The Ethiopian Opal is celebrated for its amazing variety and is emerging as a rare and eye-catching type of opal in the world of gemstones. Unlike established opal types like black opal, which have specific grading standards in terms of blackness, the brightness of the colour, and pattern. Ethiopian Opal is still developing its own grading system, as it is a relatively recent discovery. Likewise, it is graded based on factors like pattern and brightness, with the body tone playing a major role in determining the final value.
One prominent pattern in Ethiopian Opal is the honeycomb pattern, which is characterized by a naturally occurring potch line with web inclusions and is very rare in any other type of opal. This unique pattern has a feature where it shapes exhibits brighter or different colors than the surrounding opals, which adds to the rarity and value of these gemstones.
Brightness and Color in Ethiopian Opal
The "fire" in Ethiopian Welo Opal refers to its vibrant play of color, also known as opalescence, that allows the gemstone to display rainbow colors when light interacts with its internal structure. The translucent internal fire of Ethiopian opals has properties that create a three-dimensional fire look, making it appear as if the fire has been trapped within the opal. Unlike Australian opals that may hide colors within the surface, such as a blue opal that may have hidden transparent color bars with violet or purple colors that may not be visible to the naked eye, Ethiopian opals showcase bright colors and patterns that can be seen with the bare eye.
The valuation of an Ethiopian opal depends mainly on the intensity of the fire colour. The brighter and more vibrant the color, the higher the opal's price. Stones with red flashes are more sought-after, as compared to the other colours, while the green and blue flashes are more common.
Treated Black Ethiopian Opal
Recently, at a gem show in Bangkok, it was evident that a significant amount of Ethiopian Black opals were being sold with marketing as natural. Research shows that the black Ethiopian opal found in the market is often treated to enhance its dark apperance. New treatment methods, particularly innovative "smoking" techniques, have been used to enhance the black color of these opals. Being hydrophane in nature, these gemstones can absorb and respond to these treatments effectively. While the smoking method has been used in the past on low-quality opals such as Mexican hydrophane material, the new twists added to the old smoking technique are what make the treatment unnoticed by some reputable gem-testing laboratories.
Another common treatment method with Ethiopian Opal is dyeing the stone. which changes the body color of the stone, achieving bright pink or purple body colors that are not naturally present and have been artificially placed into the stone. These are the only known treatments so far for an Ethiopian Opal, and it notably impacts the value of the gemstone. The seller needs to disclose any treatment used while listing the opals for sale. If you are not sure about any stone, using an opal verification service can help you get additional assurance about the authenticity of the stone.
With the rise of fake Ethiopian black opals and Ethiopian welo opals in the market today, it is crucial to stay aware of such counterfeit gems. Have some basic knowledge about how to identify real opals to improve your ability to differentiate between an authentic and an imitation stone and avoid the risk of getting scammed.
Patterns in Ethiopian Opal
Ethiopian Opals are known for their vibrant patterns and shapes, ranging from oval to free-form. While Australian Black Opals are well-known for their unique patterns, like Mackerel and Harlequin, Ethiopian opals have adopted similar naming terminology. The honeycomb pattern is the most sought-after and valuable Cabochon Ethiopian Opal. Some other patterns include:
- Broad pattern crystal
- Patchwork rolling flash
- Patchwork honeycomb
- Hexagon honeycomb or fish scale
- Pin the fire crystal
- Neon flash pattern
- Welo broad flash
- Rainbow pattern
- Broad patchwork
- Multi-chaff firework
- Broad flash fire
- Floral eyes pattern
- Fire Cloud
Welo Patchwork Harlequin Pattern
The Harlequin pattern is considered one of the rarest in the opal industry, with Ethiopian Opal having its own distinct version known as the honeycomb pattern. The honeycomb pattern is the most desired pattern on Cabochon Ethiopian Opal, with many miners spending their entire lifetime of work without finding one. The true Harlequin pattern features a mosaic broad arrangement with an angular close-set of colours. Floral patterns can also be seen in Ethiopian Opals, however, they must be correctly referred to as Welo Floral or Welo Patchwork.
A Remarkable Gemstone
Ethiopian Opal is a remarkable gemstone that is perfect both for exploring its visual beauty and rarity in the gemstone market. It is a popular choice due to its affordability, unique patterns, and amazing color-play, and is a great option for people searching for affordable jewelry, stone or gemstone collectors. They are known for their ability to absorb water and become transparent when wet, which can add to their rarity and can be a fun characteristic for your jewelry piece.
