16Ct Rainbow ContraLuz Ethiopian Welo Rough Specimen Rough Opal (2024)

FAQs

Are Ethiopian opals worth anything? ›

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.

Most opals are sedimentary in nature--that is, they are created from the layers laid down by ancient waterways. Ethiopian opals, however, are hydrophane opals, created as a result of volcanic activity, forming in nodules within the volcanic ash in stratum between rhyolite layers.

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.

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.

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.

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

To do this, turn the Opal on its side and look for straight columns of colour running vertically. This is the sign of a fake opal. Under high magnification (around sixty) it's clear to tell if the opal you own is synthetic, as the regularity and columnar nature of the opal is clearly visible.

Internal stresses arise upon any dehydration resulting in surface shrinkage and progressive crazing and cracking. These defects make many Ethiopian opals unsuitable for use in jewelry.

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.

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.

What is the rarest opal color? ›

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.

Unlike Australian opal, most Ethiopian opal is hydrophane. This term denotes the gemstone's ability to absorb water and change color after absorption. A lower specific gravity creates a more porous stone capable of absorbing enough water to enhance the gem's weight by up to 15%.

Distinguishing between real and fake Ethiopian opals can be challenging, as some fake opals are designed to mimic the appearance of natural opals.

Store your opals carefully: Ethiopian opals can be sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, so it's important to store them carefully. Keep your opals in a cool, dry place and avoid exposing them to extreme heat or cold.

Benefits of an Ethiopian Opal

Ethiopian opal rings have several powers, including healing emotionally by ridding one of negative energy, increasing creativity and inspiration, enhancing mental clarity, and promoting physical healing by boosting one's immunity.

Black Opal

Black opals are the rarest, most valuable opal variety. They can be gray, black, or even dark blue sometimes, so they're also called “dark opals.” Part of black opal's value lies in the contrast between the dark background and bright play-of-color.

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.