The first thousand one hundred and seventy-eight chapters
"Ah?" Wei Changqing finally came to his senses: "What did you say, Mr. Gan? I took advantage of you?"
Seeing the smile on Wei Changqing's face, Qian Mingyuan said: "Do you think you can really buy such a treasure after paying 30 million?"
Qian Mingyuan also had a smile on his face. Just such a piece of work can make Qian Mingyuan famous throughout the ages, because fire jade is indeed a rare thing, and every piece of this kind of thing that appears in history is a treasure that will be passed down through the ages. , the reason why such treasures are famous is naturally because their owners are more famous.
"I was about to ask Mr. Qian for advice." Wei Changqing asked Qian Mingyuan respectfully.
Qian Mingyuan, a native of Xinjiang who has been dealing with jade all his life, naturally knows something that they don't know.
"As you all know, Opal gemstone is a very rare gemstone. It is also called Shanshanyun. It has rich and changing colors. It is the only gemstone that can have seven colors of the rainbow. Shanshanyun gemstone has various colors. Each opal is unique and deserves to be treasured, so the price of good opal is not low.
The black opal that Wei just mentioned is mainly produced in Australia, so the best opal in ancient times did not have much black opal. Ancient people also liked opal, especially the ancient Romans who loved this precious gem. And set it on many crowns as a lucky symbol and protective object.
For example, Napoleon once gave his lover, Queen Josephine, a fiery red opal called the Fire of Troy. The great writer Shakespeare even called it the queen of gems, making this red opal extremely noble. ." At this point, Qian Mingyuan stopped and said no more.
Looking at Qian Mingyuan with a smile on his face, Han Kongque and Wei Changqing both looked surprised. Wei Changqing's face turned red and said: "Qian always said that one gram of Troy's Burning Fire is like this Red protein?”
Qian Mingyuan said with a smile: "I don't know about this, but according to my experience, the gem is fiery red, and it can be praised and collected by so many people as a treasure. Naturally, it will not be ordinary, and what Can such a red opal be described as fiery red?"
"That's right. In Napoleon's eyes, ordinary gem-quality opal should be invisible." Han Peacock nodded.
Wei Changqing laughed loudly at this time and said: "So I spent 30 million to buy this Fire Maitreya, but I missed it?"
"It's hard to buy good things when you have money. It's hard to say this." Gu Tong also joked with a smile.
"Anyway, it's true that many people like opal. If some celebrities are added to embellish it, such a legendary collection will definitely be able to sell for a sky-high price." Wei Changqing said with a satisfied look.
Han Peacock nodded and said: "This is a good point. Opal comes from the Latin word opal, which means 'gathering the beauty of gemstones', and is known as the 'most beautiful gemstone' along with diamonds!"
The Sun King Louis XIV was very fond of collecting Opal and hid it in the Palace of Versailles. Shakespeare believed that Opal was the "queen of magical gems" and once wrote in "Twelfth Night": This miracle is the queen of gems. .”
Wei Changqing looked at Han Peacock and said with a smile: "Brother Han, you are so knowledgeable, why did you lose your sight?"
Han Peacock looked at Wei Changqing strangely and said, "Am I wrong? Do you think I don't know how good red opal is? In fact, the price you gave is enough. Otherwise, I would sell it to you?"
"Thank you, Brother Han. Of course I know that Brother Han takes care of me. Who made us hit it off immediately?" Wei Changqing smiled lustfully.
"See you again Qingqing! What you said is really disgusting. You kid are not afraid of me cheating you. You know that many opals are worthless." Han Peacock said with a smile.
Wei Changqing looked at the Fire Maitreya in his hand with joy and said: "Anyway, as long as this piece is not a straw bag Opal, it will be fine."
Everyone couldn't help but give Wei Changqing a blank look, this guy got an advantage and still acted like a good boy!
This carving was carved as he saw it. How could it be a "straw bag opal" with a thin layer of skin on it?
Opal is divided into Australian opal (represented by Lightning Mountain in Australia) and African opal (along the East African Rift Valley) based on its origin. The African opal with the highest price is generally the one with the highest price.
The main producing areas of African Opal are in East Africa, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and a few places in Kenya.
African opal is suitable for high-end plain jewelry, such as pendants, interfaces, etc., but is not suitable for slicing and inlaying.
Because African opal differs from Australian opal in that it exists in a crystal shape. If cut into thin slices, the fire color will be diluted. Unlike Australian opal, it can be sliced into three-layer stones and double-layer stones. Or the pieces can be set into jewelry.
Therefore, only a few wealthy people can afford to own African opal, so the common jewelry made of sliced gemstones with a thin layer of skin pasted on it is called "straw bag opal". Such opal products are naturally cheap.
Therefore, in the market, the prices of the same beautiful Opal jewelry vary greatly, and this is why.
"Now I realize that it's not unreasonable for Europeans to admire red opal." Wei Changqing couldn't help saying that the more he looked at the Fire Maitreya, the more beautiful it became.
Qian Mingyuan said at this time: "Of course, red opal is usually more valuable than green opal, and green is more valuable than blue. Nature does not often produce red opal, but green and blue are abundant.
of Opal.
The red color in opal is produced by the arrangement of relatively large silicon particles in the internal microstructure of opal, while the blue color is produced by the arrangement of relatively small silicon particles. Not to mention which one is more beautiful, even from the perspective of rare things being more valuable,
Also red opal is more valuable.”
"It seems that the output of red opal is not low now." Wei Changqing muttered.
"This is mainly because the red opal is a fine product, like the fire that burns the city. Can you imagine how beautiful it is?" Qian Mingyuan rolled his eyes at Wei Changqing and said.
By this time, everyone had finished their meal and was sitting in the tent to rest and take the opportunity to replenish some water. It was still too hot here at noon.
Gu Tong, who had just taken a sip of tea, let out a long breath and said: "The fire that burns the city, since it is called the fire of the human city, is naturally a gem like a blazing flame. Even if you don't have to see such a gem with your own eyes, you can see it with your own eyes."
You can guess it’s a treasure.”
The more people talked about it, the more proud Wei Changqing became. The more the flame-like gems resembled the Fire Maitreya in his hand, the more they imagined it, so the price of the Fire Maitreya in his hand became incalculable.
Wei Changqing was happy, but Huangshan was not happy when he saw it: "Okay, what are you doing? Our boss still has a Big Mac in his hand! If this piece is cut open to make jewelry, it will be enough for anything.
.”
"Can't you let Xiao Wei be so proud?" Han Peacock stopped talking about Huangshan and burst into laughter. Wei Changqing's face immediately elongated. Han Peacock's treasure hunting luck was really not something he could compare to.
"Okay, we've finished eating, and it's almost time to rest. I wonder how we will arrange it in the afternoon?" At this time, Gu Tong changed the subject.
Han Kongque said: "We are not leaving. Since there are tents here, we will stay here first and wait until we understand the surrounding situation."
"Well, you shouldn't be anxious. Since opals have been found in the depression over there, there must be mineral spots nearby. Now outside, the surface opal resources are basically exhausted, and any opal can be called a collection treasure.
This is entirely because the rough stones on the surface are generally small, so they are not easy to find. If there are really mineral spots around here, we will have to investigate carefully, which will take a lot of time." Qian Mingyuan said.
Gu Tongdao: "Lao Gan, do you think there might be an underground opal mine here?"
“It’s really hard to say, but underground opals are very thin due to their high-quality layers. Most of them can only be used to make small ornaments. They are translucent and can be used to make bracelets. It is basically difficult to find them, so the value is not very high. Of course it is good to have them. , even if it doesn’t, it’s not such a pity.”
"That's not what I'm saying. As long as you find the protein mineral spots, the rough stones will be diversified. By then, ice type, porcelain white, and other colorful rough opal stones may appear!" Gu Tong said.
Gu Tong said that Han Kongquedao knew that the opals produced in the uninhabited land of Luo and Bubo are white, red, purple-green, brown-red and chicken oil yellow. The opals of various colors are all crystal clear and very beautiful. Such opals are even valuable. It’s not that high, but Han Peacock also wants to collect some.
So Han Kongque said: "We must stay here for a while."
At this time, Zhaodong frowned and said: "There are people here who know about it. None of us dare to say that it is the first time for those people to come here, but even if they don't know that opals are produced here, only fengling stones and jade, It can also attract a large number of people to come and hunt for treasures.”
Qian Mingyuan said: "Don't worry too much about this. This place is relatively deep into Luo Bu Nur. Most people will not come here."
"Money! As long as there is profit, no matter how difficult or dangerous it is, someone will come." Wei Changqing said.
"Yes! Opal has increased from 1,600 yuan per ton 15 years ago to now, and now a fist-sized high-quality ice-type opal rough costs thousands of yuan, not to mention commercial-grade and gem-grade opal.
Now the number of people who come to Luobu Nur to pick up opals has grown to about 100,000. Fortunately, we are here deep into Lop Nur, otherwise we wouldn't be waiting for us to search for them." Qian Mingyuan sighed.
Luobu Nur once experienced dryness, desolation and loneliness, and was regarded as a "forbidden zone for life". However, now, the mysterious veil of Luobu Nur has gradually been lifted, and the vigorous development of potassium salt resources has turned this "sea of death" Become the "Sea of Hope" again.
More than ten years ago, there were no man-made roads in Luobupu. How to get there depended on the experience of the driver.
Nowadays, the Haluo Highway leading to the hinterland of Luobu Nur is in good condition. It only takes more than 4 hours from Ha Mi to the central part of Luobu Nur. This road is also connected with National Highway 315 and can reach Hotan, Kashgar, and , Qinghai, Hainan, Gansu, Suzhou and other places.
So now the entire periphery of Lop Nur is very lively. There are potash mines and gold mines developed by the state, as well as various mining companies developed by private parties. Of course, there are more adventurers and travelers who come in privately to hunt for treasures and novelties. (Unfinished) to be continued..)