QuestionHi, I was just reading in your past answers that you have seen very few harlequin opals. Truly? I have just recently taken up opal cutting and buying up rough stones and books and studying stones I see to think of how I would be cutting them. I see many said to be harlequin opals that have me questioning the validity of their description but I recently obtained an identification guide to opals which defined quite a few different harlequin patterns described and pictured. They had the large harlequin, the small, the cobblestone and others. I am interested to hear what you have to say on this. So much to learn
Thanks
AnswerHi Sue,
Great to hear you have taken up opal cutting, I love cutting too.What type of Opal are you cutting mostly ?
Yes thats true about Harlequin Opal , they are very rare .
You know these days with internet and web,the keywords are important, many stones with roughly a checkering pattern is called a Harlequin"stone.Its not a fair call. My father who is 87 next month whos seen the best of Australian Opal in his time(still cutting)reinforces this opinion.Today"they" call anything a Harlequin Opal. The Harlequins we have seen were quite unbelievable to look at, its a beautiful anomaly. Absolute regular Pattern chequering is rare , not to mistaken with a pattern in pinfire. The only Harlequin Opal we have seen in recent times was a Gilson Cultured (lab) opal. It was magic but unfortunately ,not made under natural conditions. It would be a lifetime treat to grind down to reveal that most famous of patterns coming out from under a wet grinding wheel. I had a jelly stone once from Andamooka that had a gorgeous regular off squaring pattern, but it still wasnt Harlequin.I sold in HK in th 90s.
Hope that shines some light. best regards Rod Keady
