3.6" Precious, Ethiopian Fire Opal (128 g)

Opal is a gemstone that has captured the attention of the masses for centuries. Ethiopian opal, or Welo opal, is no exception to the rule. These stones have some of the most vibrant play of color on the market. These gemstones are the proverbial new kids on the block: they were discovered in the mid 1990s, and significant deposits emerged in 2008 and 2013. Since their discovery in the northern region of Ethiopia, these opals have swiftly taken the gem trade by storm and it's easy to see why.

Opal has various forms, but the primary variety that comes out of Ethiopia are precious fire opals. This name tells you two very important things about the opal. “Fire“ refers to the orange-red to amber coloring of the stone as a whole, and “precious” alludes to the play of color that the opal exhibits as light hits it. Unlike many of the other popular opals on the market that form in sedimentary environments, Ethiopian opal forms in igneous rock where volcanic activity was known to occur. Ethiopian opal is known as a hydrophane opal: this means that the opal is extremely porous and apt to absorb water easily. When the opal has absorbed a fair quantity of water it may appear more translucent than when in air.

Opal Care

Some may be concerned with the reputation Ethiopian opal gets in regards to instability; allow us to alleviate your fears. Opals from the Wollo region are the most stable of all Ethiopian opal varieties and it is only on rare occasions that there are issues with fracturing. The opals we have for you are in their rough, natural state- straight from the matrix with only minimal excess rock removal to expose more of the opalescence. It was a conscious choice to leave the opals in a raw state, which is why we have not dried these specimens out. We want you to have the opportunity to display your opal in whatever fashion you may choose. However, we do not recommend that these opals be fully immersed in water for long periods of time, as too much water absorption may result in cracking of the opal. Conversely, if the opal dries too quickly cracks may also occur. Because of this, we suggest you either store your opal in a container with a small amount of water to ensure the stone is hydrated, or slowly dry it out. Dry it by placing the stone within a small bag in a dark location for anywhere between three weeks and two months. This time frame depends on the amount of water the opal is holding. After this process is completed the opal should maintain the translucence and color play that it had before it was dried.