Three Regions, Three Characters
Ethiopia produces more than one kind of opal, and the region of origin matters. Welo (Wollo) is best known internationally for hydrophane crystal and fire opal with intense play-of-color. Guji, in Oromia, is our main sourcing region and yields both crystal opal and material with striking chocolate-brown matrix. Tigray produces smaller volumes of fine collector-grade stones. We buy directly in all three regions and keep origin documentation for what we source.
Hydrophane Behaviour
Much Ethiopian opal is hydrophane, meaning it can absorb water and liquids more readily than opal from some other origins. This isn't a defect; it's a characteristic of the material that buyers and setters should understand and plan around, particularly when it comes to cleaning, storage and setting.
Rough or Cut
Opal is one of the gemstones we most often sell as rough, since many collectors and cutters specifically want to select and shape their own material given how much play-of-color can vary within a single piece of rough. We also offer cut and polished cabochons for buyers who want a finished stone ready to set.
See current opal stones on our Available Stones page.
Ethiopian opal, shown rough and cut and polished.