I am so impressed with Al and his store!!! After wanting to visit for a while, I finally made it…read moreinto Al's Opals and Lapidary Shop for the first time today! When I first walked in I noticed lots of rock samples, cut stones (both natural and lab made, cut, cabochoned, faceted, and rough) and cases full of beautifully hand-made jewelry, as well as lots and lots of opals! There was a woman at the counter who was very friendly (although she didn't speak much English - which didn't matter because she could understand everything we wanted to see, waited on us very attentively, and if she didn't know something she would just check with Al) and ushered me into the back of the store where Al was working on some stones and jewelry. Keep in mind she is a bit shy but she absolutely could not have been sweeter - and I don't speak a word of Spanish! The woman immediately brought chairs and invited us to sit down with Al, get to know him, and chat! Al is such an absolute gentleman and a joy to spend time with! We talked about opals, cabochon cutting, gems and minerals in general, World War II, and family and he was an absolute wealth of information! Anything you would want to know you can ask him because he's been in this business for literally decades and is an absolute expert on anything lapidary as well as a World War II Navy Veteran. When we were back there it was just like spending time with family and friends in a neighborhood you've grown up in all your life, and it seems like the other people who stopped in (including a man who makes absolutely beautiful custom guitars!) view him and his shop in the same way. I don't even know how long we sat there and talked but it was quite a while (although the time went by quickly) but I walked away feeling like I made new friends and gained lots of knowledge about opals and gemstones. Considering this was my first time in the store and when I walked in I was a total stranger, I could not have been more impressed by the care and love Al puts into his business. He takes extra time to meet every customer, finds out what they're interested in, and makes sure that we leave with what we're looking for!
In terms of items at the store, I was super duper happy with what I purchased! I've spend a huge amount of time online, ebay especially, bidding on, purchasing, and studying opals and Al's prices were much better than anything you can get online. He makes it possible for literally anyone to buy a beautiful opal no matter what their budget it. There are cut and polished stones that are only a couple dollars, all the way up to gigantic, absolutely incredible black opals that I've never seen the equal to, except in museums. Everything is for sale at incredibly reasonable prices and I walked away with a jar FULL of 32 grams (that's right GRAMS) of top notch rough opals that are just stunning for $65. These jars (all variously priced, on the left wall of the store when you walk in) are the best deals in the store. They're kind of like opal grab bags, except each and every piece is as good as anything you could buy online at any opal dealer, and you can see what you're getting and find a bottle within your price range. I'm just barely getting into stone cutting and designing and now I have pieces that will polish up to look like some of the best stuff out there. I also bought some rough topaz, apatite, peridot, and garnet, all gem quality, for faceting for a few dollars, as well as some stunning polished fire agate and I'm already counting down until I can go back and buy some more!
All in all, this is one of the best places I've been all year. Please keep in mind I have no reason to sing the praises of this place except for the fact that I had such a good experience. I had never been here before today and I didn't know anyone involved with the store until I met Al today. I was just so impressed with how sweet he is and how much great stuff I found in his store. If you have any interest in gems and minerals, especially opals, the lapidary arts, jewelry making, rock tumbling, faceting, or are just a plain old rock hound, give this place a try and meet Al! You won't regret it! Thanks to Al, the wonderful woman up front, and the people I met today. I'll see you all again soon!