Worlds "Finest" opal to be displayed by Australian Museum

[Brightlights]

How many of you clicked in to see if it was my carving!

Don't know if it's really "News" but thought it might belong here.

Australian museum to display 'world's finest opal':

"An Australian museum said Monday it would exhibit what it believes is the best opal stone ever found -- a 6.0-centimetre (2.4 inch) multi-coloured gem unearthed in the Outback named the Virgin Rainbow."

More info at the story in the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/australian-museum-display-worlds-finest-opal-070218179.html

[Rockranger]

Nice...!
To bad they dont have a vid of the colors and pattern play.

[Brightlights]

apparently it was offered for sale previously... Paleontologist argued it was a fossil and couldn't leave Australia under their fossil laws. I think the final concenses was that it was a replacement filling of a fossil void since it was 100% crystal so not a fossil and could be sold. (At least no fossil left after it was polished!!! )

Some more information can be found about it's discovery and the folks involved here:

http://www.antiques-art-collectibles.co ... inbow.html

I recall watching a movie about this or a similar Belemnite movie years back at MAGMA Rockhound Roundup in North Carolina in 07' or 08'. I don't know if it was the same one, this one is black crystal opal pipe where I think the one in the movie was typical white crystal.

Another brief mention and a horrid picture of it's "back side" ... Not flattering:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-02/m ... um/6666344

And another story...

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 7467062147

[PinkDiamond]

Wow, that is awesome, and thanks so much for all the info on it BL. Great reads, and I love the pick of it in the guy's hand. It gives you a better idea of its size. Thanks for posting!

[crazy8s]

Thanks BL that was great fun

[Speckee]

This opal has sat in the guys safe out at L/Ridge for over 20 years I believe. He was knocking back offers of 500-700K, said he wouldn't take anything under a million for it. I wonder what the museum payed?

The name of the series was "Opal fever". I think you can still see clips of this on youtube.

[Rammon2013]

Hardly the worlds finest opal not even close

[OpalSpectrum]

Hardly the worlds finest opal not even close

I agree but they have to use this type of 'terms' to bring attention .. since there is so many 'best museum quality harlequins' on ebay ..etc

[PinkDiamond]

No kidding, and when you hear a term like that you have to wonder whose definition of 'finest' they're talking about.

What it is is gorgeous, and huge, and that seems like enough to me.

[OpalSpectrum]

not the finest and less the 1 mil but still very nice

https://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/o ... tem-564021