Ethiopian Opal (Welo Opal)

Ethiopian opal is a play-of-color opal from the highlands of Ethiopia. The most important deposit — Welo (Wollo) opal — was discovered in 2008 near the town of Wegel Tena in Wollo Province, and it quickly reshaped the global opal trade with bright fire at accessible prices.

Hydrophane opal

Like all opal it is a hydrated form of silica, but Welo opal is notably hydrophane: it is porous and absorbs water, so an opaque or translucent stone can turn transparent — and its play-of-color shift — when soaked, then return to its original look as it dries. This makes Ethiopian opal beautiful but sensitive; it should be kept away from water, oils and chemicals.

Appearance

Body colours range from clear and white to yellow, orange and brown (including fire-opal tones), with flashes of play-of-color across the spectrum. Earlier Ethiopian opal from the Shewa region was more brittle; the more stable Welo material is the type usually seen today.

For collectors

Strong, broad play-of-color, an attractive body colour and stability drive value. Because the opal is hydrophane, store it dry and handle it with care.