A 3.35 carat Ethiopian opal — 3.68 ratti — at Rs. 8,380, about Rs. 2,501 per carat.

Why this one is called multicolour, with the figures

Play-of-colour covers 8% of the face and spans eight distinct hue bands — but the distribution is what makes it interesting. 69% of its flashes fall in the orange-to-red band, the highest proportion of any stone in this group, where the typical figure is around 50%.

That matters because of how opal makes colour. The spectral flashes come from light diffracting off microscopic silica spheres, and sphere size decides the colour: the larger the spheres, the longer the wavelength returned. Red needs the largest and most regular spheres of all, which is why red is the scarcest play-of-colour and why red-dominant opal has always carried a premium over blue-dominant material.

Ethiopian opal, and the one thing to know about it

Most Ethiopian opal is hydrophane, meaning it is porous and will absorb water. A hydrophane opal dropped in a glass of water can turn transparent and temporarily lose its play-of-colour, returning to normal as it dries over hours or days. It is not damage, but it has practical consequences: keep it out of swimming pools, do not soak it when cleaning, and be careful with oils, soaps and anything coloured, because a porous stone can absorb those permanently.

This is the main reason opal rings should come off before washing up, and it applies with more force to hydrophane material than to the denser, non-porous opal found elsewhere.

Body tone

Brightness measures 198 out of 255: a light, white body with no dark regions. This stone was previously listed as a black fire opal, which it is not — black opal carries a dark body and is a far costlier material, and fire opal is transparent orange with little play-of-colour.

Care

Opal is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no sudden heat, no soaking. A barely damp soft cloth, wiped and dried.

Treatment has not been tested on this stone, and we record that rather than calling it untreated. Dimensions and clarity are not recorded yet — ask us and we will measure.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural ethiopian opal with a weight of 3.35 Carat. Its price is Rs. 8,380 — roughly Rs. 2,501 for each carat. Origin: Ethiopia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000724 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

Whoever you buy ethiopian opal from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every ethiopian opal for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Solid opal is usually untreated; some opal is smoke- or sugar-treated, and doublets/triplets exist — we sell solid natural opal. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.