Ethiopian Opal | Smooth Teardrop Bead Pair | Ethiopia | 9x7mm | OP209
Ethiopian Opal | Smooth Teardrop Bead Pair | Ethiopia | 9x7mm | OP209
These matched Ethiopian opal teardrop beads display play of color — the spectral phenomenon unique to precious opal in which diffracted light produces shifting flashes of spectral color across the face of the stone as it moves, a phenomenon caused by the interference of light passing through a regular three-dimensional lattice of silica spheres arranged during the stone's formation. Ethiopian opal, also known as Welo Opal after the Welo Province in the Amhara Region where the most significant deposits are found, has transformed the opal market since its discovery in the early 2000s, producing material with a vibrancy and intensity of play of color that rivals and frequently surpasses the Australian material that previously dominated the fine opal trade. Each bead in this pair is cross-drilled at the top, and at 9 x 7mm with a combined weight of 3 carats the stones are substantial enough to display the play of color with full impact as they move and catch light in a finished earring design.
The teardrop shape is what makes this pair genuinely exceptional — a symmetrical, well-proportioned round teardrop is one of the most technically demanding forms to achieve in opal, a material that is notoriously challenging to cut and shape due to its relative softness, sensitivity to stress, and the unpredictable nature of the rough. Matched teardrop beads of this quality and shape consistency in Ethiopian opal represent a very small fraction of available cutting production, and finding a pair with both strong play of color and a well-executed round teardrop profile is a rare occurrence even among specialty opal suppliers. Cross-drilled at the top and ready for immediate use, these are an outstanding choice for earring drops, pendant elements, or any design where movement is central to the aesthetic — the play of color in a suspended, swinging opal bead is among the most dynamic light experiences available in the gem world.
DETAILS
Origin: Welo Province, Ethiopia
Species: Opal
Variety: Ethiopian Precious Opal (Welo Opal)
Cut: Smooth Teardrop Bead, Cross-Drilled
Size: 9 x 7mm
Weight: 3.7 ct total (pair)
Sold: Per Pair
Treatment: None
Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5 (Mohs)
Refractive Index: 1.370 – 1.520
Couldn't load pickup availability
Low stock: 1 left
View full details
More Information
Shipping Policy
Free shipping is available for US-based customers via USPS First Class Mail for orders valued at $35 or more. International purchases incur a $30 fee and will be shipped via UPS with tracking. Please note that you should be aware of your local VAT laws, as you may be subject to additional customs or tax fees based on your country of residence. All purchases are shipped within 1-3 business days. Delivery times vary, ranging from 2-5 days for the USA and 7-14 days outside the United States, depending on the location. You will receive a tracking number as soon as your package is shipped.
Return Policy
Privacy Policy
As described in our Privacy Policy, we collect personal information from your interactions with us and our website, including through cookies and similar technologies. We may also share this personal information with third parties, including advertising partners. We do this in order to show you ads on other websites that are more relevant to your interests and for other reasons outlined in our privacy policy.
Sharing of personal information for targeted advertising based on your interaction on different websites may be considered "sales", "sharing", or "targeted advertising" under certain U.S. state privacy laws. Depending on where you live, you may have the right to opt out of these activities. If you would like to exercise this opt-out right, please follow the instructions below.
If you visit our website with the Global Privacy Control opt-out preference signal enabled, depending on where you are, we will treat this as a request to opt-out of activity that may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information or other uses that may be considered targeted advertising for the device and browser you used to visit our website.