The fact that the Ethiopian opal rivals much more expensive coober peddy or lightning ridge WITHOUT the worry of cracking or crazing is reason enough. WAAAY undervalued stone.
Cracks alot actually and it is more fragile. Also, because it absorbs water and other liquids it will change color. I work with it some, But Aussie and Brazilian is much much better.
@@walex5462 actually, aussie and brazilian opals will craze and crack if it gets too dry or is left alone in a dry place for too long. all opals will eventually craze if its dried out too long because theyre made of water. if you are spending over 4k on any opal, but specifically aussie and brazilian, you want to leave it in water to retain its value long term because you dont want it crazing out. or at least make sure you're rubbing your oily hands on it often. but ethiopian opals will actually absorb water from the air so you can leave it alone for years without worrying about crazing. and i dont mean absorb water as in its like it being submerged in water. it just keeps the opal stable. the only issue with the ethiopian opals is that if its soaked/submerged in water for too long (20 minutes or so) and you try to dry it out too fast, it might craze or crack. you'd need to let it dry out slowly in a zip lock bag for a week or so. you just cant tell which of them are more stable. also, just leaving it in water, the color returns to normal, so lets drop that myth. it can absorb a dye so if you purposely try to leave your opal in dyes, it'll change into that color. regardless, who is out here taking their opal jewelry out and about doing crazy stuff to it? any opal will scratch or get broken easily if you are careless.
@@jominime14 If you go cutting ethiopian "which I do" you will find you have much much higher rates of it cracking during cutting and after as it dries because unlike aussi and brazilian most ethiopian is hydrophane opal. It is just the nature of material. Also, I do not agree from experience quality opal does not need to be stored in water once cut and polished. Stable quality opal will be fine. Ive been working with opal and other stone for almost 30 years in various forms. It all comes down to buying quality and you get what you pay for.
@@walex5462 like you said, quality opal will be fine, as it is with ethiopian opal as well. ive cut and polished them too.. you'll have opals that will crack while cutting or while drying, sure. but once dried after polishing, with no cracks, it wont crack after. the only difference id say is that if you drop them, aussie and brazilian opals have a higher chance of cracking vs the ethiopian opals, because they'll just bounce. theres pros and cons to both. and i dont wanna hear about the price point thing because ive spent a disgusting amount of thousands on brazilian and aussie alike, polished, and they can crack on you.
Very much enjoyed this video about Ethiopian Opals. I have been collecting and studying about them for many years as they are fascinating. I do lapidary work as a hobby and have cut and polished a few. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Glad you enjoyed it! Sadly, while I have a definite love of gemstones and visiting mines around the globe, I have zero talent in cutting and polishing. I am jealous or your talent for that!
So happy to see something on this stone. I was so happy you showed chocolate Ethiopian opal first, but you never said WHY it is that color, and the diff. In body colors of the Ethiopian opals. I would love to hear more on this!
but Ethiopian opal from my understanding is not good because it should not get dry so from what I was told you either have to stabilize it with like resin or something or it can only be kept for display?
I love Ethiopian opal, why are the body colors diff. As in the chocolate opal and white or honey colored? And what about the honey conn patern? Could you maybe talk on this about Ethiopian opals?
The best way is to go to one of the gem and mineral shows. Definitely visit the shows in Tucson Arizona (usually in February but with covid, who knows). If you aren’t in the USA, then check for shows in Hong Kong, Italy, Basel and others. You can also search for rough opal on line. Since there have been so many shows cancelled, more people are likely to sell on line
Is it true that hydroplane Opal cracks if you dry it out too fast ? Since it takes on water so readily and becomes clear when wet, it is my understanding that if you try to dry it out too fast it will or could develop cracking. I’ve also heard that since Australian Opal is a sedimentary type of Opal it does not take on water and therefore is more stable. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but, I am trying to verify these things as I am hoping to start learning how to rub and ultimately cut and polish Opal. I think I need to start reading up on the subject eh ?
Can you recommend a place where I can purchase a quality Ethiopian opal? I am new to this and have almost no experience. Thank you for your video it was most informative.
Richard Seiferd I have a limited selection of ethiopian opal on gemsenvogue.com. But if you are looking for really exceptional Ethiopian opal in loose stones I would recommend the Jogs show in Tucson (usually early february). My friend Ernie Montoya has a booth there called Sunwest Silver (lots of turquoise) but this other lady has a booth in his that has some of the best opal I have ever seen!
Im starting some opal cutting, my first i bough is an Ethiopian Opal. Im doing all this by hand with time. I guess you could say I have time on my hands lol ok corny joke. But yes they are pretty. And im excited, and if I fail so be it, try and try again
Answer: I never knew there was a Jamaican Oprah! Does she have her own TV show there and is she a billionaire? Yah mon! Just kidding! I assume you meant Jamaican Opals since your comment came on the Ethiopian Opal lesson. To be honest, I have never heard of Jamaican Opals. I have never seen one in trade show or had any dealers approach me with them. I suspect that if there are real natural opals mined there, perhaps they are not in abundant quantities and serves more of the local tourist market. That said, it would not be that surprising that opals would form there. After all, the most important ingredient in opal formation is sand (silica).
I was hoping for a word or two about care of the stone. Is it porous? I was always told how delicate Opals are and to keep them away from perfumes, makeup, etc... I guess I have to buy your book. Thanks, Paul.
I used the old I like you're video have we met in another time. You keep that stone it's wear you from who you are mm David use stone. It is not hard to recognize you. Dh Davis rough diamonds, gem hunting. It the future soon
I learn the Ethiopian opal recently. It is really colourful with the play of colour
The fact that the Ethiopian opal rivals much more expensive coober peddy or lightning ridge WITHOUT the worry of cracking or crazing is reason enough. WAAAY undervalued stone.
Cracks alot actually and it is more fragile. Also, because it absorbs water and other liquids it will change color. I work with it some, But Aussie and Brazilian is much much better.
@@walex5462 actually, aussie and brazilian opals will craze and crack if it gets too dry or is left alone in a dry place for too long. all opals will eventually craze if its dried out too long because theyre made of water. if you are spending over 4k on any opal, but specifically aussie and brazilian, you want to leave it in water to retain its value long term because you dont want it crazing out. or at least make sure you're rubbing your oily hands on it often. but ethiopian opals will actually absorb water from the air so you can leave it alone for years without worrying about crazing. and i dont mean absorb water as in its like it being submerged in water. it just keeps the opal stable. the only issue with the ethiopian opals is that if its soaked/submerged in water for too long (20 minutes or so) and you try to dry it out too fast, it might craze or crack. you'd need to let it dry out slowly in a zip lock bag for a week or so. you just cant tell which of them are more stable. also, just leaving it in water, the color returns to normal, so lets drop that myth. it can absorb a dye so if you purposely try to leave your opal in dyes, it'll change into that color. regardless, who is out here taking their opal jewelry out and about doing crazy stuff to it? any opal will scratch or get broken easily if you are careless.
@@jominime14 If you go cutting ethiopian "which I do" you will find you have much much higher rates of it cracking during cutting and after as it dries because unlike aussi and brazilian most ethiopian is hydrophane opal. It is just the nature of material. Also, I do not agree from experience quality opal does not need to be stored in water once cut and polished. Stable quality opal will be fine. Ive been working with opal and other stone for almost 30 years in various forms. It all comes down to buying quality and you get what you pay for.
@@walex5462 like you said, quality opal will be fine, as it is with ethiopian opal as well. ive cut and polished them too.. you'll have opals that will crack while cutting or while drying, sure. but once dried after polishing, with no cracks, it wont crack after. the only difference id say is that if you drop them, aussie and brazilian opals have a higher chance of cracking vs the ethiopian opals, because they'll just bounce. theres pros and cons to both. and i dont wanna hear about the price point thing because ive spent a disgusting amount of thousands on brazilian and aussie alike, polished, and they can crack on you.
You’re the best instructor in the world!
Thank you Paul. Love these videos..so very interesting!
You are welcome! Thanks for watching
Very much enjoyed this video about Ethiopian Opals. I have been collecting and studying about them for many years as they are fascinating. I do lapidary work as a hobby and have cut and polished a few. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Glad you enjoyed it! Sadly, while I have a definite love of gemstones and visiting mines around the globe, I have zero talent in cutting and polishing. I am jealous or your talent for that!
@@pauldeasygemstones How did Young do That ? I Hope without water
@@dirkdannowski9701 I cut ethiopian opal with water
Very interesting. Glad I discovered your channel.
Glad you enjoy it!
So happy to see something on this stone. I was so happy you showed chocolate Ethiopian opal first, but you never said WHY it is that color, and the diff. In body colors of the Ethiopian opals. I would love to hear more on this!
It has to do with the size of the silica molecules and how close they are together. Larger opals give you white, red and the smaller gives you purple.
but Ethiopian opal from my understanding is not good because it should not get dry so from what I was told you either have to stabilize it with like resin or something or it can only be kept for display?
I love Ethiopian opal, why are the body colors diff. As in the chocolate opal and white or honey colored? And what about the honey conn patern? Could you maybe talk on this about Ethiopian opals?
Hey paul do you no how i can acquire some good rough like you have here
The best way is to go to one of the gem and mineral shows. Definitely visit the shows in Tucson Arizona (usually in February but with covid, who knows). If you aren’t in the USA, then check for shows in Hong Kong, Italy, Basel and others. You can also search for rough opal on line. Since there have been so many shows cancelled, more people are likely to sell on line
Hello Paul, I’m originally from Ethiopia and now living in USA.I want to invest in Ethiopia opal what do you advise me?
Opals and Garnets are my favorites.
Speaking my language-Garnets, Opals, Peridot. and Turquoise
Oh interesting topic I'm Ethiopian ...can we get know this like gemstones
Hello bro wich tip u want stone?
Hi Paul can you tell me much should I pay a gram for this Opal now.? Love watching you.
Is it true that hydroplane Opal cracks if you dry it out too fast ?
Since it takes on water so readily and becomes clear when wet, it is my understanding that if you try to dry it out too fast it will or could develop cracking.
I’ve also heard that since Australian Opal is a sedimentary type of Opal it does not take on water and therefore is more stable.
I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but, I am trying to verify these things as I am hoping to start learning how to rub and ultimately cut and polish Opal.
I think I need to start reading up on the subject eh ?
All 100% true
Can you recommend a place where I can purchase a quality Ethiopian opal? I am new to this and have almost no experience. Thank you for your video it was most informative.
Richard Seiferd I have a limited selection of ethiopian opal on gemsenvogue.com. But if you are looking for really exceptional Ethiopian opal in loose stones I would recommend the Jogs show in Tucson (usually early february). My friend Ernie Montoya has a booth there called Sunwest Silver (lots of turquoise) but this other lady has a booth in his that has some of the best opal I have ever seen!
Hello,i am from Ethiopia and we sell Opal and Emerold if you want we can contact over whatsapp
FYI Wegel tena is located in Wollo Amhara region. Ethiopia has such a beautiful gem stones 😍 how much would you sell the red opal?
Awesome stuff
Sir tha is a North shewa opal , its actually very cheep here but the fact bothers me , can you tell me the real worth
Hi, I have raw opal I would like to sell, where do I sell it
I want work with you i am Ethiopian opal enthusiast and collector
Im starting some opal cutting, my first i bough is an Ethiopian Opal. Im doing all this by hand with time. I guess you could say I have time on my hands lol ok corny joke. But yes they are pretty. And im excited, and if I fail so be it, try and try again
This was better than watching paint dry, but not much. An exciting thing like opens should not be making me sleepy.
Book needs an update
Nice
Opal is pretty cool 👍🏻👍🏻
What about the Jamaican Oprah it
Answer: I never knew there was a Jamaican Oprah! Does she have her own TV show there and is she a billionaire? Yah mon!
Just kidding! I assume you meant Jamaican Opals since your comment came on the Ethiopian Opal lesson. To be honest, I have never heard of Jamaican Opals. I have never seen one in trade show or had any dealers approach me with them. I suspect that if there are real natural opals mined there, perhaps they are not in abundant quantities and serves more of the local tourist market. That said, it would not be that surprising that opals would form there. After all, the most important ingredient in opal formation is sand (silica).
Thank you
I have too much big memory in Opal Ethiopia
I was hoping for a word or two about care of the stone. Is it porous? I was always told how delicate Opals are and to keep them away from perfumes, makeup, etc...
I guess I have to buy your book.
Thanks, Paul.
Never get Welo Opals wet. They are hydrophane and will absorb the water, which can permanently discolor them if they are exposed to moisture too much.
hii
Imo or telgram token
I used the old I like you're video have we met in another time. You keep that stone it's wear you from who you are mm David use stone. It is not hard to recognize you. Dh Davis rough diamonds, gem hunting. It the future soon
Welo opals are overtaking and have blasted through the myths pedalled against it by aussie opal opal miners that were scared for their market
why dont you put camera only on stone and your face behind the camera and talk what u want man.
Call me back
diymand
Ethiopian Opal craks really fast ,
I have a big opal which is about 8kg one of its kind .
100% never ever crack 👌👈
Opal is not the strongest stone rather is the most beautiful,qween of gemstones