Poor kid, hope the recovery is going well!

It's so good watching the young fella learn what your father taught you.

I hope you're healing up well, Saxon!! Be glad it's winter and not summer, with you having to wear that turtle shell for your broken back!! My grandmother broke her back at the end of spring one year and had to wear the same type of brace all summer long!! With humidity factors going into the mid to high +40C's!! She was miserable!! I can't wait to see you turn that Opal into a stunning gem, Justin! Your friend, the Retired Paramedic and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦

@DeadlyDigger

Ай бұрын

What happened to him looks serious

@brenturquhart7090

Ай бұрын

Id be interested in knowing as well

@Massangler1856

Ай бұрын

December to February is summer in Australia, so it was summer. Currently fall.

@jenniferlehman326

Ай бұрын

@Massangler1856 Sorry, I always screw that up!! Thank you for the correction!! Jenn 💖

Glad to see you and Tamika survived the opal field and the drive to and from. Glad to see your son up. Loved the stones and his work too.

Saxton I Hope you know that everything happens for a reason and God has a calling for you young man. I went throught something very simular. I pray that you find the reason during this time. Blessing and speedy recovery🙏🏾

I love these field trips.

it's great to see father and son looking over some gems special times together ❤

Here’s to wishing Saxon a quick and speedy recovery! A broken back is serious business for sure. I absolutely can’t wait for the day I get to visit your country. Traveling to Australia and visiting places like Lightening Ridge and Coober Peedy is #1 on my bucket list 🤞. Justin sir, you were able to score some absolute rippers and I can’t wait for the new videos of them being brought to life by you. God Bless and cheers to you all !

I loved this video. Reminds me of my time in Lightning Ridge (where I also had the pleasure of meeting you Justin!) The chambers of the black hand is a fantastic attraction, along with all its other quirks like the castle, the emu's, the paintings on the buildings in town, the bore baths...I could go on forever. I agree, it's the best place on planet earth. Thank you for sharing Justin

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Welcome and glad I met you

Love this video. Thanks for taking us with you. Hope your son is healing up nicely.

One of these days, I'll make it to Lightning Ridge. 🤔

So excited I’ve been watching for years wanting to get my daughter her birthstone! Finally today I was able to get her an opal from you!!! Wasn’t the best one as I couldn’t afford the one I would love to buy her but so happy to finally get her one! I’ve been so in love with opals for a long time! Still searching for one here as we do have opals in Louisiana but they are hard to find it seems. In a sandstone like matrix. Just wanted to say thanks for creating a gem suitable for us to afford and be able to make a dream come true!

6m in and i have to say, that black hand mine is amazing and ive learnt more from the guy talking about how opal forms than ive learned from 11 seasons of opal hunters, despite them telling me how seam opal is formed every single episode lol. Edit...how the heck do...doesn't matter lol hope the youngun mends fast Justin. Good luck.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

It is such an awesome tour with Darryl, he definitely knows his stuff and is great at explaining every detail.

Healing vibes for your young Saxon.

Thank you for sharing your trip and quick visit to Lightning Ridge. From the looks of the roads I don't think your long, straight, and narrow roads have much on my local roads here in Kansas. 😊 I enjoyed your discussion with your son...at my age (73) I appreciate the generation's sharing and communicating...I try to engage my daughters as much as possible. 😊

Get well soon young Saxon. That must be hard for a young man to handle being limited like that. All the best to you and nice work on those gems. You have a fantastic teacher in your father. I was very interested to see what Lightning Ridge was like because I had heard about it from a young age and all my life I have wondered what it would be like to visit, so thank you for showing us how amazingly talented the people are. That art gallery with all the carvings was amazing and so were all the other sculptures. So clever. 😀

Hope Saxon doesn't have too much longer in that brace, although it reminds me of medieval armor. He could always say he broke his back jousting rather than flipping his dirt bike. 😀Thanks to Tamika for sharing the driving, so you could make this video.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Thanks for tuning in :-)

@markpashia7067

Ай бұрын

I was wondering if he was bull riding or something. Makes sense it was a dirt bike. Thankful that modern medicine has come so far these days. Best wishes, Saxon. Justin I use to sixteen hours in a straight shot but now I am lucky to do seven, so I know what you mean. Going on a trip tomorrow that will be three days due to the new limits, but I need some beach time.

great cuts, Saxon!

Looking forward to cutting the crystal, gonna be a real ripper of a gem.

I hope you heal up quickly, Saxon!!

You got me into opals years ago bro, beautiful gems, greetings from Mexico!!!

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

@markpashia7067

Ай бұрын

Rod, they have some beautiful opal in Mexico too. Not black but I love them myself. Had my first wife set up nicely with some milky white opals that had great reds, blues, greens and orange fire in them. Ring, necklace, and earrings that were great together.

@Juarezone333

Ай бұрын

@@markpashia7067 Yeah I know!! I went to an opal mine myself here in Magdalena - Jalisco which is known for its opals but I just found regular, low quality ones :( had fun pretending to be a pickaxe miner though xD.

You guys had me at the dueling purple-nurples in the thumbnail. Great content. Cheers.

I made a comment a while ago about bring us just this kind of content. A rough shopping trip up to the ridge! Thanks for bringing it so fast. It must have been ini the works already when I brought it up.

The stunning pieces you’ve got from Dave over the years, even just the ones we’ve seen on your youtube - holy dooley!

Wow, cannot wait to see those stones finished. Hope you are out of that brace soon Saxon!

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Me too!

Ive seen that gem and you did an outstanding work on that amazing fosillike gem. Really brilliant cut!!!!!!

Been looking for a crystal shell for ages. That one is a beautiful fossil. ❤

Opal truly is the most beautiful gemstone IMO, and such variety too! Diamonds are so boring in comparison, they should stick to industrial and scientific uses, for which they are great. Wishing your son a speedy recovery! I cannot imagine how stressful that must have been as a parent.

I got to go to Australia my senior year of high school for 10 days for a football (American) game. I spent my entire time there on the sunshine coast but I would LOVE to go back and visit lightning ridge. Beautiful country you have there I will never forget that trip one of the best times of my life.

We had a wonderful day in Lightning Ridge 24 years ago. I decided to get some opals while there. Of course we had to get some small triplets for friends as gifts but found one very nice necklace for my wife that was an opal with a lightning shaped piece mounting the opal. Expensive but a fine example to show off to everyone.

That was an interesting talk with the Opal guy explaining the Opal process. Those carvings were insane. Get better soon Saxon. Thank you 👍👍👍😎😎😎

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Thanks

love the number plate mate

lovely video, lovely day. thanks, Justin and Tamika.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Our pleasure!

My wife and I love your awesome videos!

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Glad you like them!

The opals are really nice - especially the black one! Hope Saxon is healing well. Sucks that he couldn't join you for the trip to Lightning Ridge. He's definitely got the Opal cutting gene - he's a natural!

Great video. So funny and interesting.

Such an awesome video. So much enjoy seeing the journey. It hard to imagine the experience of finding such beautiful material there. Thank you for sharing this adventure. That shell was incredible!

So Juston mate, Has Saxon decided to join the Biz? Hope so.. There’s nothing like family… 🙌🏻 Get well soon Saxon..👊🏻 The stones are bloody gorgeous..🎉🎉

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Yes he has

@jamiemorgan4146

Ай бұрын

@@blackopaldirect Great choice. 👍🏻

Looking forward to seeing the cut video for the two gems. Heal up fast Saxon. Best time to break stuff is when you're young.

Justin, I really enjoyed the trip to lighting Ridge, that would be a nice vacation to visit! The two opals you got are amazing looking forward to see you cut them, my Lamborghini moves fast going home like that!! Ha Ha! Hope your son gets better soon. Take care. Leo ✌️

I broke T 10 11 and 12 in a four wheeler accident. I was in hospital for three weeks and then in a titanium brace for 9 months. I was 17 years old and had to buy a huge prom dress that would fit around the brace . My heart went out to your son

This was so much fun to watch, thanks for the video Justin and Co. :)

I'm new finding out Saxon had a accident! I will definitely keep him in my prayers 🙏 and thank you for the field trip.

Appreciate the LR tour! Saxon’s skills are improving quickly. Hope he heals up soon. Cheers.

Saxon, pray you are healing well and don' have too much pain.

Thanks so much for sharing this with us, i hope your son has a good recovery. 👍🏻 👋❤️

Car door tour was good. We enjoyed noodling with the kids. Good times….

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for the vid and Jesus Loves You!

If these gems had the hardness of a diamond, they would definitely not be underrated, but as they are, they're the most beautiful for sure

Great trips lovely gems, and that casual dropped in mention the lad had a broken back... I can't even imagine the drama involved in that one hope he'll be ok, no matter how gruff we are, when our kids get hurt it hits the spot. Best of luck to you both and I hope the recovery and physio goes well.

nice score on the clam shell,your country has amazing lapidary materials.I enjoy cabbing the hard jaspers,agates and anything else that shows up in the states!

That stone and she'll omg❤🎉😊

Thanks for the show; greetings from Granby, Colorado!

The fossilised shell opal in particular, is stunning. I'd be reluctant to do anything with it as even polishing will destroy the shell imprint. Both stones look amazing in totally different ways. Fab trip!

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Yeah about that shell. It’s not a shell anymore but it’s an outstanding gem. Stay tuned for the video

I love these videos when you go out to the mine.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

🙏

Justin the drop you showed which you said was 5.90ct but on your website is was 4.9ct is such a beautiful and stunning piece ! a stone worthy of being in a museum

Love your Toyota. I have the FJ. Thanks for the adventure!

Hearty greetings Justin and Saxon and Tamika from Georgian Bay, Ontario. Interesting mine visit - I cannot believe how flat the land is and the type of vegetation as compared to here where I live. Those gems are over the top exciting. Looking forward to watching you work your magic on these. Best wishes to Saxon in healing his spine. :-)

I hope your son is ok. We went there a couple of weeks ago at Easter, from Sydney! I've never been, and my hubs surprised me with a trip. We joined the Bowlo, checked out all the stalls and shops, visited mines and relaxed in the bore bath every night, after sightseeing. I even got to choose a beautiful little Lightning Ridge solid black opal ring 😍 Gorgeous place, friendly locals, and plenty to see and do!

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

And so much more too. Glad you enjoyed it

nice family bonding and friends as well. Hope to visit Lighning Ridge one day.

Well done 👍 ❤🙏…so awesome to be teaching your young bloke dude 👍

father and son, such a wonderful connection you have. My goodness, hope his back heal nicely! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see how the new stones turn out.

So good to see Saxon hope he is healing up well. Justin & Tamika what a long drive to lighting Ridge looks like an amazing place to visit! Can’t wait to see Justin cut the two beauties!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❣️

amazing adventure summed up in 15 minutes! ✌️🐝➕

Huuuuh, 😊 I know Les Hiddens the Bush Tucker man

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Nice

Those were some beautiful stones you bought and I love the shell opal!! Not sure what has happened to your son but hope he has a speedy recovery!!! I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

Beautiful stones you picked up. I'm looking forward to seeing what you are going to do with them.

Awesome

❤Beautiful arts too...

It's a beautiful tear drop fossil. I wish your son speedy healing. Thanks 💕🇨🇦

Deep Yellow Crystal is money ♥️ the risen sun in a stone

A whole week 😭 but I want to see it now 😢 lol ok I'll be waiting until next week lol

Bloody marvellous ❤

Very cool trip Justin. 😊

Jason. Ask at the Ridge about a stone called Grandpa? this is one you will never forget.

May your son heal quickly! What beautiful opals! Thank you for the tour of some Lighting Ridge attractions -- really cool!

Thank you for the journey. Im fairly new to your channel, I believe I have watched a few episodes in the past, I reconnected after seeing you on Karen's live stream a few weeks ago. I am a lapidary artist in training, have only been cabbing and cutting for about 2 years now. Semi retired at 65 so I hope to do much more in this field by learning from yourself and others. Prayers for quick healing for you son. Thanks again.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Thank you for being here

I love it to justin.last time i was there, my young fella was so sick i spent most of the time in the hospital. And the nurse was one of the nicest people i ever met

Thanks for letting us tag alone on this trip. It’s so cool your son has a big interest in learning your amazing trade. I’m sure you have spent many quality times together over Opals.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Luv it😂, thanks, Opalole😂

Love the "potch" plates lol. Red on black never gets old! My favorite opal in my collection is red and blue on black ❤️

Sad to see your son broken. Hopefully he gets perfect. Love your show.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Thank you

Thank you, Justin, for taking us on your awesome and hilarious journey with you 😄. That cave was incredible!!!! All the themes were amazing!!! I had a blast. Can't wait till next week to see you cut your incredible find. Thank you so much 💗 😊

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

What an awesome video!!!!!!!!!

Gotta get a personal plane ya keep making those long trips lol. Nice vid with great people and some awsome stones🤘 Hope kiddo gets well soon 👍

I hope your son is healing well! I know what wearing that feels like. I wore mine for 3 years😇❤️🙏

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

3 years omg

What a great video! Thanks for sharing😀

The opal that's a rainbow in stone. I don't think you'll ever get one more radiant and surely most beautiful

Thank you for the tour of Lightning Ridge dear Justin and the information about formation of opals. Saxon is on his way to become a great opal cutter just like his dad, that's for sure! The two stones you bought was so beautiful too so I can't wait to see you preform your special magic on them! I wish Saxon a speedy recovery and best wishes for the future, greetings to you all at BOD from me in Sweden. 👋💎👍🇸🇪

Thank you Justin for the adventure , seeing some Opal mines and beautiful scenery ! Praying that Saxon is healing well , will soon be up and going again ! Saxon is coming along pretty well with cutting and polishing Opals !

Spectacular video 😊

Great video. Thanks for taken me as well to LR. Never been there, unfortunately. CO

Thanks for the vid and hope the back is getting better look forward to the next vid

Great video!

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Thanks!

Sorry to hear about Saxon's back. I broke mine a few years ago and it's no picnic. Get better bud!

For the people interested a summary of the opal formation and some additional little facts: Opal is a natural form of glass and consists of Silica spheres, in Lightening Ridge three specific requirements need to be met for it to form. These exact "ingredients" can differ from location to location depending on the geology where you are in the world. The first ingredient in Lightning ridge is a sedimentary deposit of sand that turns into sandstone over millions of years, this is a permeable layer where water can seep through, and it is the source of the silica. Below the sandstone is a layer of clay rich sediment "the opal bearing clays", the clay is practically impermeable to water, and if water can get into it, it can sit there for a long period, this is the second requirement. The third ingredient is the presence of cavities in the clay, either cracks or cavities left by fossils. If the conditions are just right water seeps through the sandstones, dissolves some of the silica from the sand and gets trapped in the cavities in the clay layers. If the water sits there for long enough, the dissolved silica will precipitate out of the water and will form opal. All of these ingredients need to line up perfectly and this is quite rare making opal as rare as it is. When opal precipitates in cracks it will form 'Seam opal', if it precipitates in cavities formed by fossil remains it will form nodules or "Nobbies". If opal fills the entire cavity left by fossils you can even have exact casts of the organism that lived millions of years ago, examples are opal shells, opal belemnites, opal pinecones and opal shark teeth. Not all opal will show the magnificent colors we see in the stones Justin cuts his beautiful gems from. Most opal will be grey, white, colorless or black and is called Potch. If the silica spheres that opal consists of are the right size and precipitate in the right patterns, the opal will show the bright colors we see in the world renowned Lightning Ridge Opal. The size of the silica spheres actually dictates the colors we see in the opal, where the size that creates red is the rarest and therefore the color red in opal makes the stone more valuable. If the colors are in a stone with black Potch the gem is called a black Opal, and when the colors show red it is what Justin calls "Red on Black" which is one of the rarest gemstones in the world.

Here we go,brew in hand.

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Niiiice

A broken back! Dear oh 😢 Heal well, young Man! Sending my best wishes, from Ireland 💚🤍🧡

Glad your boy is ok Justin , my son is a grown man, but he will always be my boy and as parents we never stop worrying . Collected fossils and minerals ever since I was a lad and always had an appreciation for opals but have learnt so much about opal watching your videos. I find myself now usually making the same decisions when you’re contemplating the best way to shape the piece so I must be learning something . Always a pleasure watching you creating such beautiful gems . Much love from the UK . 😀🇬🇧❤️🇦🇺🦮🏍🦔🔭

@blackopaldirect

Ай бұрын

Nice. I’m glad you get value from my videos and no we never stop parenting

Good day Tamika and you too Justin ❤