Saxon seems more interested in cutting Opal. 👏👍😊

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Me too!

Gorgeous gem! Envy and jealousy for someone else is silly because you might want what they have, but you never know what trouble actually comes with it. I think the old movie, "The Gods Must Be Crazy" parodied this well.

I JUST discovered your channel and the brand new world of opals! How did I miss this for all these years on youtube?! Either way, glad to have found you!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Welcome!! glad you are here

I like to watch other artisans work at skilled crafts I am not versed in. I buy, sell, trade and restore antiques as a small independent business owner. I'm not rich, but I work for myself when I want how I want, and am semi-retired at 37. I am so grateful to have gotten out of the terrible rat-race of shitty 9-5 jobs, spending all your time working and very little of it actually enjoying life. Now I wake up every day happy to see what the day will bring, instead of trudging off to the salt mines hating what I have to do to survive. I enjoy seeing you love and perfect your craft, like I love and perfect antique restoration. They are both long-acquired skills, that few others possess, but make such beautiful things which can't be created any other way. I feel your passion for your work, and know it in my own self. Good luck to you!

My dad taught me to always do your best at whatever you are doing 😊😊😊😊

Adore these start to finish videos. Nice cameo from Saxon and another wonderful gem

That is a beautiful gem!!

So happy to see how much your channel has grown my friend. I remember during 2020 watching while stuck at home. Amazing progress building not only a following of people, showing the world how amazing opals are and sharing your life with us all. Thank you Justin much love from north idaho usa. My son is going to be going to Australia soon, when we go visit him we plan on stopping by the shop to say hello.

I always watch your videos with your magnificent explanations. I had inherited an opal ring which belonged to my mother. It was bought in Australia when my father had worked there many years ago. I still take it out and look at it from time to time.

A very prophetic cut

Hello Justin, Just wanted to say, that you are such a great guy with a great attitude. I really enjoy your videos and wish you the best.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Thanks, you too!

Good Times As Usual!!!!

Turned into a very nice looking stone. Have a ripper Justin!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you

Great piece Justing 'Good luck cutting it please be carful..🤲🙏

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you, I will

Consistency, Justin, you bring it on. Thank you.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

🙏❤️

You are very good at ginning up the drama.

I like the creamy white contrast to the colors. Keep some of it if you can!

Breakdancing at the end priceless!!😂😂

Justin , Sir , you gave some awesome advice about life !

I just LOVE opals ❤😊

G;Day from Great White North (Ontario) Justin1 THis has to be one of the prettiest in a long while. A real ripper! Congratulations! :-)

We have a similar saying, there is always someone out there better than you (unless you were Ayrton Senna), so strive for the best. You still can be someone else's better.

You are absolutely correct Justin, always striving to be better today than yesterday, that’s some great advice. Pearls of wisdom sir. I bet the bigger part of that nobbie was just as gorgeous as the smaller part, someone is very happy, but wishing they had the smaller part as well. As always, excellent work sir, I could only hope to be 1/4 as good, but I promise you, I will strive to be better today, than I was yesterday. And giving credit due, I follow you, and a select couple more, to learn as much as I can. Thank you for being who you are, you share so much with us, a true inspiration Sir.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for coming along on a journey through our KZread videos.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you Michael

@Kcconnor

4 ай бұрын

I just love how you always manage to bring out the beauty of the world and make the stone a fantastic piece of work for all of the world to see and enjoy. You somehow have to manage to make it a beautiful experience and make it a great piece of art that I can always admire and appreciate more as you do great work on the stone.

another stunner by the Master!!!!!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you

"I got the smaller bit," LOL that's me on the regular

thats a beauty of a stone. nice job

Bravo! Love that little banger of a gem!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you

Perfect orientation and beautiful color. Thanks for sharing. The big one always gets away 😊

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

So true! as a fisherman haha

Wow that polish machine looks EPIC MATE !!! Btw…it’s hard sometimes being a 🦂 …everyday you do your best and always feel like you could do better …The highs and lows 😂❤😂…thx for sharing your thoughts J

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Haha it is hard and thanks for the kinds words Daz

This little opal has a lot of wisdom.

that black podge looked like a smile

Not sure how to say this but my best friend and angel died in lightning ridge in 1982 John Armstrong, his father a truck driver / opal miner in his spare time , John 18/19 wen he died there I was only 14 at that time , he told me all about opals back in the late 70s early 80s for some stupid reason o feel connected to that place although even wen campervanimg around oz I could never bring myself to visit there the hurt is still too deep but watching ur vids brings me peace of mind , thanks Justin

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

I was the same when my father died and didn't go there for a year but I have many times since and it does get easier

Gorgeous gem! Definitely worth the save.

Gorgeous stone!

Beautiful stone!! Beautiful advice well said mate

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Excellent video, and great advice at the end. Comparing oneself to others will only bring misery. "Be the best you can be" is the mantra of my username.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Blow your own trumpet.

Great video as always!

That's a bloody ripper! Love it.

Morning everyone ☺️

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Morning Yoshi I hope you are well

Well spoken my friend!!! And I learned alot from those few words thanks for that keep doing what you do.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

I appreciate that

Stunning , good work thankyou for the upload . They say you dont pick crystals they pick you , I must say I'm drawn to opals they mesmerise me how the colours change and sparkle. One day I'll own one until then I got your channel 👍 new sub from across the pond. All the best mate

Nice little gem Justin!!

Best notification I got all day Justin thank you. Time to go on a binge watching spree can't get enough 😁😁

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Hope you enjoy! haha love it

Gorgeous as always 😊

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you

As always you've cut a beautiful stone!!! I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much 😀

9:40 start of sage like wisdom for the ages 🥰🥹

Well my friend as long as you have your health it is not about riches or what your neighbour has it is about being the best person you can be and loving your neighbour and feeling happy what ever he has in life love is the answer to life itself

Yeah man, that is beautiful! ❤

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you

Another amazing video❤Justin 👍

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thanks again!

Gorgeous gem! Love seeing the opals you cut. Gives me something to work towards:). Just started using my new Gemmaster cabbing machine. I had been using expandable wheel with silica carbide belts. Wow, what a difference the diamond wheels make. Very different from silica carbide. For the price the Gemmaster is pretty good but needs some tweaks. Water needs to hit the wheels closer to the front to cut down on splashing. Need to add waterproof white LED lights behind the splash guard.

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Good luck! Happy cutting!

Holy sun rock I love it Justin

Beautiful!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Goodmorning B.O.D team, a great black opal that turned out to be. 1 ct is enough of this fine gem. i would be backslamming and spinning also 😂, just be the best you can be. Nobody else or material items should matter they will inspire one as you guys do ❤

Yet another stunning gem, I hope Saxon is learning well from his "Old Man"

absolute stunner

Hiya Justin, awesome video and beautifully done on the stone mate. I hope you have a awesome blessed day mate. Cheers! Cya! 😺🐟 out!

@blackopaldirect

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it catfish