TOP SHELF OPALS

Take a look at our Auction Listings. Seller~ TopShelf Opals. Run by Manager/co-owner, Team member and Master Opal Cutter Douglas Mulling. Check back often. Welcome to TopshelfOpals. As a professional cutter specializing in opals, I am an admitted unreformed opalaholic that loves to reveal as much whimsical wonder and beauty as a piece of rough opal can produce. It is my goal to allow these opals to lead and guide me, to shape and polish these colorful rustic stones into pure eye candy, to allow them to come into fruition as objects of beauty to pleasure and inspire other opalholics like myself. You can rest assured that your opal has been cut and polished with love, excitement, anticipation and professional skill.

All My Welo rough stock that I use for cutting are select by hand from the mines and are the best of the top grade out of Ethiopia. You are getting AAA+++ Welo opals, professionally cut by myself that is guaranteed stable. All of the opals that make it to final sales have undergone a trial of procedures to ensure stability. Having worked with Welos since the discovery of the new finds, I have developed special techniques and steps to ensure that only the most stable make it to auction. There are no inclusions of any kind that can create future expansion stress cracks. I do not sell non-Hydrophane Welo opals as most are generally unstable and will eventually develop micro fractures over time from a slow drying process. All my Welos are water tested for stability as those that don't achieve total water saturation have never been tested for possible expansion cracks. The removal of Welos from the host rock is a brutal process and micro fractures are not uncommon. This is crucial for owning a hydrophane opal that will be worn as jewelry, as your opal will eventually contact water with normal wear.

My "estimated" retail price is a price that Is based on my knowledge of opal grading from several professional opals grading reference books, as well as my working knowledge of the Welo Opal and opals in general. I have been cutting and buying different grades of Welo opal, since the discovery in early 2008. I have bought from miners, wholesalers and middlemen and have been cutting Welos exclusively since 2008. I have cut thousands of Welos to date and have been cutting different types of opals from around the world for over 12 years. I am not a certified appraiser, nor do I give appraisals. An actual opal appraisal is only as good as the professional appraisers knowledge of the gems he/she specializes in, so always look for one that specializes in opals to get a true appraisal. One very important component of an appraisal is the replacement value for your gemstone, and is based on many factors. My listed "estimate" retail price is an estimated replacement value for your Welo opal based on my comprehensive knowledge of this type of opal. All opal fields dry up over time and the value of your opal will continue to increase as supply and demand dictates. The highest grade Welos are fantastic Investments, as are all top grade opals from around the world. If you own an investment grade opal, you should eventually get a professional certified appraisal for insurance purposes.