In the early 1990’s a new type of Opal surfaced in Mezezo Ethiopia Africa and it is stunning. Ethiopian opal quickly became popular because of its extremely bright colors and relatively low price.

Ethiopian opal is a type of precious opal which means that it shows amazing play of color. Ethiopian opal is found in large nodules that are broken open to reveal the opal color.

If you are looking for loose individual Ethiopian opal be sure to navigate to the Ethiopian opal stones category on the left. This will show you all of the Ethiopian opal that can be used for jewelry or just for admiring.

Ethiopian opal is a volcanic type of opal that is found in deposits high up in the hills. The mining of Ethiopian opal is extremely difficult because of the dry conditions and tough terrain.

To make your search easier, we also have Ethiopian Opal carvings which show off the beautiful color play of Ethiopian opal while being in a beautiful carving. Some of these pieces are amazing so be sure to check them out.

Ethiopian opal specimens is another category that you should be sure to check out. These specimens show how Ethiopian opal has formed in its natural state. Perfect for collectors or those who are just interested in what natural can produce.

A unique property of Ethiopian opal is that it lends itself to being faceted. Not many opals look good when faceted but Ethiopian opal is unique in that respect.

Ethiopian opal pairs is a category where you will find matched pairs for use in earrings. It is extremely difficult to find a pair of Ethiopian opal because the colors and patterns are so diverse. Generally Ethiopian opal pairs will be cut from the one stone so that the stones look the same.

If you are looking to purchase a large lot of Ethiopian opal we have a dedicated category. The Ethiopian opal parcels category has parcels of opals which can help reduce the overall price of the stones.

Opal Care and Storage for Ethiopia Opals

To care for your Ethiopian opal, keep it dry, avoid harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures, and store it in a cool, soft environment, preferably in a padded pouch or box, away from direct sunlight.

Here's a more detailed guide:

1. Avoid Moisture and Water:

Hydrophane Nature:

Ethiopian opals are "hydrophane," meaning they absorb water and can appear to lose their fire or color if exposed to excessive moisture.

Prevent Water Damage:

Keep them away from water (besides washing hands), and remove jewelry before showering, swimming, or engaging in activities where water is involved.

*Hand Sanitizers and Hospital hand soaps are VERY BAD for Ethiopia Opals

Drying:

If an opal gets wet, allow it to dry naturally, avoiding direct heat or sunlight, as rapid drying can cause cracks.

Extended Storage:

If storing for an extended period, consider storing them wrapped in a slightly damp cloth or in a sealed bag with a damp cloth to maintain moisture.

2. Protect from Chemicals and Harsh Substances:

Chemical Sensitivity: Ethiopian opals are sensitive to chemicals, including household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics, and lotions.
Avoid Contact: Remove jewelry before applying these products, or when engaging in activities involving chemicals.
Cleaning: Clean with a soft, damp cloth and dry thoroughly.

3. Store Safely:

Protect from Scratches and Impacts:

Store opals individually in soft cloth pouches or padded jewelry boxes to prevent scratches and damage.

Avoid Direct Sunlight:

Keep opals out of direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure can cause fading or discoloration.

Temperature Control:

Avoid exposing opals to extreme temperature changes, as this can cause cracking or dehydration.

4. Other Considerations:

Mohs Scale:

Opals have a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, meaning they are relatively soft and can be scratched by harder materials.

Physical Activities:

Remove opal jewelry during strenuous activities or when handling potentially abrasive materials.

Professional Cleaning:

5. If you need a professional cleaning, avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaners, as they can damage the stones.

Ethiopian Opals are "hydrophane", which makes them thirsty for water. If they come in contact with water, they will absorb it and it can affect the colors.

HOW TO CARE FOR ETHIOPIAN OPAL JEWELRY IN 5 EASY STEPS

Keep Opals Away From Water. ... Avoid Liquid Chemicals Around Your Ethiopian Opals. ... Never use a steamer or ultrasonic cleaner.

Jewelry Care Guide

Ethiopian opals should not get wet “constantly” or be exposed to excessive heat or changes in temperature, and should be stored in cool, dry ar...

HOW TO PREVENT YOUR OPAL FROM LOSING ITS COLOUR

Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. ...
Keep them out of direct sunlight. ...
Store them in a cool, soft environment. ...
Avoid contact with harsh chemicals. ...
Remove Opal jewelry before engaging in strenuous activities or handling water.

Ethiopian Opals Grading And Patterns

Ethiopian opal is one of the most diverse and spectacular types of opals on the market today. Since this type of opal is new, there is no industry accepted way to grade this type of opal like there is with the black opal. Black opal is grading in terms of blackness, the brightness of the color and the pattern.

Similarly, Ethiopian opal is also graded on pattern and brightness, but the body tone of the stone does not play a huge role in determining the final value.

There are many unique patterns to Ethiopian Opals and on Opal Auctions the descriptions have to be accurate. One of the most popular patterns in Ethiopian opals is a naturally formed potch line with web inclusions known as honey comb pattern. This pattern is very rare in any other type of opals. These honeycomb shapes are also known on occasions to have brighter or different color than the surrounding opal, this is also a rare occurrence in nature.

Color And Brightness In Ethiopian Welo Opal

This refers to the fire within the opal. The translucent internal fire of these Ethiopian opals have properties that make the fire look 3D. This 3 dimensional color aspect is rare in most opals. It looks like fire has been captured within the opal.

Ethiopian Opal

Ethiopian Opal Pairs

Ethiopian Opal Parcels

Ethiopian Opal Specimens

Many Australian black opals have hidden color spectrum patterns deep within the opal so a blue opal can have hidden translucent color bars with violet or purple hues that cannot be directly seen by the naked eye. Ethiopian opals have vivid translucent color bars and patterns that are strikingly bright and are visible with the naked eye.

Ethiopian Opals are valued based on their bright flashes of fire color. 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.

Treated Ethiopian Black Opal

I was at the recent Tucson 2022 gem show where I saw large amounts of Ethiopian black opal being sold with gem reports saying its natural. New findings have shown that most, if not all, of the “black” Ethiopian opal now seen in the market is not what it appears to be! It is either treated by innovative new “smoking” techniques to obtain it’s black-opal appearance. Kind of like the Andamooka Dyed Matrix Opals from Australia. As this opal is hydrophane it seems to respond to smoking well. Smoking techniques are not new where opal is concerned, but what is now being used on the Ethiopian opal introduces a new twist to the old smoking method, which is why the treatment was missed by respected gem-testing laboratories.

The old technique was used on low quality opal, such as Mexican hydrophane material, to darken the color of the base material, which causes — by contrast — a more fiery play of color. It was done simply by wrapping the opal tightly in brown paper, placing it in a covered container, heating over medium heat until the paper is completely charred, then cooling and washing it. The result was a much prettier opal!

The other treatment that is common with Ethiopian Opal is altering the body color of the stone with dye. Some stones can be find to have a bright pink or purple body color which has been artificially placed into the stone. These are the only known treatment so far for Ethiopian opal and it greatly reduces the price of the stone. On Opal Auctions any treatments must be clearly stated.

The only other thing to be aware of is the fake Ethiopian opal that is on the market today. Read our article on detecting fake opals to help arm yourself with the knowledge needed to correctly identify fake Ethiopian opals.

Pattern In Ethiopian Opal

Ethiopian Opal has a wide range of beautiful patterns and shapes from oval to free-form. Black Opals from Australia are well documented with unique patterns from Mackerel to Harlequin. Similar names have been adopted to describe Ethiopian Opals. The most highly sought after and expensive pattern is the honey comb pattern.

Broad Pattern Crystal

Patchwork Rolling Flash

Patchwork Honeycomb

Hexagon Honeycomb or Fish Scale

Pin Fire Crystal

Neon Flash Pattern

Welo Broad Flash

Rainbow Pattern

Broad Patchwork

Multi Chaff Fireworks

Broad Flash Fire

Floral Eyes Pattern

Fire Cloud

Welo Patchwork Harlequin Pattern

Harlequin is regarded as the rarest pattern in the opal industry with Ethiopia having its own unique pattern-honeycomb pattern. Honey comb pattern is the most sort after pattern on cabochon Ethiopian opal. Many opal miners will never find one of these patterns in their lifetime of work.

True harlequin pattern is a mosaic broad pattern, angular close set of colors. Floral patterns are sometimes called floral harlequin but Welo Floral or Welo patchwork would be the correct naming for these gem Ethiopian floral pattern opals.

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