HPJ REF. POINT: WORLD CLASS MUSEUM GRADE 2.88 CARAT TSEHAY MEWCHA ETHIOPIAN BLACK OPAL R36,000.00

Reference Point

MUSEUM GRADE 2.88 CARAT TSEHAY MEWCHA BLACK OPAL

ABSOLUTE BLACK BODY WITH VIVID NEON COLOURPLAY

IMAGES TAKEN UNDER SPECIALIST OPAL LIGHTING

GEM TYPE: ETHIOPIAN OPAL

CARAT WEIGHT: 2.88 CARATS

BRIGHTNESS: 5

DIMENSIONS: 14.56 x 8.40 x 5.10mm

CUT: PEAR CABOCHON

ORIGIN:  TSEHAY MEWCHA, ETHIOPIA

TREATMENTS: NONE

The Welo (Ethiopian) Opal has taken the International Gem World by storm. All of our Opals originate from the old mine at Tsehay Mewcha – noted for strong vivid colour and stabilty.

This major Ethiopian Opal find was in 2008 in Welo (Wollo) Province in Northern Ethiopia, about 550 km north of Addis Ababa. Local farmers discovered some high quality Opal near Wegel Tena close to the top of a plateau at 3,500 meters altitude. Much of the Opal has a white body color with an extremely vivid play of color.

Mining at Tsehay Mewcha is a highly hazardous occupation indeed, and fatal accidents are very numerous (out of one thousand miners, 80 died in one year) mainly caused by collapsing rocks or falls from the soaring cliffs !

The prices on the International gem markets for quality Ethiopian Opal is spiralling upwards at a rate rarely seen in the gemstone world. It is without question a strictly limited resource, and this factor drives the demand, which shows no sign of abating.

Hillcrest Precious Jewels