Welo Opal “Ethiopian Opals”
Many of the opals mined in Ethiopia are hydrophane opals, particularly from the Welo rocks.
Hydrophane Opal is a fresh word designed to define a specific Opal form. Opals have been mined for thousands of years in Europe and more than 165 years in Australia. However, the finding of opals from Ethiopia and Hydrophane has been around for only about 20 years. The business amounts of this product have increased over the past 10 years.
Ethiopian opal is one of today’s most varied and spectacular opal types on the market. Because this type of opal is new, there is no industry-accepted way of grading this type of opal like the black opal. Black opal is in darkness, color brightness and pattern grading.
Likewise, Ethiopian opal is also graded on shape and brightness, but the stone’s body color does not play an enormous part in determining the ultimate quality.
Ethiopian Opals have many distinctive models and the descriptions must be precise on Opal Auctions. A naturally shaped potch row with internet inclusions recognized as honey comb motif is one of the most common motifs in Ethiopian opals. In any other sort of opals, this model is very uncommon. These forms of the honeycomb are also considered to have lighter or distinct colors on occasions than the adjacent opal, which is also a unusual event in nature.
Color And Brightness In Ethiopian Welo Opal
This relates to the opal flame. These Ethiopian opals ‘ transparent inner flame has characteristics that create the flame feel 3D. In most opals, this 3-dimensional color element is uncommon. It appears to have caught flames within the opal.
Where Can You Find Welo Opal?
Ethiopia
The first released Ethiopian gem study with the finding of valuable opal in the district of Menz Gishe, North Shewa Province, was released in 1994. The opal, found mainly in the shape of nodules, was of volcanic origin and was discovered mainly in weathered rhyolite strata.
This opal Shewa Province was mostly colored dark brown and tended to break. These characteristics rendered the jewel trade unpopular. In 2008, a new opal deposit was found about 180 km north of the province of Shewa, near the town of Wegel Tena, in the Wollo province of Ethiopia. Opal from the past Ethiopian opal findings, the Wollo Province was distinct in that it more strongly resembled Australia and Brazil’s sedimentary opals with a light backdrop and often lively play-of-colour. Opal Wollo Province, more frequently referred to as opal “Welo” or “Wello,” has become the dominant Ethiopian opal in jewelry trade.
Are Ethiopian opals valuable?
Opals with a rare or unique pattern are more precious. The Harlequin pattern in opals is the most rare and loved pattern, but it is very rare.
Ethiopian opal is one of today’s market’s most varied and dramatic opal kinds. Ethiopian opal is also graded on shape and luminosity, but the stone’s body tone does not play a major part in determining the ultimate quality.
