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Post by opalpyrexia on Nov 15, 2019 14:01:15 GMT -5
I am currently working on a presentation about opal that I will make to my local club on Monday. Intending to mention Paul Downing's 2003 book and bring my own copy, I decided to check availability on Amazon, which previously had none or only one or two used copies for big bucks.
The 2003 version has been reprinted. It can be had for $49.95.
It's only a reprint, not an update. Downing gave up opal for fly fishing years ago. He was (and still is) an opal expert, especially regarding the value of opal. While it is not up to date with today's mining and market, his book still provides the only analytical and systematic explanation of the factors that influence pricing.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,728
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 15, 2019 16:16:17 GMT -5
Excellent book. I'm glad to see it back in print. It's probably the best systematic discussion of opal properties and methods of valuation I've seen.
My only problem is that it's opal valuation system is based on a publication now known as "The Gem Guide." Subscription rates are $205 annually for the digital version, $245 for print (if I interpret their advertising correctly); and $315 for the international version.
I'm a former subscriber to "The Guide" (as named in the book) and I found its pricing astronomically high for any markets I've worked in. Those wholesale prices might apply to "prestige" operations like Tiffany & Co. but I found they had little application to the sales world I inhabit. Maybe I'm wrong - discussion is invited. I may re-subscribe to see if anything's changed.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Nov 15, 2019 17:43:02 GMT -5
One weakness of the book is that Ethiopian opal, which I believe is the lion's share of today's market, deserved only a passing mention before the book switches to discussing jewelry and carving. He states, "This opal is just reaching the market but it is expected to sell in the same range as Mexican material."
Was that a reasonable expectation? For rough? I have no experience buying Ethiopian rough.
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