Yes, Ethiopian opals are known for their tendency to crack or "craz" because they are often hydrophane, meaning they absorb water, and losing that water too quickly causes internal stress, leading to fractures, especially from sudden temperature changes or dehydration. While not all Ethiopian opals are prone to cracking, especially stable Welo types, keeping them away from extreme dryness, oils, and rapid temperature shifts is crucial for their longevity, with some gem cutters even recommending storing them in water to prevent this.
Tests by the Gemological Institute of America has shown that this opal is capable of withstanding drops to concrete from four feet without damage. All other sources failed this drop test. Welo Ethiopian opal is unique, durable, and currently plentiful, and we highly recommend this gem as a best buy at this time.
Too much pressure, too much heat, too much vibration, all can crack them. Sometimes if it's an older stone that's been dried, it looks fine and then you get into working it and bam! water gets in some microscopic crack you couldn't see, gets warm on the wheel, Crack!
Look out for the texture, shape, and weight - A real Ethiopian Opal will have a wax-like texture. If you touch it, the surface feels like plastic. It will never be a perfect round or oval. The color will shine through if you expose a real Ethiopian Opal to light.
Ethiopian opals are found in large amounts in Ethiopia, especially in the Welo region. Since there are many stones available, the price is lower.
There is a threat of terrorism. Regional terror groups continue to threaten Western interests and other potential targets in Ethiopia, including in Addis Ababa. Domestic terror groups also pose an increased threat in some regions, like the Somali region.
Avoid water exposure, especially if they are Ethiopian opals, doublets or triplets, but if they do get wet and depending on the length of duration they were submerged allow them to air-dry naturally for several days before trying to assess the damage.
That yellow background color is natural for Ethiopian opal. They lose color when exposed to water. So… it could be that your yellow opals were exposed to water (intentionally or otherwise) and turned clear, then after they dried out they returned to their original state which is yellow.
Here are a few tips to help you tell if an opal is real:
Many specimens of opal display fluorescence under shortwave (100nm - 280nm wavelength) ultraviolet light. A smaller number will display fluorescence under a longwave (315nm - 400nm wavelength) ultraviolet lamp. Some specimens do not show noticeable fluorescence at all.
Clarity and Transparency
Inclusions, cracks, or other blemishes can reduce an opal's clarity and detract from its appeal. However, some inclusions might not severely impact opal value if the play of color is exceptional.
Opals have a 6–10 % water content and, like many other gems, will “dry out” and form cracks if they are subjected to extended dry storage. If you need to store your Opal for an extended length of time, just place it in a padded cloth bag and dampen the cloth before storing it for protection.
Cracked opals do not necessarily mean that they will fall apart. Many cracked opals will hold but the biggest problem is if an opal is cracked and in a ring, the everyday wear and tear and knocks will break the Opal. Many cracked opals are set as pendants for this reason and are able to be worn most of the time.
Keep Opals Away From Water
If the Opals come in contact with water, they will soak it up like a sponge. If the Opals are submerged in water and allowed to absorb it, they may lose their fire temporarily and turn yellow or brown.
Who Should Not Wear Opal Jewelry? It is advised that people who have Aries, Leo, Scorpio, and Cancer zodiac signs should not wear these gems. If you do, you might have to face the side effects.
Store them in a cool, soft environment
Keeping them in a padded pouch or container can protect your Opals from physical damage. To maintain their moisture content, consider storing them with a damp cloth or cotton ball in a sealed plastic bag.
One of the characteristics of Hydrophane Opals are that when submerged in liquid, its appearance can change. If Hydrophane Opal is soaked in water, the water is absorbed into the Opal. As a result, any play of colour(fire) will seem to have disappeared. Colour will normally return once the Opals dries out.
Decoding Synthetic Solid Opals
The pattern can be a giveaway – lab-made opals like Gilson opal rock bright colours in neat patches all over. Often, the pattern seems a tad 'too perfect,' almost like it's striking a pose. Sometimes, they even flaunt a 'snakeskin' pattern.
If the opal is left in a hot, humid place for a long time, it will most likely change color and become cloudy. This may also happen due to severely low temperatures. That is why it is important to keep an eye on the temperature in the room and remove the ring or other jewelry with opal when you are sick.
Ethiopian Opals are valued based on their bright flashes of fire colour. The brighter and more intense the color, the higher the price of the opal. Stones with red flashes are rarer than the other colors while the green and blue flashes are more common.
Ethiopian Opals on the other hand, are a type of opal we do not recommend getting wet. Unlike Australian Opals, they are volcanic in origin and are hydrophane (hydrophillic or water-loving) and will readily absorb water.
One distinguishing feature is that most Ethiopian opals are hydrophane, meaning their porous surfaces absorb water, shifting their appearance, size, and stability when submerged. These stones are opaque to translucent, like many opals, but Ethiopian opal in water becomes transparent!
If the Opal has cracked, or split apart, then in most cases the Opal cannot be repaired but it MAY be able to be replaced. If the Opal was large enough and has split into two or more pieces, it MAY be possible to re cut and polish them to set into other jewelry.
Value and Investment
While some consider Ethiopian opal a good investment, it's essential to purchase from reputable dealers and understand the market trends. Ethiopian opals, with their unique hydrophane properties and vibrant colours, are increasingly sought after by collectors and jewellery enthusiasts.
Most Ethiopian opals are hydrophane, meaning they are porous, so they can absorb water or other liquids which can change their base colors, transparency, play-of-color, and size.