Opal: Ethiopian Sable

The opal is celebrated for its spectacle of rainbow-like hues, which vary with lighting or angle of observation. The sable Ethiopian opal is celebrated for its intense color and fiery glow.

The name opal evolved from the Roman word "opalus" which traces its roots from the Greek's "opallios," meaning to see a change of color. This Greek word is likewise a revision of the ancient Indian Sanskrit's "upala," which means precious stone. The development of this gemstone started millions of years ago when a mixture of silica and water flowed into cracks and holes in the ground. Over time, it hardened and solidified to turn into opal. Some opals are hydrophanes, meaning that they can soak up water like a sponge. When hydrated, the stone typically becomes more translucent and the play of colors more defined. However, the sable opal's fire will diminish when wet. But its fire returns once the stone has dried. The sable Ethiopian opal is an enhanced black opal characterized by its intense colors and high clarity against a black background. The opal is smoked, a technique used exclusively on opal. The gem is wrapped in brown paper and charred, creating a thin dark brown coating that intensifies the fire or play-of-color. Once the coating wears off, the black opal appears a very dark brown to jet-black. This enhancement does not diminish the natural color play of the opal.