72Ct ContraLuz Ethiopian Welo Rough Specimen Rough Opal (2024)

FAQs

What are Ethiopian Welo opals? ›

Ethiopian Welo opals are like the quirky, unpredictable cousin of the opal stone family. You know, the one who always keeps you on your toes, surprising you with their ever-shifting moods and enigmatic charm. These delightful gems hail from the mountainous terrains of northern Ethiopia, specifically the Wollo Province.

There is a large quantity of Ethiopian opal available which has kept the price low. Like most gems the top quality material is quite rare and commands a high price. The intensity of the color is what makes this opal valuable as the best Ethiopian opal have colors that are described as unreal looking like colored L.E.D.

If at all possible, avoid using too much water and instead use a wet cloth. Don't worry if your Ethiopian Opal gets wet. The colour and transparency will alter temporarily, but they will return to their original colour as it dries over a few days.

While the Ethiopian opal boom seems relatively new, archeology shows that opals may have played a part in East African trade as early as 4000 B.C. A 1939 discovery by archeologist Louis Leakey places opals in the hands of humans in Kenya nearly 6000 years before contemporary Ethiopian opal discoveries.

Ethiopian opal is believed to be an emotional intensifier, enhancing the true nature of those who wear it. Some say it strengthens the will to live and shields the wearer against negativity, burning off karma.

The play of colour can appear in a range of hues, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink. In contrast, fake opals often have a uniform colour or a repeating pattern that does not change as the stone is rotated.

Place the opal under the gemological microscope and adjust it to brightfield mode to illuminate the stone. Gently deposit a single drop of water onto the surface of the opal. Observe how the water drop interacts with the opal for a few seconds, allowing it either to evaporate or be absorbed into the stone.

Opals are too delicate for everyday wear.

Ethiopian opals are much more porous, meaning when exposed to water, they will absorb it, which can lead to color loss and cracking.

Ethiopian Opals are valued based on their bright flashes of fire colour. The brighter and more intense the color, the higher the price of the opal. Stones with red flashes are rarer than the other colors while the green and blue flashes are more common.

Does Ethiopian opal crack easily? ›

However, these gems are often prone to cracking only with the course of time or just mild heating. This unfortunate effect is associated with an appreciable water content in the open pores of the material. Internal stresses arise upon any dehydration resulting in surface shrinkage and progressive crazing and cracking.

Does Ethiopian Opal turn yellow? If Opals are left in water and allowed to soak it up, they may lose their fire temporarily and turn yellow or brown. Don't worry, the fire and color will come back once the Opals have fully dried, which can take a few minutes to weeks, depending on how much water they managed to absorb.

Here's how to detect a fake Ethiopian Opal gemstone in minutes: Search for the pattern - Real Ethiopian Opals will never have uniformity in the pattern they display. The intensity of the color is blinding and often starts from one section of the stone and moves further.

Caring for your Opal

Many people believe solid opals can be damaged by water – however, this only applies to doublets and triplets. Solid opals are fine in water. In fact, most precious opals contain about 5-6% water. As a result, opal may crack if subjected to very dry conditions or rapid changes in temperature.

Given consideration alone, Australian Opals are more durable and wearable than their Ethiopian counterparts — in that you don't have to worry about water or the stone against your skin potentially altering the gem's play of color.

If Opals are left in water and allowed to soak it up, they may lose their fire temporarily and turn yellow or brown. Don't worry, the fire and color will come back once the Opals have fully dried, which can take a few minutes to weeks, depending on how much water they managed to absorb.

Avoid Liquid Chemicals Around Your Ethiopian Opals

Due to the Opal's hydrophane nature, liquids like perfumes, soaps, and cleaning products can stain your opals and change their color. If this occurs, try wiping them with a soft, damp cloth before allowing them to dry, naturally, on their own.

Most prices have a slight premium when compared to Brazilian and Zambian stones of similar quality. Still, they're much less expensive than their Colombian counterparts. For the consumer uninterested in origin, an Ethiopian emerald may mean a 30% discount!