Natural White Ethiopian Opal 2.86ct 13x9.8mm Teardrop Cabochon
€42.00 EURSKU: op415
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A pear cabochon with color distributed finely and evenly rather than in bold patches. Across a milky white body that turns blue-gray where the dome is deepest, hundreds of small orange, red and green sparks are scattered from the point right up to the shoulder, giving a shimmering, textured surface. Along the top edge a ribbon of brighter yellow-green and emerald catches first as the stone is tilted, and a clear violet-blue patch sits just below it on the right.
Play-of-color is diffraction: an ordered array of silica spheres within the opal splits white light, returning one color at a time as the viewing angle changes. Where those ordered regions are small and numerous, the result is the fine pinfire seen here rather than large flashes. This is untreated Welo opal from Ethiopia, a hydrophane material that will absorb water and temporarily alter in transparency, so keep it dry and away from ultrasonic cleaners. The 13x9.8mm teardrop is a natural pendant shape, and opal's 5 to 6.5 hardness favors a setting that guards the point. Opal is the birthstone for October.
Natural white Ethiopian opal, teardrop cabochon, 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: 13 × 9.8 mm
Shown next to a €1 coin (23.25 mm) in the exact ratio, so you can picture the real size.
