Why Are Ethiopian Opals Cheaper? The Truth About This Striking Gem (2024)

FAQs

Why are Ethiopian opals cheaper? ›

It might seem a tad bit odd, but Ethiopian opals are cheap because they don't control the market. Sure, they are a bit rarer than Australian, but they have to compete with opal royalty. The only way Ethiopian opal sellers can turn a profit is if they offer their gems at a lower price point.

There is a large quantity of Ethiopian opal available which has kept the price low. Like most gems the top quality material is quite rare and commands a high price. The intensity of the color is what makes this opal valuable as the best Ethiopian opal have colors that are described as unreal looking like colored L.E.D.

All in all, Ethiopian opals are ethical when mining companies meet the requirements enforced by the government.

Ethiopian opal is believed to be an emotional intensifier, enhancing the true nature of those who wear it. Some say it strengthens the will to live and shields the wearer against negativity, burning off karma.

Ensuring your opal is genuine

Real opal will not be made of glass, plastic or resin. A genuine opal is a solid stone made of silica. Unless your opal is specified as a doublet or triplet, it should not have foreign material glued or fused to the back.

The greatest quality Ethiopian opal is typically considered to have translucent color and regularly spaced flashes of rainbow-colored hues. Color: Natural opal gemstones are found in Australian opal mines in a spectrum of colors, including colorless, white, and black as well as red, orange, yellow, brown, and grey.

Black Opal

The contrast of play-of-color to bodycolor makes black opals very popular. Additionally, black opals are considered to be the rarest (white opals are more common).

Does Ethiopian Opal turn yellow? If Opals are left in water and allowed to soak it up, they may lose their fire temporarily and turn yellow or brown. Don't worry, the fire and color will come back once the Opals have fully dried, which can take a few minutes to weeks, depending on how much water they managed to absorb.

On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from 10 to 250 per carat. Of course, lower cost opals will have more inclusions, flaws and duller color. Conversely, the highest-quality jewels will garner magnificent play of color, body tone and brilliance.

Ethiopian Opals are "hydrophane", which means they absorb water. When water is absorbed their appearance changes. If the Opals are submerged in water they may lose their fire temporarily and turn yellow or brown. The fire and color should come back once the opals have fully dried.

Can you shower with Ethiopian opal? ›

This is the most important thing to keep in mind when taking care of your Ethiopian opal jewelry (especially opal rings). Remove your opal ring when washing your hands, cleaning dishes, taking a shower, relaxing in hot tubs or Jacuzzis or going swimming.

Don't worry if your Ethiopian Opal gets wet. The colour and transparency will alter temporarily, but they will return to their original colour as it dries over a few days. Avoid humidity extremes, especially if you live in a desert environment with little humidity.

1. Keep Opals Away From Water! Ethiopian Opals are "hydrophane", this means that they absorb water and when they do their appearance changes. If the Opals come in contact with water, they will soak it up it like a sponge.

Given consideration alone, Australian Opals are more durable and wearable than their Ethiopian counterparts — in that you don't have to worry about water or the stone against your skin potentially altering the gem's play of color.

Look at the pattern and play of color, it will be tightly bunched together, and under a loop light, there will be no gaps in the pattern. In other words, the flakes of pattern will be so tightly compacted that it appears uniform. Natural opals will have different size flakes within the gemstone.

So first, lets talk benefits. The benefit of Ethiopian Opals being hydrophane, is that unlike many other types of opal that are prone to drying out and crazing, Ethiopian opal does not really suffer this particular issue.

In the case of Ethiopian opal, the hydrophane effect has the opposite results. As it gets wet while being worked, the color slowly starts fading until the stone approaches near clarity. This can be frightening if you are not aware of the opal losing its color.

Black opals are generally considered to be the best in the world due to their dark body tone. Boulder opals are the much lesser known cousin of the black opal, but they can have equally stunning colour.

Opal stones are quite unique as they contain a relatively high amount of water which effects their translucency, their clarity, and their colors. Ethiopian opals have microscopical pores that are not visible to the naked eye but they allow the stone to absorb fluids and to be affected by the environment.

Opals Have a High Water Content

If they dry too quickly they may indeed crack. This is also known as "crazing." That's why they're sometimes kept in water until they can be sold.

What is the most expensive form of opal? ›

Black opal is the most prized opal and may realise prices over AUD $15,000 a carat. Boulder opals also have a dark body tone. White opals have a light body tone and are generally the least valuable form of opal.

By far the most prized and rare pattern is the true Harlequin opal. This pattern is extremely rare and we use the terminology of true pattern, as some opals might just have one or two shapes like harlequin pattern but only in a small area.

Map of Ethiopia indicating its main gem sources: sapphire near the town of Aksum, opal in the central highlands surrounding Wegel Tena, and emeralds in the southern jungles near Shakiso.

Its water composition is also such a distinct property that causes opals to change in colour. Heat, humidity, sweat and contact in water can make the amount of water in opals fluctuate. When this happens or when your opal pendant loses or gains water, its colour changes.

Many examples of opals from Ethiopia have a very beautiful play of colors. However, these gems are often prone to cracking only with the course of time or just mild heating. This unfortunate effect is associated with an appreciable water content in the open pores of the material.

Water penetration can eventually cause the glue to deteriorate and the layers to separate, causing the opal to take on a foggy, grey, or cloudy appearance. This fact is the origin of the 'never get your opal wet' misconception. Fact: If an opal was completely black, it would also be completely worthless.

If you were born in the month of October, your birthstone is the opal. Perhaps more than any stone, the opal is cloaked in mystery and legend. One of the better-known legends about the opal is that it's bad luck to wear one -- and even more so if it's not your birthstone.

Opal Rings

You can wear Opal every-day, it is so versatile!. You can swim in it, shower, do the dishes. Just remember that any gemstone will crack or chip if it comes into contact with a hard surface (even Diamond) so make sure you have a strong setting. This is why bezel settings are great for Opal.

Opals are extremely sensitive to light, and wearing these jewelry pieces in direct sunlight constantly can certainly wear them out. So, if you're planning a day on the shore, at an outdoor event or even plan on spending long periods of time outside, check that forecast, ladies.

Why did my opal turned clear? ›

Dome types of opal turn white or another color if they get dry. They become clear when out in water.

Standard gemmological tests show UV reaction to be generally weak/moderate, whitish without the green phosphorescence characteristic to Australian opals. It's due to the absence of uranium in Ethiopian opal. As with opals from other localities, yellow, orange and brown stones do not fluoresce at all.

Boulder opal is harder wearing. Due to its very hard natural ironstone backing, Queensland boulder opal is more robust and has an advantage over other types of Australian opal.

Can you wear your opal ring whilst washing up the dishes? An Australian Opal will not be damaged when exposed to light chemicals such as dishwashing detergent or hand soap. You should not however expose your opal to hasher chemicals such as bleach or ammonia.

The sugar/acid treatment is done by soaking opal for a few days in a warm solution of sugar water, then submerging the opal in sulfuric acid. The acid oxidizes the sugar in the pore spaces of the opal, producing dark-colored carbon particles and stains.

To safely determine if an opal is hydrophane and avoid further propagation of existing cracks, the stone should be examined using a standard gemological microscope and direct transmitted light (with the microscope in brightfield mode).

Doublets can usually be identified by looking at the side of the opal – if the stone has been adhered together you will notice that the line where the coloured opal and the black backing meet is perfectly straight. This is necessary for the two layers to be adhered together.

Australia is regarded as the world's leading source of opal and of the world's finest opal. In 1994, opal was declared Australia's National Gemstone. Opal is found in several other countries including Brazil, Mexico, Ethiopia, the United States, Canada, Peru, Indonesia, Honduras, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

One of the most captivating qualities of hyalite opal is its fluorescent green glow in shortwave ultraviolet light. All minerals can reflect a degree of light, but some have the physical qualities that allow them to temporarily absorb a small amount of light and releases it in a different wavelength.

“THE ANDAMOOKA OPAL” ALSO KNOWN AS “THE QUEEN'S OPAL”

The finest gem crystal Opal ever mined at the Andamooka Opal fields was selected and then John Altmann cut and polished this rare gem into 6 stones.

What is the most beautiful opal in the world? ›

Opals are well-known for their incredible play of colors and unique characteristics, captivating gem enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

The “Olympic Australis” is reported to be the largest and most valuable gem opal ever found. It was found in 1956 at the famous “Eight Mile” opal field in Coober Pedy, South Australia. A miner working his claim found the opal at a depth of 30 feet.

By now, you've learned that Ethiopian opals are a real and natural gemstone from Africa. Opals from Ethiopia are incredibly gorgeous, exhibiting stunning play of color and that signature waxy texture.

Black opals are generally considered to be the best in the world due to their dark body tone. Boulder opals are the much lesser known cousin of the black opal, but they can have equally stunning colour.

Australia is regarded as the world's leading source of opal and of the world's finest opal. In 1994, opal was declared Australia's National Gemstone. Opal is found in several other countries including Brazil, Mexico, Ethiopia, the United States, Canada, Peru, Indonesia, Honduras, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Hydrophane opals have the ability to absorb water or liquids, similar to a sponge, resulting in a change of color that may turn the opal translucent yellow or brown and the play-of-color to disappear temporarily. Don't panic though! The color will return once the opal is fully and naturally air-dried.