7.28Ct Multi Color Play Ethiopian Welo Opal Rough J0815/R2 (2024)

FAQs

How do you value a Welo opal? ›

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.

While some say black Welo opal is found in it's natural form, based on our research, black Ethiopian opal is dark grey in color and fractures easy. Ethiopian opal can be smoke treated to make it look like black opal and therefore not opal in it's natural form.

If the opal lacks play of color or the colors look dull, it may be a fake opal. Base color: Natural Ethiopian opals typically have a light-colored base, such as white or gray, with flashes of color. If the opal has a dark or opaque base color, it may be a fake opal.

Ethiopian Opal Specimens

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.

The brighter and more distinct the pattern, the greater its value. You may not be aware, but the direction of colour is also a crucial value gauge. Opal that shows vibrant colour from all directions is considered more valuable and versatile than a one-directional opal – with all other factors being equal.

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. This property can occasionally cause durability issues that may lead to significant cracking, depending on the porosity of the material and how included it is.

Australian opal, especially opal from Lightning Ridge and Coober Pedy, is generally much more expensive and valuable than Ethiopian opal. Top quality Australian opals can sell for over $10,000 per carat.

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.

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.

How to check if opal is real? ›

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.

Black opal is the most rare and highly valued form of opal, and has what is called a black (or dark) body tone. Black opals come in every colour of the rainbow. Their dark body tone makes the colours on the face of the opal appear rich and intense.

On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from 10 to 250 per carat. Of course, lower cost opals will have more inclusions, flaws and duller color. Conversely, the highest-quality jewels will garner magnificent play of color, body tone and brilliance.

How do I store my Opals for long periods of time? Generally, it's safe to store them away, as long as the area is not overheated. It's not a bad idea to put them in a sealed plastic bag with a damp cloth in case of drying out.

Some people do store their opals in water. There's no evidence that it prevents them from drying out but it can't hurt them and might be a good idea if you live in a very dry climate. Jewelers often put a glass of water in their opal case to make sure that the lights don't dry out the air too much.

The value of an opal depends on many factors. The type of opal, body tone, brilliance, pattern, colour bar thickness, the play of colour, and faults all play important roles in determining the value. Other important factors include the quality of the cut & polish, and the size of the stone.

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.

Well the color grading rule of Ethiopian opal is: brighter the color, more valuable the Ethiopian Opal with red being one of the most valuable and rare color flash out of the lot, followed by blue and green.

Is white opal valuable? White opals with noticeable play of color range from $10.00 to $500.00 per carat. Dark opals range from N5 to N6 on the chart, and are more rare. The value of dark opals ranges from $30.00 to $4000.00 per carat.