{"product_id":"ethiopian-opal-smooth-teardrop-bead-10848","title":"Ethiopian Opal | Smooth Teardrop Bead Pair | Ethiopia | 9x7mm | OP209","description":"\u003cp\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDETAILS\u003cbr\u003e\nOrigin: Welo Province, Ethiopia\u003cbr\u003e\nSpecies: Opal\u003cbr\u003e\nVariety: Ethiopian Precious Opal (Welo Opal)\u003cbr\u003e\nCut: Smooth Teardrop Bead, Cross-Drilled\u003cbr\u003e\nSize: 9 x 7mm\u003cbr\u003e\nWeight: 3.7 ct total (pair)\u003cbr\u003e\nSold: Per Pair\u003cbr\u003e\nTreatment: None\u003cbr\u003e\nHardness: 5.5 – 6.5 (Mohs)\u003cbr\u003e\nRefractive Index: 1.370 – 1.520\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gem Enthusiast","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47710177558715,"sku":"OP209","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0639\/8214\/1627\/files\/ethiopian-opal-smooth-teardrop-bead-pair-ethiopia-9x7mm-op209-6761058.jpg?v=1776210671","url":"https:\/\/gementhusiast.shop\/products\/ethiopian-opal-smooth-teardrop-bead-10848","provider":"Gem Enthusiast","version":"1.0","type":"link"}