What is the price of opal in Ethiopia?

10-250 per carat
The price per carat of Ethiopian opal ranges from 10-250 per carat based on the intensity, variety and patterns of color. Top quality gems will have color over the entire surface free of visible inclusions on the top surface of the opal.

Are Ethiopian opals a good investment?

Ethiopian Opal is a new variety of opal discovered in Wollo province of Ethiopia. It is highly valued for its vibrant body hues, bold color flashes and patterns. These opals are superior in terms of quality but are relatively cheaper than the other popular origin varieties such as Australian Opals.

Why is Ethiopian Opal so cheap?

It might seem a tad bit odd, but Ethiopian opals are cheap because they don’t control the market. Sure, they are a bit rarer than Australian, but they have to compete with opal royalty. The only way Ethiopian opal sellers can turn a profit is if they offer their gems at a lower price point.

Which opal is best Australian or Ethiopian?

Australian 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. Ethiopian Welo opal comes primarily in white and crystal varieties, both with strong play of color.

How can you tell if an Ethiopian opal is real?

Look at the pattern and play of color, it will be tightly bunched together, and under a loop light, there will be no gaps in the pattern. In other words, the flakes of pattern will be so tightly compacted that it appears uniform. Natural opals will have different size flakes within the gemstone.

How can you tell a good quality opal?

The cut of a fine opal should be symmetrical. If it’s a cabochon, the dome should be well rounded. Domed surfaces give the best play-of-color, and make the stone appear vivid from most viewing angles. If the cabochon is flat, it might be vulnerable to breakage, especially during setting into jewelry.

Will opals increase in value?

Australian opal is highly prized, rare and the best quality opal in the world. Opal is considered a safe investment because the material has never dipped in value and has only ever increased due to the demand of the world market and jewellery production.

Do opals hold their value?

Opal is an extremely precious gem. Gem Black, Boulder, Crystal and White Opals are the world’s #1 most valuable commercially available gemstone, yet they are complex with an exponentially large range of valuation characteristics than Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires or Tanzanites.

Does Ethiopian opal turn yellow?

Sometimes Ethiopian opals can turn yellow or brown and lose their fire. This would probably happen because the stone has been allowed to absorb water, which temporarily affects its color and fire. Once the stone is dewatered, it should return to its normal state.

Why do Ethiopian opals turn yellow?

Hydrophane opals have the ability to absorb water or liquids, similar to a sponge, resulting in a change of color that may turn the opal translucent yellow or brown and the play-of-color to disappear temporarily.

Can you fake Ethiopian opal?

As such, there are discrepancies in the gemstone market, particularly with the rise of fake or counterfeit gems being advertised and sold as natural. Unfortunately, this is the case with Ethiopian opals. Despite the prevalence and ample supply of stunning natural opals from Ethiopia, the market is riddled with fakes.

How can I tell if my opal is real?

Most genuine solid opals have an irregularity in this area – curved or bumpy due to their natural formation – whereas a man-made stone will be perfectly flat because the two sections are flattened so they can be glued together. Be especially wary if the opal is set in jewellery and you cannot see its back or side.

How do you sell opals?

How to Sell My Opals

  1. Get your opal appraised by a jeweler.
  2. Take pictures of your opal at different angles.
  3. Sell your opals on eBay.
  4. List your opal for free on craigslist.
  5. Sell your opal to a jeweler in your area.
  6. Take your opal to a pawn shop if you need immediate cash and are having problems selling your item.

How much should I pay for an opal?

Because there are so many opal fields in Australia, there really is no singular form of opal. This means that opal costs can vary from about $10 per carat to approximately $6,000 per carat.

Do Ethiopian opals crack?

Many examples of opals from Ethiopia have a very beautiful play of colors. However, these gems are often prone to cracking only with the course of time or just mild heating. This unfortunate effect is associated with an appreciable water content in the open pores of the material.

How can I tell if my Ethiopian opal is real?

Why did my Ethiopian opal turn yellow?

Hydrophane opals have the ability to absorb water or liquids, similar to a sponge, resulting in a change of color that may turn the opal translucent yellow or brown and the play-of-color to disappear temporarily. Don’t panic though! The color will return once the opal is fully and naturally air-dried.

Are Ethiopian opals real?

By now, you’ve learned that Ethiopian opals are a real and natural gemstone from Africa. Opals from Ethiopia are incredibly gorgeous, exhibiting stunning play of color and that signature waxy texture.

How old are Ethiopian opals?

While the Ethiopian opal boom seems relatively new, archeology shows that opals may have played a part in East African trade as early as 4000 B.C. A 1939 discovery by archeologist Louis Leakey places opals in the hands of humans in Kenya nearly 6000 years before contemporary Ethiopian opal discoveries.

How do you price opals?

The value of an opal depends on many factors. The type of opal, body tone, brilliance, pattern, colour bar thickness, the play of colour, and faults all play important roles in determining the value. Other important factors include the quality of the cut & polish, and the size of the stone.