Ethiopian Welo Opal Pendant Wire Wrapped .925 Sterling Silver

Ethiopian Welo Opal Pendant Wire Wrapped in .925 Sterling Silver Round Wire

Bright and beautiful Welo Ethiopian Opal, a precious opal exhibiting moving flashes in multi-colors of light, especially green, blue, and purple within a beige background stone matrix; wears well with many colors; typically better with brown tone colors than gray tones, and dark better than light; and earth tone better than bright colors, as the multi-color reflections are more distinct against a dark contrast, and bright colors tend to obscure them; mostly an artistic stone due to non-standard shape and contour, color contrast variations, and stone matrix.

Description: Clear to light brown opal base colors with brilliant green, blue, and purple precious opal color flash refractions within a beige stone matrix; organic, nearly triangle shaped translucent to opaque stone wrapped in 22 gauge sterling silver wire.

Stone Size: Medium (3/4” x 3/4” x 1/2”).

Pattern: Multi-color in dominant green, blue, and purple refraction precious opal within clear to light brown base colors against a beige stone matrix.

Contour: Smooth, organic low dome surface.

Unique Features: Multi-color refraction and reflection; fine internal and external fissures and pitting; most apparent and pronounced on more natural rough to semi-polished beige stone matrix.

Polish: High gloss, brilliant to waxy

Edges: Smooth, organic

Treatment: None; natural stone, smoothed and polished only.

Comment: Many Welo Ethiopian opals are hydrophane opals. This means that when soaked in water for a long period of time they will absorb it into their structure. This also means that they are commonly finely fractured and/or pitted (similar to pores in skin). If allowed to absorb excess water, they can temporarily lose multi-color flashing or “precious fire”, and can possibly craze or crack. While this may appear to be a detrimental characteristic, it should also be understood that absorption is not rapid. Getting water on them or washing them will not bring about these results. On the contrary, this characteristic means that they are more stable in a dry state than many other precious opals because they are more water flexible, they can absorb and lose more water without further cracking or losing “fire” than other opals. And though a finely cracked and pitted surface may detract from a smoother and more polished appearance, these same attributes often enhance the intensity of the “precious fire”. A unique, handmade, genuine precious stone pendant, this piece is posted individually, not merely a representative item - what you see is what you get.