Opal was known in ancient times as the Queen of Gems because it encompasses luminescence and colours of all the other Gemstones.

These days the principal sources of Opals are Australia and Ethiopia. Whilst Australian Opals are sedimentary in nature, forming in ancient sea beds, Ethiopian opals originate from volcanic activity.

Up until few years ago, when massive Opal deposits were discovered in Ethiopia, it was estimated that Australia was producing about 95% of the world’s Opal including the rarest and most valuable variety of Black Opal.

Although anthropologists believe that the earliest known Opal artefacts dating back to 4000 B.C. most likely came from Ethiopia, this “new” find with its red-rich colour spectrum (red was traditionally rarest colour for Australian stones) and amazing patterns, is quickly gaining the deserved attention in the global Opal community.

Due to its competitive price, rich colour spectrum and striking pattern formations Ethiopian Opal is fast gaining a substantial market share and thus attracting unwarranted criticism based on ludicrous assessment conducted by those who clearly have vested interests in the current global Opal market share. Unless you are easily impressionable and inclined to believe panic-driven narratives, you should be sceptical of these criticisms and form your own opinion on unbiased scientific analysis, such as the test conducted by the Gemological Institute of America (*), rather than baseless apologues.

Ethiopian Opals have principally two varieties: Mezezo Opal from the Showa Province, with amazing colour saturation but difficult to cut as it easily crazes and Welo Opal from Wegeltena, that has proved to be as stable and even tougher than the Australian Opal, withstanding drops to concrete from four feet without damage.

Unlike Australian Opals, most but not all Ethiopian and Mexican Opal varieties are hydrophane, which means they absorb humidity when submersed in liquid. However, the hydrophane characteristic of these Opals is nothing to be alarmed about: once it dries out the full colour will return with no problems. In saying that, washing your hands will have little to no effect on these Opals, but as you should do with any Gemstone, you need to be cautious and avoid wearing them while bathing, swimming or handle chemicals and treat your Opal with respect.

We are an Australian owned company, based in Australia and it goes without saying that we do favour Australian products however, we also uphold the highest of ethical standards and the notion of  “giving a fair go” that distinguishes us Australians. We don’t believe that the arrival of the Ethiopian, Mexican or Brazilian Opal will affect the well established market share of the Australian Opal which is proving harder to find than ever. On the contrary, we firmly believe that each of these countries of origin compliments the others to the benefit of all, for each variety has its own distinct market place, value and features.

In all fairness, no Gemstone was ever vilified more than Opals for their stunning beauty thus we don’t think is fair to take part in promoting bad reputation against non-Australian Opals as it equates to what diamond merchants did in mid 19th and early 20th centuries – when Opal started to be mined commercially in Australia – by pegging unfounded plague, death and disaster myths to Opals. Contrary to these beliefs, Opals are symbol of hope, loyalty, love, passion, spontaneity and sign of strength to those who wear them, that goes above and beyond futile superstitions and prejudices.

In this time and age believing that Ethiopian, Mexican or Brazilian Opal is something of less value than the Australian Opal would be the same as believing the myths that diamond traders did spread, but no matter what, rumours will always end up impressing some minds, and to this day, some century old prejudices against Opals remain alive in some circles.

Unfortunately, whenever new sources are discovered the fundamental tenets of the gemstone business seems to require these type of myths. History repeated it self in late 1990’s  with the discovery of Sapphires in Madagascar which had rainbow of hues, including blue, pink, yellow, and purple; those who had vested interests tried to promote a stigma of Madagascar Sapphires being less desirable than Sapphires from established sources such as Myanmar and Sri Lanka and even attributed that bias to their lack of historical significance.

On our website you will find Australian and Ethiopian Opals; put unfounded prejudices aside and go where your personal taste takes you and choose what you like most, without worrying about dim myths or where the Opals come from. After all, it is you and your loved ones who will be wearing and enjoying them.

Arianna.

 

(*) GIA Report page 102 “We noticed by accident that Wegel Tena opals could sustain a fall from 1.5 m onto a concrete floor with no visible damage, even under the microscope. Repetition of this test on five oval cabochons did not produce any sign of damage. The same experiment with five oval cabochons from the Mezezo deposit and three oval cabochons of white opal from Australia (including one boulder opal) led to breakage of all samples.“