Our Australian white opal typically sells for $150-400, while rarer and more valuable Australian black opal typically sells for $500-4,000.
A heartbreaking outcome for such an important ring, and we're expecting much more longevity for the Australian opal we put in its place!įine opal is an affordable option relative to alternatives like diamond and sapphire. In a matter of just a few months, the faceted Ethiopian opal in her engagement ring turned brown and lost much of its fire, likely because it absorbed water and other chemicals, some of which stayed in the stone and caused its discoloration. The image below shows an example one of our customers shared with us.
#Ethiopian opal crack
Australian opals are much less susceptible to these issues, though they can be damaged by chemicals or crack if they get too dried out. The problem is that chemicals, dirt, and oils tend to cause permanent changes, staying in the stone once absorbed to cause clouding and loss of color play. This temporary change in appearance reverses as the opal dries back out. When just water is absorbed, the stones become almost completely transparent. The primary downside of Ethiopian opal is that most of it is hydrophane, meaning that it will readily absorb water and chemicals. The Ethiopian white opal here shows the more vibrant colors that are typical of the region. We initially set a more subdued Australian opal in this ring, and then substituted the more vibrant Ethiopian opal shown on the right. These two examples show the classic character of these two types of opals.
This color play is what got the world excited about Ethiopian opal.
In fact, the play of color (meaning the flashes of blue, green, and other colors that dance across an opal's surface) is stronger on average than what is seen in Australian white opals.
Comparing AppearanceĪustralian opal has long been the industry standard and comes in all varieties, including the white opal that's most common in the US market and black opal, which is the most valuable.Įthiopian Welo opal comes primarily in white and crystal varieties, both with strong play of color. These opals, often referred to as Welo opals after the Wollo Province where they are mined, have become a small but growing piece of the precious opal market. Ethiopian OpalĮthiopia burst onto the opal scene in 2008, when a major opal source was found in volcanic rocks near the village of Wegel Tena. The Aussie government estimates that it has historically produced 95% of the world's precious opal for jewelry. Back to main menu Styles Unique engagement rings Non-traditional engagement rings Alternative engagement rings Art Deco engagement rings Modern engagement rings Ring features Antique halo rings Sunburst halo rings Unique halo rings Cluster engagement rings Diamond cluster rings Bezel rings Toi et moi rings Three stone rings East-west rings Crown & tiara engagement rings Exploring gemstones Gemstone rings with unique center stones Sapphire rings in every color Gem shapes and cuts Princess cut engagement rings Emerald cut engagement rings Marquise cut engagement rings Cushion cut engagement rings Pear cut engagement rings Hexagon engagement rings Kite engagement rings What's your inspiration? Turtle engagement rings Owl engagement rings Dragonfly engagement rings Snake engagement rings Cat engagement rings Mermaid engagement rings Tree engagement rings Autumn engagement rings Feather engagement rings Infinity engagement rings Mountain engagement rings Moon and stars engagement rings Music themed engagement rings Flower engagement rings Lotus engagement rings Lavender engagement rings Geeky engagement rings Hogwarts houses engagement rings Magic wand rings Zelda engagement rings Pokémon engagement rings Golden Snitch engagement rings Star Wars engagement rings Fantasy engagement rings Superhero engagement rings Nightmare Before Christmas engagement rings Skull engagement rings Celtic engagement ringsĪustralia is the world capital of opal production.
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