Natural Ethiopian Opal 1.81ct Oval Cabochon
€28.00 EURSKU: op405
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Set against a soft milky white body that turns faintly blue where light passes through it, this oval cabochon carries its play-of-color in one concentrated cluster. A patch of hot red and orange sits just above center and holds most of the fire, edged by a rim of yellow-green that flares as the stone is turned. Smaller blue and green flecks scatter through the lower half and along the girdle. A single dark pinpoint inclusion near the middle of the dome is natural to the material and easy to miss unless you look for it.
Play-of-color in opal is diffraction, not pigment. Light bends around microscopic spheres of silica packed in an orderly array, and the size of those spheres decides which colors come back to the eye. Ethiopian opal from the Welo fields is hydrophane, meaning it can absorb water and temporarily shift in transparency, so it is best kept away from prolonged soaking, oils and ultrasonic cleaners. The stone is untreated. At 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale opal rewards a protective setting, and this size works nicely as a pendant or ring center. Opal is the birthstone for October.
Natural Ethiopian opal, October birthstone, sold loose.
We ship worldwide from Sofia, Bulgaria. Every order is packed in a protective box with bubble wrap. Orders within Bulgaria are dispatched within 1-2 business days and international orders within 2-3 business days. Free shipping is applied automatically at checkout, and the threshold applies to the order value after any discounts.
Delivery within Bulgaria
- Delivered by Speedy, Econt or Box Now, to a courier office, a locker or your address.
- Fixed prices: Box Now locker €1.60 (free on orders from €25), Speedy office €3.20, Econt office or locker €4.00, Speedy to your address €4.50.
- Free shipping on orders over €50, with any courier and at any weight.
- Cash on delivery is available.
- Delivery normally takes 1-2 business days after dispatch.
- Hardness
- 5-6.5
- Cleavage
- None
- Durability
- Poor
- Soapy water
- Damp cloth
- Ultrasonic
- Avoid
- Steam
- Avoid
About opal
Opal is amorphous: unlike most gems, it has no crystal structure. It is made of silica and water, and in precious opal the play of color comes from microscopic spheres stacked in neat rows that split light. It is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and sensitive to knocks, heat and sudden temperature changes. Ethiopian opal is usually hydrophane: it can soak up water and turn temporarily cloudy or lose its play of color, which returns as it slowly dries.
Cleaning
Wipe it with a soft cloth dampened in lukewarm water and dry it at once. Do not soak it or leave it in water. Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners: opal contains water and can crack (craze) with vibration or heat. Never use oil on it.
Wear and storage
Below 7 on the Mohs scale, it can be scratched even by household dust, which contains quartz. It suits pendants, earrings and brooches better than rings worn every day. Store it on its own in a soft pouch, away from harder stones.
For your jeweler
This opal is untreated. Opal should be kept away from the torch flame, acid pickle and the ultrasonic bath. A bezel or another protective setting suits it best.
Scale
True to scale: 11.7 × 8.5 mm
Shown next to a €1 coin (23.25 mm) in the exact ratio, so you can picture the real size.
