Opal stone is one of the most beautiful gemstones, displaying a beautiful play of color and possessing many properties that can astonish you. In the categories of opal stones, the two types of opals are the most famous: Fire opals and Ethiopian opals, because they have many unique characteristics, and they fascinate the person looking at them. So, it is quite confusing for people to know which one is better: Fire opal vs Ethiopian opal?
In this blog, we are going to discuss everything about these two types of opals, from their origin to their properties and benefits. If you are a gem collector or someone who wants to buy a beautiful piece of gemstone jewelry, you will know exactly which one to choose after reading this blog. Understanding these two types of opal stones better will help you make an informed decision.
Origin and Formation
Fire Opal
Fire Opal, also known as Mexican Opal, is a very common opal found in Mexico. This variety of opal was formed by its deposition at the early stages of volcanic areas in the country. They are formed by the process in which a silica solution fills the gas bubbles of lava, and it slowly dehydrates and then solidifies over time to make Fire Opals. The geological conditions of these areas are responsible for their beautiful color hues of yellow, orange, and red, which also depict the colors of fire. Due to their color, these opal stones are named Fire Opal.
Ethiopian Opal
Ethiopian Opals are considered the discovery for many in the world of gemstones. This opal is found mainly in two deposits, which are the Wollo and Shewa regions in Ethiopia. These Opals are developed in the ash bands of volcanoes, and their diffraction and internal play are different due to the cocooning of the silica spheres. These Ethiopian opals also show a whole range of colors, such as white-blue and sometimes reds, greens, and blacks.
Physical Properties
Fire Opal
- Fire opals can produce an extraordinary play of different colors like red, yellow, and orange on the body colour, ranging from translucent to transparent, which makes it unique and gives it a character.
- The Fire opals may or may not showcase a pattern of play-of-colors. In case they do, the color of their body overshadows them, or it is much more subtle than other gemstones.
- To improve the visuals of the fire opals and to enable their brilliance, they are used in the faceted form.
- The hardness of this gem falls in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs Scale, which makes it on the softer side as compared to other gemstones, so you should handle it with care.
Ethiopian Opal
- The Ethiopian opals are more vibrant and display more play-of-color and effects than the fire opals because they have a wide range of captivating hues.
- The body color of these gems can vary from milky white to darker black. If the body color is darker, the stone will be cherished more and have a higher value.
- To showcase their ethereal display of colors, they are given the cabochon cut, which is a dome-like shape.
- The density of these opal stones is almost similar to that of the fire opal gems, which range between 5 and 6 on the Mohs Scale.
Healing Benefits and Metaphysical Properties
Fire Opal
It is said that the Fire opal benefits the mind and carries a lot of healing powers, which are connected to love, passion, energy, and inspiration. The fire opal stones have bright hues of colors that are believed to boost energy and have high spirit levels for the wearer. This opal is specifically considered a symbol of rebirth because it helps you overcome your negative past experiences. It is associated with emotions and helps in the mental healing of the person.
Ethiopian Opal
It is said that Ethiopian opal benefits the person by helping them with the transformation and offering protection. It is considered that the play of colors of Ethiopian oapls helps in strengthening the person's identity and increasing authority. If you find them costly, then you can easily get Ethiopian opals for sale. One of the great Ethiopian opal properties is that it is said to provide calm to the weary and balance out the emotional instabilities. In many spiritual practices, this opal is believed to help in opening the crown chakra and help the wearer to link with the divine realms. It also provides better insights and perception to the person who believes in it and wears it daily.
Specific Care Considerations
You have learned about the difference in appearances and other benefits in both the fire opal and the Ethiopian opal. Still, one thing is common, which is that they are both relatively soft gemstones. They require some special care to maintain their beauty and longevity. Here are a few tips for their maintenance:
Fire Opal
If we compare them to the other gemstones, then fire opals are more likely to get scratches and lose their beauty because, first of all, they are transparent and bright yellowish. You must be gentle when wearing jewelry made from these opals, particularly rings and bracelets, as they are most exposed and susceptible to damage.
Ethiopian Opal
Ethiopian opals have low water content compared to other opal stones, so you should take extra care of them. They are hydrophane in nature, which means they tend to absorb water or liquids when they are exposed to moisture. There will be formation of cracks, and the gems will lose their color and sparkle from within if kept in moisture or exposed directly to light or the sun. You can put a small container of damp cotton or a damp piece of cloth near the gemstone, which will help to retain the necessary level of moisture.
Conclusion
In the end, it would be right to say that the gemstones are remarkable and extremely precious. They have high value and possess so many properties that are said to help you in many ways, physically and mentally. They make a unique addition to your jewelry collection, and if you are a gemstone enthusiast, then you should add them to your collection. Knowing about the differences between these two opals will eventually help you in choosing the correct gemstone for you based on the appearances, preference of colour, usage, and metaphysical properties. Whichever gem you consider buying from both of them, you should know how to take good care of them. Both of them are quite sensitive gemstones, so they need good care.
