White Opal with Intense Fire

White Opal with Intense Fire © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd 

570 km north of Addis Ababa, Wello (Wollo), Delanta Plateau, Tigray, Ethiopia

Weighing approximately 43.47 carats and measuring 23.5 x 14.5mm - Sold for $5,795

The present stone is a substantial opal is from the more recent Ethiopian locality of Wello. Discovered on the Abyssinian Plateau in the north of Ethiopia these new mine opals are known for their stablility and for the incredibly bright play-of-color and harlequin patterns. Most smaller stones originating here are crystal opals which are so transparent that one can see through them. A large pillow-shaped cabochon such as this one is likely to be more translucent to opaque simply due to its size. Here the creamy ivory body color is highlighted with an intense play-of-fire with predominantly red, green and orange flash to the dome and broad flashes of red and green to the flat bottom.

Bonhams & Butterfields. The Nature of Opals, 10 Nov 2010. 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco www.bonhams.com