Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
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Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
We all know that most ethiopian opal in the market came from Welo... Are they really from Welo? I know Shewa known for its cracky brown with nodules....
- PinkDiamond
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Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
Yes, the Shewa material was not stable, but Welos generally are after you wet them and test them for stabiity. Those Shewa nodules are gorgeous, but I've never heard of anyone being able to remove all the surface material without the opal disintegrating into fish gravel.
PinkDiamond
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- SwordfishMining
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Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
Yeah it is. Nobody else can supply it for near as little. The Shewa was discovered first- I know the geologist/mineralogist who found it to start the rush and then they found the white & clear stuff aways away from there (after he was shot & lived).
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
i know there are some, very few, stable shewas. Unfortunately, I've only found the fish gravel kind. And it's a real shame because they're just breathtaking!
~KJ~
Mysterious opals contain the wonders of the skies - sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning, shifting and moving in their depths.
ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KJOFineArt
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Mysterious opals contain the wonders of the skies - sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning, shifting and moving in their depths.
ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KJOFineArt
Website: http://www.kjmontoya.com
- OpalSpectrum
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Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
I have cut 2 sheva opals from 1 rough -- it was brown sheva with bumblebee & honeycomb pattern -- and most of you saw it on OA about 2 years ago
the stone is semi-stable --> I still have it but it's not like welo
I don't know how to describe it but sheva is very different and 'soft' when cutting , there is also 'light cream' material very similar to sheva
the stone is semi-stable --> I still have it but it's not like welo
I don't know how to describe it but sheva is very different and 'soft' when cutting , there is also 'light cream' material very similar to sheva
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Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
perhaps one day, if it very beautiful, unstable shewa can be stablilized permanently perhaps with special glass-like harderner.
Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
Iskand - I'm sure it can be stabilized. However, any kind of treatment reduces the value. OS the one I had just disintegrated when I removed the rind. I might get a beautiful one someday and treat it just for myself.
~KJ~
Mysterious opals contain the wonders of the skies - sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning, shifting and moving in their depths.
ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KJOFineArt
Website: http://www.kjmontoya.com
Mysterious opals contain the wonders of the skies - sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning, shifting and moving in their depths.
ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KJOFineArt
Website: http://www.kjmontoya.com
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Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
so this opal is welo
- PinkDiamond
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Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
It looks to me like the first shot of it is dry, and the second one is in humid conditions. Did you get your labels on the pics wrong?
PinkDiamond
ISG Registered Gemologist
· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ There are miracles left for you to do .... -:¦:- -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* It all begins inside of you.
ISG Registered Gemologist
· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ There are miracles left for you to do .... -:¦:- -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* It all begins inside of you.
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Re: Ethiopian opal of Welo, Shewa and Gondar
Opaque when dry, transparent after soaked in water