This is a big one and a real stunner! It is over 4 carats- 4.13cts to be exact, and the dimensions are 13.61 x 10.74 x 6.33mm deep. It is untreated Welo opal from Ethiopia, and this quality is most definitely not easy to find at the gem markets here in Thailand, much less stores in the Western world! This gemstone will definitely turn heads.
The blue and green play-of-color in this gemstone is spectacular and very likely you have not seen an opal like it before unless you are already collecting these very special African opals. In an Australian opal, colors like this are just out of reach- they have become astronomically expensive. Because Australia has such a rich tradition in opal, the market deems them "better" than Ethiopian material. But as time has passed, we have seen the chasm between Australian and Ethiopian opal prices get smaller. As more people own this Ethiopian material and as more high-end jewelry designers use it, the market is starting to see the beauty and value in it.
Opals are very dynamic gemstones. Even a small change in the light or the angle will change their character, and patterns and colors inside the stone will gyrate and twist to an amazing degree. The blue and green light trails in this stone are sure to please. Really high quality opal like this fine cabochon is indeed very beautiful to behold. Creative types are often drawn in by the special allure of this gem.
One of the most amazing traits of Welo opal from Ethiopia is that the vast majority of it is untreated, unlike its Australian counterparts. Smoke and sugar treatments are common in Australian opal and resin treatments are becoming almost commonplace. This particular Welo opal has had no treatment of any type, and that is the rule with all of the opal that we sell. There is enough beautiful opal in the market that if we are patient and very selective, we can choose gorgeous opal that is beautiful just as it came from the earth- without any chemical treatment.
This Welo opal auction starts at 16BTC and the bid increment is .5BTC. Good luck!