Ethiopian Wollo Opal

[MakingTheGrade]

It's amazing, I really love it. The play of color is unbelievable! If you love colors, then this is a stone that you want at least one of!

Barry's photos first. 10.4x8mm 1.97ct

 

[MakingTheGrade]

The predominate flash is a fiery red...but for some reason I just can't catch it with the camera...sorry! There is literally ever color in there though.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

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[MakingTheGrade]

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[MakingTheGrade]

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[MakingTheGrade]

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[MakingTheGrade]

Opals are tricky to photograph. Sorry!

I'm likely sending this one to sally to set into a ring so I can watch the play of colors on my hand!

 

[Treenbean]

Really pretty. Seems like it's one of those stones you could stare at all day long

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Thanks Treebean!

Yeah, it's very mesmerizing to look at. Between it and the star sapphire I just got back, I'm getting a little addicted to cabs!

The opal sort of reminds me of a crazy easter egg that someone doused in glitter..

 

[Treenbean]

hehe good analogy! I like cabs a lot too. I think your ring is really pretty! The matte finish really suits the stone, good design!

 

[Aoife]

I love it! It really is fantastic, and you did a much better job with photographing it than I did with mine.

I was thinking about sending one of mine to Sally, too, so I will definitely want to see what you decide to do with this gorgeous opal.


Don't you kind of feel as though you've "seen the light," and have to convert everyone to the Wollo opal love? Everyone must have been sick to death of me burbling on about them, so I'm glad to have more company!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Haha Aoife, I've definitely seen the light! I'm already trying to think up an excuse to get another of these...

 

[Fly Girl]

Gorgeous opal and great pictures. Another cab lover here. Looking forward to seeing your ring ideas.

 

[JewelFreak]

That is soooooo pretty! Looks like a magic stone.

--- Laurie

 

[Burberrygirl]

Pretty! I was wondering about BB's opals. Thanks for sharing lots of pictures!

 

[Arkteia]

It is really nice! I am "angry" with the opals (a long story that happened several years ago) and will probably never buy one, but I like looking at them and your stone looks warm. Like a X-mas tree with lights...

 

[chrono]

So fiery – Sally’s going to do an awesome job setting that opal!

 

[stepcutnut]

OMGoodness! That is beautiful!!!

 

[ooo~Shiney!]

Oh, you are so good at taking pictures!
I could look at that all day, what a beautiful stone , and I know Sally will do a great job
setting it for you!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Gorgeous opal! Is it hidrophane? I am wary of setting those in rings, as I never remove my rings when I wash my hands. If I had one in a ring, it would be dull and lifeless most of the time

 

[gsellis]

LD, I think all of this type Welo is hydrophane.

Two cautions if you get one (and I am NOT discouraging you... I have about 8 pieces to cut - Christmas is going to be good this year ).

1) Like all opal, it is soft. Rings and bracelets are going to be very rough on it. While faceting it, I know I will have to redo something because a little bit of the pumice attached to the rough always shows up and scratches it.

2) It will soak up water and change color in a heartbeat. Don't bath, wash the dishes, or anything else with frequent submerging unless you are ready for the consequences. First, it will go an opaque white, then, it will start getting clear on the edges and that will progress to the center. It will be clear and the color will almost entirely disappear. After it is out of the water, it will go opaque again in about 30 minutes. It will stay that way for days. Do NOT try to speed up the drying! After about 2 weeks, it will be like the pictures above again.

No heat, no ultrasound, no soaking in cleaners. WD-40 sucks the water out of it and it will look kind of homely (it is a diamond cutting thing). Acetone makes it turn yellowish (used to remove superglue from dopping it). I soaked it in water for 8 hours and 2 weeks later, it is looking normal (stunning is normal).

So far, I have not found anyone who has worked with it that says it is unstable. If it is cracked when you start and you don't chase it out, it will continue to crack based on a sample of 1. Expect the price to go up. Everyone assumed that it was too good to be true.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Thanks for all the great care advice! I will definitely pass all that on to the jeweler as well.
I think I'll still set it in a ring because I want to stare and play with it, but I will remember not to wear it too often or near water

Heh, I just got a sapphire ring, and one of my favorite things about it is that it's so low maintenance!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I just got an email back from Barry. He said that these opals were quite sturdy, apparently theres an article in Gems and Gemology that spoke about how they dropped the stone from waist high a few times with no damage.

 

[jstarfireb]

It look really nice! The hydrophane aspect is fascinating. My opal is the same type.

Does anyone know if the correct term is Welo or Wollo? I've seen it both ways.

 

[Aoife]

It look really nice! The hydrophane aspect is fascinating. My opal is the same type.

Does anyone know if the correct term is Welo or Wollo? I've seen it both ways.

The article I read in the Gems and Gemology journal (the summer issue that talked about the Wollo opals) used Wollo, but also gave the alternative spellings, so it may just be one of those things that doesn't have a whole lot of agreement.

jstarfireb, did you have a thread on it? I'm sorry, I can't recall.

 

[Aoife]

I just got an email back from Barry. He said that these opals were quite sturdy, apparently theres an article in Gems and Gemology that spoke about how they dropped the stone from waist high a few times with no damage.

You have to pay for the article, but it is well worth reading if you are interested in these opals. You can download it on the Gems and Gemology site.

 

[LD]

I love love love Opals! Many congratulations on your lovely new friend - I can't wait to see how Sally sets it. I've got quite a few large opals and can sit looking at them for hours. I'm fascinated that Mother Nature produces such beauty!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Thanks LD! I really love the opal, in fact, I'm on a bit of a cab kick in general right now. Would love more star stones and opals and iridescent cabs in the future!

 

[SB621]

TL I just saw the most GORGEOUS opal ring. It was very similar to Chrono's meg spinel ring except it was obviously for an oval opal and it was in yellow gold with green gold prongs. It was to die for!!! just throwing out a setting option for you!

 

[jstarfireb]

jstarfireb, did you have a thread on it? I'm sorry, I can't recall.

Nope, in general I haven't started threads on my purchases because most of them are tiny and modest. I have posted a pic here and there...it's a 4mm faceted opal from The Gem Trader with orange body color and great play of color.



MTG has a similarly sized and faceted opal in a pendant with her opposed bar tourmaline, but hers is white and mine is orange.