American Opal Society

10/13/2026

The American Opal Society’s annual Opal, Gem and Jewelry Show is creeping up. The date is October 31st (Saturday) and November 1st (Sunday), 2026 at the Velvet Rose Event Center in Orange.

Come on over during Samhain, Crispy Time, Halloween, Spooky Season, Hallow’s Eve, Dias de las Mu***os, Witching Hour and Autumn before menancing the neighbors for tasty treats and sweets.

Vendors of all kinds in opals, gems, jewelry, fossils, lapidary and more. Along with food truck, geode cutting, gold panning, demonstrators and scavenger hunt game (with bags of opals for prizes). Fun and fascinating for all ages.

Admission is $5 for adults and Free for kids 15 and under and students with ID. Parking is free.

09/08/2026

More opals from around the world. Source was Gem Faire in Aug at the OC Fairgrounds. First we have blue opal from Brazil (rare). Then some yellow catseye opal from Tanzania (resembles tiger eye). A polished round leopard opal from Hildago Mexico. Then a large Aust grey opal vintage bolas tie. Then a cut Yowah opal nut from Yowah, Aust. Then some lightning ridge Opal pendant with fantastic color pattern. Dark grey to black Aust crystal Opal. Then Freeform carved Mexican fire opals.

08/31/2026

The American Opal Society’s annual Opal, Gem and Jewelry Show is creeping up in October. The date is October 31st (Saturday) and November 1st (Sunday), 2026 at the Velvet Rose Event Center in Orange.

Come on over during Samhain, Crispy Time, Halloween, Spooky Season, Hallow’s Eve, Dias de las Mu***os, Witching Hour and Autumn before menancing the neighbors for tasty treats and sweets.

Vendors of all kinds in opals, gems, jewelry, fossils, lapidary and more. Along with food truck, geode cutting, gold panning, demonstrators and scavenger hunt game (with bags of opals for prizes). Fun and fascinating for all ages.

Admission is $5 for adults and Free for kids 15 and under and students with ID. Parking is free.

07/31/2026

Hello everyone, promoting the SCC Gemology Program. I’ve taken it before and loved it. Highly recommended if you like gems and minerals.

https://sccollege.edu/academics/areasofstudy/gemology/

GEM-020-85059 Diamonds
Fall 2026
________________________________________
Instructors
Ghazalian, Jack ( [email protected] )
Meeting Information
8/17/2026 - 12/5/2026
Santiago Canyon College, . HYBRID (Hybrid)
T, Th 7:15 PM - 10:15 PM
8/17/2026 - 12/5/2026
Santiago Canyon College, SCC U Building U-103 (1 Laboratory)
Dates
8/17/2026 - 12/5/2026
Course Description
Full range of diamond grading techniques, history, diamond substitutes, physical and optical properties, all types of synthetic, techniques of valuing/pricing, famous diamonds, detecting enhancements.
Additional Information
On-Campus Hybrid Instruction. A combination of online instruction and on-campus meetings during the days and times indicated.

GEM-011-85058 Introductory Colored Stones
Fall 2026
________________________________________
Instructors
Miller, Michael J.( [email protected] )
Meeting Information
8/17/2026 - 12/5/2026
Santiago Canyon College, . HYBRID (Hybrid)
M, W 7:15 PM - 10:15 PM
8/17/2026 - 12/5/2026
Santiago Canyon College, SCC U Building U-103 (1 Laboratory)
Dates
8/17/2026 - 12/5/2026
Course Description
Introduction to identification, appreciation, and evaluation of colored gemstones. Overview of the world colored-stone industry. Experience using gemological testing equipment and procedures to identify the most commonly seen varieties of natural and synthetic-fashioned gemstones.
Additional Information
On-Campus Hybrid Instruction. A combination of online instruction and on-campus meetings during the days and times indicated.

07/16/2026

For all of the rockhounders out there, I thought you would enjoy this. This is an Anime Music Video that's about geologist with a song on Geoscience. Enjoy.

The geologists are coming! A festivid for sandalwoodboxSacAnime S...

07/15/2026

Correction for the American Opal Society’s annual Opal, Gem and Jewelry Show in October. The CORRECT date is October 31st (Saturday) and November 1st (Sunday), 2026 at the Velvet Rose Event Center in Orange.

Come on over during Samhain, Crispy Time, Halloween, Spooky Season, Hallow’s Eve, Dias de las Mu***os, Witching Hour and Autumn before menancing the neighbors for tasty treats and sweets.

Admission is $5 for adults and Free for kids 15 and under and students with ID. Parking is free.

05/20/2026

Some pictures from the Children’s Festival at Pearson Park in Anaheim last Saturday. I was there with Yvette for the American Opal Society. We had rocks to paint, coloring pages and opal displays.

04/29/2026

Some of the opals I found during the annual Searcher’s Gem and Mineral show this last weekend. I came across a chunk of pink opal from Oregon from Rogue Valley Gems.

I showed three display cases on opals (Opals from Around the World; Opals of Australia and Opals of North America (new)).

Ethiopian Gemstone International LLC was there as well with their amazing selection of Ethiopian opals.

An annual find from Rock-A-William of a Spencer, Idaho opal Doublet (sorry for the poor quality photo). It’s old and its acrylic cap is yellowed.

Opal Society’s president, Stan McCall of Custom Creative Jewelry, was also there with selection of Australian and Mexican opals gems and jewelry.

04/20/2026

Our free event is held every year and dazzles with gems, minerals, jewelry and earth science related events.

Searchers’ Gem and Mineral Society (searchersrocks.org)

The 65th Annual Show fills the Anaheim Brookhurst Community Center with 41 dealers, polished stone ring-making, a Silent Auction every half hour, faceting and lapidary demonstrations, celebrities, and hundreds of door prizes given away over the two day event.

Saturday April 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2271 Crescent Ave. Anaheim, CA.

04/14/2026

New additions to my Opal display cases. Particularly for the new “Opals of North America” case that will premier at the Searchers Show in Anaheim on April 25th