Opals are derived from all over the world, but several opal mining sites produce distinct, attractive opals unlike any other. In one African location, you can find the rich-colored Ethiopian Opals, often known as Welo Opals. It is a cost-effective gemstone renowned for its beauty and aura. This gemstone is considered a traditional birthstone for people born in October, and hence it is famous as the "October birthstone".
The Ethiopian Opal gem is a new type of opal found in the mountainous region of northern Ethiopia, particularly the Wollo Province. But, is there a difference between Opal and Ethiopian Opal? Well, yes, the key difference between an Opal and an Ethiopian Opal is regarding their origin. Generally, opals are found in different locations around the world, including Australia, Mexico, and the United States. On the other hand, Ethiopian Opals are found in the mountainous region of Northern Ethiopia, specifically, the Wollo Province. This gemstone is famous for its eye-catching play of colors, which can include luminous flashes of red, orange, blue, green, and more. It is deeply used to customize different pieces of jewelry, including Ethiopian Opal bracelets and Ethiopian Opal necklaces.
Ethiopian Opal Chemical Formula: SiO₂·nH₂O
Ethiopian Opal Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5 (Mohs Scale)
Ethiopian Opal Specific Gravity: 1.98 – 2.25
Ethiopian Opal Refractive Index: 1.37 – 1.47
Ethiopian Opal Diaphaneity: Transparent, Translucent, to Opaque
Venus, known as the planet of love and beauty, reigns over the beautiful Ethiopian opal stone. The amazing and magical qualities of this natural gemstone result from Venus, and it can be worn as the "October Birthstone". Opal, pronounced as Upal in Hindi and Opala in Sanskrit, is worn to prevent the negative impacts of a weak Venus in a person's birth chart. It is believed that this natural gemstone will bring them wealth, health, and high social standing. As per Indian astrology, people with Tula (Libra) and Vrishabha (Taurus) rashi are suggested to wear Ethiopian Opal stones. It is also a birthstone for the Libra zodiac in Western astrology. People use the Ethiopian opal stones to mark the 14th anniversary of marriage.
The astrological beauty and benefits of an Ethiopian Opal are renowned worldwide. For those who appreciate the metaphysical properties of Opal, this gemstone is a gift that aids the wearer in navigating difficult situations in life. The gem creates a positive environment around the person by removing the negativity and cleaning the wearer internally. Here are a few more Ethiopian Opal Benefits:
Health Benefits: The Ethiopian Opal is valued for its metaphysical properties, which are believed to aid in curing liver, renal, and hormone diseases. This variety of gemstones can also help with psychological issues and sleep disturbances. The Natural Ethiopian Opal is particularly effective at curing headaches.
Marital Benefits: The Ethiopian Opal helps in encouraging peace and understanding between couples by helping them resolve marriage difficulties. Wearing this gemstone can enhance love, appeal, and passion in a couple's life. It will ultimately strengthen the connection between the partners.
Financial Benefits: Ethiopian Opal is associated with Venus, which symbolizes luxuries and materialistic success. Wearing this gemstone can improve financial stability and help maintain a high social position and a luxurious lifestyle. It attracts good fortune, money, and aids in opening doors to new business opportunities and clients to help your company grow.
Emotional and Psychological Benefits: Venus, known as the planet of innovation and creativity, is associated with this beautiful gemstone. It is often considered as being helpful for people who struggle with creative challenges, feel uninspired, and deal with insecurities in life. Wearing a white Ethiopian Opal (Welo Opal) is believed to correspond with creative energies for better outcomes and gives additional support to artistic expression.
Ethiopian Opal, a beautiful and widely famous gemstone. The highest grade opals are characterized by their origin from a reliable source, consistent and balanced in color saturation, with minimum contamination. Customers can understand and assess the value and quality of opal by using the internationally recognized standards. The Opal's origin has a direct impact on its price. The main 4Cs must be used to understand the quality of an Opal, which are Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight. Here are a few factors that affect the gem's quality that one must consider, including the origin of an Opal, its type, brightness of the fire, clarity, fire pattern, and degree of transparency:
Cut: Ethiopian Opal raw is often shaped into lovely cabochons for use in jewelry making. A cabochon is a gemstone that typically has a flat back and which have a flat back and a smooth, rounded surface. Although loose Ethiopian Opals can be found in a variety of shapes, including pear, rectangular, square, cushion, marquise, heart, and more, round and oval shapes are the most common and most seen in the market. Only a small number of Ethiopian Opals are faceted, and those with strong color flashes and more transparency are highly valued.
The Natural Ethiopian Opal gemstones are surprisingly affordable right now, but this may not last forever. Like other popular mines, such as Australian Opal mines, are reducing now because of which we can see a significant increase in their prices over the year. Currently, there is a good availability of raw Ethiopian Opals, which will likely decline with time, which could hike their overall value in the future. Therefore, it is an excellent time to invest in a piece of top-grade Ethiopian Opal. When assessing the value of this gemstone, the key factors are its body, cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. However, the unique distribution of the play-of-color also impacts the beauty and value per carat of the gemstone. Pieces that exhibit fire from all sides and angles are precious and hard to find. In contrast, stones with minimal or no color flashes can be easily purchased and are generally available at a lower price. Ethiopian Opal cost can typically range from INR 1,000 ($12.52) to INR 4,000 (50.08).
If you are interested in buying natural and authentic opal, then it is important to buy from a trusted source. At Armonia, we provide 100% natural, authentic, unheated, and untreated Opals for both astrological and jewelry uses. You can shop original Opal gems online with a free gem certificate and get the best price available at Armonia.
When assessing the quality of Opal stones, a variety of variables can be considered. It might be challenging for the buyers to differentiate between an authentic Ethiopian Opal and lab-created ones. Generally, natural opal stone that has not been burned or chemically treated holds more value, although this may vary based on other variables. Opal Jewelry made from lab-created stones tends to be sold at a lower price, but it is neither valuable nor does it have any astrological significance.
At Armonia, we have put together some important information to help buyers differentiate between natural opals and lab-created ones. Firstly, it is important to know that treatment includes a human-assisted process that is applied to a gemstone, apart from the usual standard cutting and polishing process. These treatments are aimed at improving the look, durability, and overall value of the gemstone. Gemstones are also given some sort of enhancement or treatment, which helps them hold onto their newness by having a bright luster and brilliance.
Some frequently made treatments for Opals could include filling with oil, wax, or plastic, along with surface treatments known as sugar and smoke treatment. One must stay aware of the fact that the market is flooded with inexpensive opals that are treated with sugar and smoke, which may contain fractures. Therefore, it is essential to make your purchase from a trusted local retailer or a reputable online merchant. Always ask for the authenticity certificate or reports from the gemological laboratories. You can verify the report number of the lab certificate on the lab website or the firm's lab to ensure the authenticity of the gemstone. If the two reported numbers match, you can ensure it is genuine.
Each gemstone sold at Armonia comes with a Gem Lab Certificate. It allows our buyers to confirm the authenticity of the stone by directly cross-checking the details of the certificate against the information from the Gem lab.
Ethiopian opals are cherished for both their astrological properties and as a precious gemstone for jewelry. Historically, these gemstones were worn as a lucky talisman and considered a luxury item. Today, these are the most sought-after gemstones used for jewelry production due to their radiant brightness, mesmerizing color play, and rich availability. Ethiopian Opals can be crafted into a variety of beautiful pieces, including Ethiopian rings, pendants, bracelets, and many more. It makes them the popular choice for astrological jewelry amongst millions of people around the globe. The Australian Opal can be a perfect choice for crafting customized gemstone jewelry due to its beauty and uniqueness. At Armonia, we offer an exclusive collection of Ethiopian Opal jewelry, including Ethiopian Opal bracelets and Ethiopian Opal necklaces.
Ethiopian Opals range in hardness from 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, meaning they are required to be handled carefully. When working with Ethiopian Opal gemstones, here are some tips to consider to keep your gemstone in a flawless condition:
