How to polish an opal: a complete step by step guide

How to polish opals. First of all, opal polishing attracts more than a million tailors worldwide. These craftsmen are fascinated by the art of transforming a rough opal into a brilliant gemstone. With the help of specialized machine, they reveal unique color sets during cutting and polishing stages. However, this workshop work exposes artisans to invisible risks. Silica dust, released by the opal during polishing, can cause serious respiratory diseases such as silicasis. First of all , to prevent these dangers , it is essential to adopt safety measures in the workshop , including the wearing of protections and the use of an effective suction system . However, working the opal therefore requires both know-how. As well as vigilance to ensure a striking result without compromising health.

In summary, silica dust can cause lung disease, even if lung cancer.If the mill of the machine does not have enough water flowing on the grinding wheels, tailors can expose to fine silica particles. National safety data thus have very high exposure rates. This demonstrates how dangerous these particles can be. Moreover, these dusts are so thin that they are difficult to see. However che size quality standards are strict and include criteria such as the shape, symmetry, weight and shine of the stone. A high quality size not only ensures the beauty of the opal, but also guarantees its longevity and increases its price.

Thus, ensuring safety when cutting and polishing opals, it is crucial to wear a protective mask and maintain a constant flow of water on the wheels of the machine. This reduces heat and dust, while ensuring smooth and slow wheel work. Which preserves the integrity of the stone. In short, every opal cutter must be aware of the dangers , which the polishing of these precious gems presents. The Australian government's public health recommendations also indicate that amorphous silica is not considered to be carcinogenic. Nevertheless, it is recommended to work in a clean and orderly environment. Thus, enjoy the art of the size and polishing of the opals while respecting the safety rules to protect your health as well as that of others.

The polishing of the opal is an essential process. It aims to transform the surface of the stone, making it not only smoother but also strikingly bright. To begin with, it is crucial to select a raw opal. Bright colors and fascinating patterns. Furthermore, it is preferable to avoid defects such as cracks or inclusions. This could compromise the quality of the final product. Then, with the help of a diamond saw, cut the opal carefully, in order to obtain pieces of the desired shapes and sizes, while ensuring the integrity of its colours and structure. To refine the shape of the opal, and so remove the unwanted parts, use a wet grinding wheel. Then carefully following the contour of the colors to give birth to a curved surface, known as the cabochon. The sanding of the opal requires the use of glass paper of different grains. Start with a coarse grain to eliminate imperfections. Then progress towards a thinner grain, while keeping the opal moist to avoid overheating. Finally, polishing is done using a polishing disc, on which you will apply a bit of cerium oxide or tin oxide. Rub the opal with moderate pressure to reveal its final radiance. Then gently clean it with a soft cloth to admire the result of your work.

After learning how to polish an opal, discover our natural stones in our online shop

The shop