Last updated on January 5th, 2023 at 02:10 pm
Ethiopian Opal, which is also called “Welo Opal” or “Wollo Opal,” is a relatively new gem, even though it has been around for hundreds of years. It was only found in 2008 at the Stayish mine.Larablogy
In 1994, the Welo Opal was found at Yita ridge. Some people confuse Mezzezo in the Shewa province with the 1994 discovery of Ethiopian Opal at Yita Ridge and Mezzezo in the Shewa province, but the two are very different. Welo Opals are a stable stone that can be used in any way.
The jewellery made from Ethiopian Opals doesn’t break or crack like Yita ridge Ethiopian Opals, which are thought to be fragile. The GIA did a lot of testing on Ethiopian Opal beads, putting them in water and putting them in extreme heat. They found that Ethiopian Welo Opals are stable gems that are unlikely to break in extreme conditions.
These Ethiopian Welo Opals are a type of Opal called a hydrophane Opal. This means that they absorb water and change colour depending on how much water is in them. Up to 20% of the water can be found in Ethiopian Opals. Volcanic activity makes Hydrophane Opals, so if you want a one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery, an Opal made from an active volcano is hard to beat.
Ethiopian Opal is a relatively “new” gem, so there is no widely accepted way to grade it. Unlike other Opals, the colour or tone of an Ethiopian Opal’s body doesn’t usually change its grade or value.
Colors of Ethiopian Opal:
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When they are in their natural state, Ethiopian Welo Opals can be clear to white or clear to yellow, tan, or orange. Opals that are of high quality can show flashes of colour in every colour of the rainbow and from every angle. These are called “precious Opals.”
Opals that aren’t as good are called “common Opals,” and they show few or no flashes of colour. Also, Ethiopian Opals with good colour can show a single colour, multiple colours, or all the colours of the rainbow.
This means that Ethiopian Opal jewellery is perfect whether you want a piece with a single primary colour or a piece that goes with everything.
The Color of Opal from Ethiopia
Ethiopian Opals can also be a natural tan colour with flashes of bright rainbow colours on the surface. Tan Opals, which are also called Chocolate Opals, are very rare.
Even though you can find black Ethiopian Opals in nature, many of the black Ethiopian Opals used in jewellery are clear Opals that have been treated with smoke. When real black Ethiopian Opal is tested, like by cracking it open on purpose, the colour is usually a solid dark colour that stays the same all the way through the Opal.
Ethiopian Opals are now available in many colours, including black, blue, turquoise, green, and even pink. The beautiful colours of this Ethiopian Opal have been changed by a process called “smoke treatment,” so they aren’t natural.
However, they are just as beautiful and stable as Ethiopian Opal that hasn’t been treated. Ethiopian Opals that have had their colours changed are still real Opals.
Ethiopian Opals can have flashes of colour on the surface, inside, or a combination of both. They can look like one big flash of colour, a series of smaller flashes, or tiny flashes of colour the size of a pinprick, which is called “pinfire” Opal.
How do you know if an Opal from Ethiopia is real?
Real Ethiopian Opals are often confused with fake or fake-looking Ethiopian Opals. This is because, compared to other gems, this type of Opal is very light. Natural Ethiopian Opals also have a waxy, plastic-like surface, and the colours in most of them are so bright that it’s hard to believe they’re real.
Ethiopian Opal jewellery is cheap compared to other kinds of Opal, like Australian Opal. This makes many people think that Opal is a fake. Even though Ethiopian Opal is more stable and better for jewellery than other types of Opal, you can still take care of your Opal jewellery to keep it in good shape.
What to do?
If you want to clean your Opal jewellery, don’t use any chemicals. Instead, use warm water and a cloth or sponge that doesn’t scratch. If you can help it, try not to use too much water. Instead, use a wet cloth.
Don’t worry if water gets on your Ethiopian Opal. The colour and transparency will change for a short time, but as it dries over a few days, they will go back to how they were before.
Avoid humidity that is too high or too low, especially if you live in a dry place like a desert. Instead, put your Ethiopian Opal jewellery in a small zip-lock bag with a damp cotton ball to keep it from drying out and keep it moist. Just let us know if you’d like your order to come with a bag and cotton ball.
Don’t worry if you catch your Ethiopian Opal jewellery on something or drop it. It is more stable than other types of Opal. For example, it won’t break if it falls from 4 feet and lands on a concrete floor.
