5.27Ct Natural Ethiopian Welo Solid Opal Lot W50 (2024)

FAQs

How to tell if an Ethiopian opal is real? ›

Look for a Play of Color

The “play of color” is what makes an opal so unique and desirable. This refers to the way the stone appears to change color when viewed from different angles. If you don't see any color play, the opal is likely a fake.

Ethiopian Opal Price Per Carat? The price per carat of Ethiopian opal ranges from 10-250 per carat based on the intensity, variety and patterns of color. Top quality gems will have color over the entire surface free of visible inclusions on the top surface of the opal.

2. Black Ethiopian Opal. These opals are as rare as a unicorn reading a newspaper.

In the realm of metaphysical and spiritual practices, Ethiopian Opals are often used to enhance intuition, creativity, and emotional balance. They are believed to promote inner transformation, making them valuable tools for meditation and self-reflection.

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.

Typically, opals feature an optical illusion that causes the gem to flash different hues and patterns in reaction to light. A great way to verify the authenticity of your stone is to view it under strong white light. If the surface of the jewel showcases a dreamy medley of hues, then the gem is probably a real one.

Is Welo opal price valuable? 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. lights.

While these unique types of opal can be found in Ethiopia, they are incredibly rare. The majority of precious Welo opal is light yellow, white, or translucent - body colors that showcase a vibrant rainbow effect created by the interplay of light.

Current opal prices depend on the type of opal stone. The most valuable Opal, Black Opal, ranges from $50 per carat to $10,000 per carat. Alternatively, White Opal is relatively common and ranges from $10 per carat to $150. Other opal types, such as fire, red, and blue, fall in the $10 to $500 per carat range.

However, most of the opal from Wollo is hydrophane, which simply means it is porous enough to readily absorb water, much like a sponge.

What to look for in Ethiopian opals? ›

Ethiopian Opal Specimens

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.

Real opals should have a uniform body color, often with a bright fire or play of color that flashes as it moves in the light. The opal colors can range from pale pink to vibrant blues and greens. Patterns can include stripes, bars, flashes, or veins of color.

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 "hydrophane", which makes them thirsty for water. If they come in contact with water, they will absorb it like a sponge. Absorbing too much water may result in unwanted changes to your Opals. When drying an Opal that has soaked up water, let it dry naturally.

To do this, take a hard object like a needle and scratch the opal's surface. If it scratches, the stone is probably not real. Lastly, you can use a loupe or magnifying glass to inspect the surface of your opal. A real opal should appear transparent and feature small air bubbles or a distinct crystalline structure.

If Opals are left in water and allowed to soak it up, they may lose their fire temporarily and turn yellow or brown.

1. Keep Opals Away From Water. Ethiopian Opals are "hydrophane," which means that they absorb water and when they do, their appearance changes.