{"title":"Ethiopian Opal Jewelry","description":"\u003cp\u003eHere you’ll find Ethiopian opals hand-picked by Heather of Hand Knotted Jewelry for their character - their pattern of fire, their play of color and their vibrance! She then commissioned Indian silversmiths to set them into the pendant, ring or earring mountings she envisioned for them. These pieces are *raw* silver (unplated) so they will tarnish. Many people love sterling silver for its ability to develop a patina of tarnish that lends an aged look to a piece, but if you prefer your silver bright and shiny, a gentle rubbing with a silver polishing cloth will quickly and easily restore its shine! Please email Heather if you want an opal of a certain size or with a specific pattern of fire, and she will hunt opals from which you can choose your very own stone! If you’d like it set in silver or gold, Heather will quote the total cost for you - or keep it loose as a specimen of one of nature’s most captivating gemstones!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdditional information from Heather\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eWhy I Love It: I mean, come on! It’s opal! All kidding aside, opal is a beloved gemstone the world over, from prospectors to collectors to gemologists! I will limit the topic here to the two most popular and recognizable opal types, Australian opal and Ethiopian opal. Further down under “Information About This Gemstone” I’ll discuss what makes these opals different, even though they both have the enchanting plays of color opal is known for, including characteristics like “pinpoints” and “flashes” of colors. Although I’m limiting the topic to opals that come from Australia and Africa, opal comes from many other countries including Peru (solid pink and blue gems from opaque to semitransparent that are mined in the Andes Mountains), Mexico (fire- opals that are semitransparent to translucent and range in color from gold to red), Indonesia (such as colorful opalized wood fossils) and even the western United States (some of the finest black opals in the world come from Nevada!).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe word “opal” is believed to have its roots in the ancient Sanskrit “upala”, meaning “precious stone”. A later Greek word “opallios”, meaning “to see a change in color”, is possibly the best “origin story” for this gemstone’s name. Both words are completely appropriate as descriptors for this beautiful gemstone, so take your pick! I adore both Australian and Ethiopian opal, white opal and black opal alike! Presently, Ethiopian opal is substantially more affordable, but because it is far rarer than Australian opal, I predict that Ethiopian opal will rise in price as it rises in popularity and demand. I have Ethiopian opal beads, but I haven’t started to work with them yet as I haven’t yet gotten inspiration for a jewelry design. In the meantime, enjoy these lovelies I offer for sale, and if you want a bigger Ethiopian opal, loose or in a setting, or you want to hand-pick your own opal, just let me know and I can source it for you from among my Indian friend’s vast opal inventory! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI try to learn a lesson from every stone I work with, and Australian and Ethiopian opals are no exception! I have a white Australian opal ring I inherited from my mom, and it’s probably no more than 2 carats but I love its tight displays of color. In addition to these two Ethiopian opal pendants for sale, I also have two pendants of my own that I wear on my charm bracelet, one white and one black (plus a big white Ethiopian opal ring that changes color depending on the humidity! Read why below!). The lesson to me is obvious: whether black or white or any shade in between, EVERY HUMAN BEING IS VALUABLE! We must not judge others based on the color of their skin, and we must never assume that one color is “better than”, more valuable than, more important than or more worthy than another. Rather, we must look beneath the surface at the qualities within each individual. Every human, just like every opal, is valuable no matter their size or shape, and according to their individual characteristics! So let us learn these valuable lessons from these “upalas” - these “precious stones”! - and let us learn about and from each other!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInformation About This Gemstone: *Ethiopian opal occurs in the Wollo province of Ethiopia, Africa and is sometimes referred to as “Welo” or “Wello” opal (pronounced whay-lō or whell-ō). This beautiful gemstone is an infant in the gemstone industry, having just been discovered in 2008! Ethiopian opal was birthed after ancient volcanoes erupted and spewed forth silica-rich magma that formed into a type of light-colored granular volcanic rock, called rhyolite. A layer of gas-filled volcanic ash resembling the bubbly froth on top of rapidly-stirred glass of chocolate milk settled atop the rhyolite as it rapidly cooled. Then there were more eruptions, more rhyolite magma flowed and trapped the layer of gaseous ash beneath it. Then another layer of ash settled atop it, then another layer of rhyolite flowed, and so on until the eruptions ceased. It’s like a rhyolite-ash-rhyolite-ash-rhyolite sandwich! The trapped ash hardened into a very soft, porous type of rock called pumice. As water flowed through the pumice between the layers of rhyolite it deposited layers of silica, which over time formed into opals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthiopian opals are amorphous, meaning they don’t have a defined crystalline structure; rather, opals are formed by  layers of tightly arranged hydrated silica orbs with air or water filling the spaces between the orbs. Mineralogists classify Ethiopian opal as “hydrophane opal”, or “water-loving” opal, because it ABSORBS water! (It also changes color depending on its water content, just like my large Ethiopian opal ring changes color based on the humidity of the air! The more humidity, the more my opal’s color “hides”, the drier the air, the more it shows off!) Although its ability to absorb water is one of its defining characteristics, it is not recommended to get this stone wet, as the more often it gets wet and dries out the more prone it becomes to growing brittle and cracking. Ethiopian opals occur in different opacities from solid white (thus resembling white Australian opal) to completely transparent, although most are equally and often more colorful than Australian opals! Their color comes from white light bouncing off the silica spheres within the stones, and the spacing between these spheres determines how color “plays” across the surfaces of the stones. A tightly-spaced pattern known as “honeycomb” (which resembles the individual cells in which honey bees store their honey) creates tight, contained flashes of color throughout a stone, whereas loosely-spaced spheres in a stone produce a wide, changing sweep of colors across the stone’s surface. The intensity of color is yet another variable in these beautiful opals, with a honeycomb patterned opal generally producing lighter flashes of colors like pink and soft green, whereas non-patterned opals produce flashes of colors ranging from vibrant magenta to bright green to electric blue! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike stable, nonporous Australian opals, Ethiopian opals require special care due to their porous and “thirsty” nature. In our lives, water is associated with things like hand soaps, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products and detergents, all of which can damage an Ethiopian opal and cause it to discolor. Because this stone literally drinks up moisture, be sure to remove your Ethiopian opal jewelry before applying lotions and perfumes. If you get caught in a sudden rainstorm without your umbrella but with your Ethiopian opal ring or pendant, however, don’t panic! Allow it to dry out naturally (don’t blow dry it or throw it into a bag of rice!), and your opal will regain its color as it dries. Ethiopian opal ranks between 5.5 and 6 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale of Minerals, which is approximately the hardness of a standard pane of window glass. In a protective setting Ethiopian opal is suitable for daily wear - just remove your opal if you plan to do anything that can bring your opal into direct contact with hard surfaces or objects. Clean your Ethiopian opal with a dry soft cloth. When not wearing it, store it in a soft jewelry pouch or padded box in a dark place that doesn’t experience extremes in temperature or humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Australian opal occurs where an inland sea once covered a large area of central Australia. The seabed consisted of silica-rich sediment (silica being granules of quartz). The sea waters at some point receded, leaving behind a giant basin full of silica sand (in geology, a basin is a depression in the earth’s surface resembling the concave area of a bowl. This Australian basin today is called “the Great Artesian Basin”). Over centuries, the silica was compressed by rain and wind and turned into sandstone. The sandstone was in turn affected by many decades of  heavy weathering, and as the softer surfaces of the sandstone dissolved, holes developed in the surface of the basin. These holes in turn trapped water containing the dissolved silicates, which over centuries more formed into opals. Silica-rich water was even trapped in the crevices of sea animals and previously submerged trees, which over centuries became opalized fossils! So the equation for the formation of Australian opals is essentially water + silica + centuries of weather = opals! As you can probably guess, an Australian opal contains an amount of water, anywhere between 3% and 10%. The amount of water an opal contains is determined during its formation. Once formed it is stable and nonporous, so Australian opal will neither lose water nor soak up water. However, an opal exposed to extreme temperatures can crack. Australian opals rank between 5.5 and 6.5 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale of Minerals, which is approximately the hardness of a standard pane of window glass. In a protective setting Australian opal is suitable for daily wear - just remove your opal if you plan to do anything that can bring your opal into direct contact with hard surfaces or objects. You can clean your Australian opal with mild soap and warm water and wipe it dry with a soft cloth. But NEVER put your opals in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner as the vibrations can cause them to crack!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIMPORTANT NOTE! Just like many other gemstones, opals can be grown in a lab! They can be color-enhanced to have pink, blue and purple bodies, but they do not occur that way in nature! Before buying an opal, be sure you are purchasing it from a reputable source. Lab-grown opal can be just as beautiful as nature-grown opals, but should cost significantly less. So be sure your opal is what you want it to be (natural vs. lab-grown), and be careful that you don’t pay a nature-grown opal price for a lab-grown opal!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFun facts: By comparison, you can say that Australian opals are born of ancient sedimentary waterways, whereas Ethiopian opals are born of ancient volcanic fire and ash! Also by comparison, Australian opals formed slowly over many hundreds of centuries, whereas Ethiopian opals formed as layers of  volcanic magma and ash quickly cooled. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough Australia and Africa produce the most opals annually, the United States supplies its share at approximately $100,000 annually. While most U.S. opals aren’t suitable as gemstones due to their poor quality and fragility, some of the finest black fire opal gemstones are produced by the Royal Peacock Opal Mine in Nevada - the only place on earth other than Southern Wales, Australia known to produce black fire opal! Note: “Black fire opal” and “black opal” are not synonymous and interchangeable. Black FIRE opal has a red, orange or yellow body\/base color caused by the inclusion of iron oxide as the opal forms, has the characteristic plays of color that opal is known for and only comes from Nevada and Australia. Black opal has a grayish to black body color and generally occurs where white opal occurs, but is found in darker colored rough rock\/matrix than white opal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe largest gem-quality black opal was discovered in 1959 in a mixed bag of opal rough (uncut, ungraded opals) that had been mined in Coober Pedy, South Australia from the Eight Mile Opal Field. The bag of rough was purchased by John Altman and Rudi Cherny, who upon discovering the huge stone decided it was too amazing to be cut and left it “as is”. It is 99% pure gem (meaning it is only 1% matrix, which is the common rock from which it was mined), measures 11 inches long and 4.5 inches high and weighs a whopping 17,000 carats! John and Rudi named this historic find “The Olympic Australis” in honor of the Olympic Games that were held in Melbourne that same year. They submitted it to the Guinness Book of World Records, which declared it the largest and most valuable opal ever found - a record that stands to this day! The Olympic Australis was valued then at $1,800,000 and is considered a priceless piece of Australian opal history, and today is on permanent display at the Altmann \u0026amp; Cherny showroom in Sydney.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-17-28ct-aaa-grade-ethiopian-opal-pendant-with-multi-patterned-fire-and-beautiful-play-of-color-hand-picked-by-hand-knotted-jewelry","title":"A 17.28ct AAA grade Ethiopian opal pendant with multi-patterned fire and beautiful play of color, hand-picked by Hand Knotted Jewelry!","description":"\u003cp\u003eI offer here an exquisite AAA+ grade 17.28ct Ethiopian opal pendant that measures 21mm x 17mm and is utterly delicious! Its multiple patterns of fire make it unusual and desirable, as it displays galaxy pattern fire that streaks from deep within the stone and dapples its surface with yellow, aqua and lime green, chaff pattern fire that creates a background tableau of shifting pinkish orange deep within the stone and then “Welo fire opal” swaths of all these colors mid-level with added licks of magenta and burnished orange! The multi-fire patterns lend this beautiful opal a sense of depth and create a symphony of colors that literally makes you *feel* this stone’s beauty in your soul!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis opal’s remarkable “multifire” characteristics are due to hydrogenated silica molecules that arranged in clusters as it formed - tightly “stacked” silica molecules that gave it its galaxy pattern fire, flattened but looser silica molecules that gave it its chaff pattern fire and loosely arranged silica molecules with tiny air bubbles separating them that gave it “Welo fire opal” pattern fire! To wear and enjoy this exquisite opal pendant is to wear a masterpiece of nature herself!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis beautiful opal is set in a solid sterling silver bezel mounting handmade by an Indian silversmith! This is “raw” silver (without white rhodium plating), so this pendant will develop a patina of tarnish. Many people love sterling silver because it therefore lends an aged look to a piece, but a gentle rubbing with a silver polishing cloth will quickly remove tarnish if you prefer it bright and shiny! \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNever\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e use liquid cleaner on an Ethiopian opal! A hydrophane gemstone - literally meaning“water loving”! - Ethiopian opal will “drink in” liquids, which will damage the stone! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53954927132856,"sku":null,"price":625.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/FFCDF0A2-A558-44A9-8D0D-393316234E39.jpg?v=1787235328"},{"product_id":"untitled-aug20_12-23-42","title":"A 21ct AAA grade Ethiopian opal pendant, a handpicked opal and exclusive HKJ design! This lovely opal has gorgeous fire and play of color!","description":"\u003cp\u003eI offer here a TWENTY-ONE carat (!!!) Ethiopian opal that I fell in love with the second I laid eyes on it, and not only did I have a visceral reaction to it but I instantly envisioned how I wanted it set and immediately sketched out the design! You can see my sketch included in the photos, and although the silversmith didn’t precisely capture the details (it’s difficult sometimes when working with individuals from another country and culture to translate ideas exactly), he got close enough that I’m very pleased with it! I photographed and videoed this pendant in my living room in natural ambient afternoon light, so imagine how FIERY it is in direct sunlight!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSet in sterling silver, this pendant has a generously-sized bail to accommodate even a thick rope chain. I love this opal’s elongated rectangular shape, and although it’s more opaque than my other opal offerings it still has plenty of fire! It’s best described as a Welo fire opal due to its patchwork pattern of color. Its white body allows the lime green and magenta overtones to stand out vibrantly, while the blue, orange and yellow undertones flash from deep within the stone! I choose my opals not just for their fire and play of color but also for their character, and this stone has character aplenty! Not only is it impressive for its high carat weight, but its colors are rich and its fire is vibrant and strong!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: This is “raw” silver (no rhodium plating) so will develop a patina of tarnish. Many people love sterling silver for its ability to take on an aged look, but if you prefer it bright and shiny, simply rub it with a silver jewelry polishing cloth too quickly and easily restore the shine! Never use a liquid cleaner on Ethiopian opal! A hydrophane gemstone - literally “water loving”, Ethiopian opal will “drink in” liquids, which will damage the stone. If you get your opal wet accidentally, allow it to dry out *naturally* or under a warm yellow bulb, and as the water evaporates your opal will return to its previous self!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53955752624312,"sku":null,"price":700.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/44779C6F-3B50-4429-B46D-DC3D83A2DF17.jpg?v=1787243201"},{"product_id":"ethiopian-opal-pendant-a-16ct-aaa-grade-fiery-reddish-orange-fire-opal-full-of-chaff-pattern-fire-with-plenty-of-aqua-lime-and-blue","title":"Ethiopian opal pendant. A 16ct AAA grade fiery pinkish-orange fire opal *full* of chaff pattern fire, with plenty of aqua, lime and blue!","description":"\u003cp\u003eNOTE: The chain in the photos is **silver plated** and not solid sterling silver. I use it to help me photograph opals, but it’s chintzy and cheap and therefore not included with the pendant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhew, this is yet another Ethiopian opal I wish I could show you through my own eyeballs, as it is absolutely *packed* with densely-arranged silica molecules that create a multilayered, highly-defined and extremely colorful stone! This large nature-made beauty is 16cts and before setting measures 23mm x 16mm x 8mm! Its dominant color is reddish-orange, but throughout the entirety of the stone there are significant flashes of lime green, aqua, yellow and electric blue! And when I say this opal is *packed* with densely-arranged silica molecules, I mean this stone displays 100% play of color on every level, from every angle and across the entirety of the stone’s surface! It’s vibrantly, breathtakingly beautiful! As the opal moves its colors transition from reddish-orange to lime green to aqua with gorgeous blues and yellows playing throughout! As always, I hand-picked this opal for its high quality. When held against the light its colors disappear into a translucent, watery body - the very thing that makes this opal valuable and high-grade!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthiopian opals are classified as hydrophane gemstones, which literally translates to “water loving”. That means this is a *porous* stone that will “drink in” water molecules from the air when it’s humid, and will *give up* water molecules when it’s dry and arid. You can actually watch your opal change with the humidity levels, becoming more opaque and watery when it’s humid and clearer with crisper color when it’s not! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pendant is handcrafted from *raw* (unplated) sterling silver. Because it’s unplated it will quickly develop a patina of tarnish. However, if you don’t like the patina a quick hand-polishing with a silver polishing cloth with remove it with ease! \u003cspan\u003eTo keep your pendant bright and shiny when you’re not wearing it, store it in an airtight baggie to prevent oxygen from reaching it, as it’s the chemical reaction between the silver and oxygen that causes tarnish. But because it’s water loving, NEVER submerge your opal in liquid silver cleaner or water, as your opal will “drink” the liquid and discolor or even possibly fracture! To keep your pendant bright and shiny when you’re not wearing it, store it in an airtight baggie to prevent oxygen from reaching it, as it’s the chemical reaction between the silver and oxygen that causes tarnish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53957905252536,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/B1CA29BD-A131-4A77-ADA1-353F4D74B8A5.jpg?v=1787261457"},{"product_id":"2-99ct-ethiopian-opal-pendant-aaa-grade-smoked-opal-cabochon-pear-in-solid-sterling-silver-this-flashy-stone-measures-9-6mm-x-13mm","title":"2.99ct Ethiopian opal pendant. AAA grade smoked opal cabochon pear in solid sterling silver. This flashy stone measures 9.6mm x 13mm!","description":"\u003cp\u003eNOTE: The color of “black” Ethiopian opals is not natural (it wasn’t mined from the earth looking this way). Colored Ethiopian opal is *usually* treated to achieve a colored body (the exception being opal that tends naturally toward a muted whitish or bluish body color). Because Ethiopian opal is porous it readily “drinks up” dyes. But the color black is achieved through a process called “smoking”. To begin the process, an opal is wrapped in paper. The paper is then slowly heated to a temperature where it starts to smolder (that is, the paper “smokes” but doesn’t catch fire). Char, or smoot (a fine layer of carbon particles), adheres to the opal and permeates into its porous body. The opal is then lightly buffed to remove the outer carbon residue and is often shellacked to give it a high shine. The end product is a darkened body - that is, “black opal”. Black *Australian* opal by comparison is natural but costs hundreds to thousands of dollars per carat! Black Ethiopian opal is therefore an affordable option if you love the look of black opal, but it’s important to understand that it’s a cosmetic attribute and is not naturally this color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAAA black Ethiopian opal cabochon pendant in 925 sterling silver. This lovely pear-shaped stone is 2.99 carats and measures 9.6mm x 13mm. I hand-picked this black beauty from my friend’s opal inventory and had it set in a sterling silver pendant. Because I personally chose this stone, I personally guarantee that it’s a high-quality opal and that you will fall in love with it! If you want more photos or a longer video showing its fire and play of color, please message me and I will happily provide either or both upon request!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpals are difficult to photograph due to their changing nature, and this opal is no exception! I did my best to capture its essence, but I failed even more miserably than I did photographing its white sister stone that I also have for sale! This gem is MULTIPLE times more beautiful in person, showing off flashes of electric blue, neon green, reddish-orange and yellow! It has significant fire and sweeping color play over its entire surface! This isn’t a shy stone and shows strong and vibrant colors, particularly in the sunlight! I photographed it in natural indoor afternoon light without camera flash because I want to show you what this pendant will look like in an every-day setting like inside your own home. But it will look SO much better “live” that you will laugh when you remember my words that I “failed miserably” trying to photograph its beauty! True story: Prior to buying this opal, I bought a slightly larger black Ethiopian opal from my gem dealer friend that I chose to keep… and I made my own self jealous that I hadn’t seen this stone first! 😂 My personal opal is equal in quality to this one, but I like the color play of this one much better! If I hadn’t beat up the setting on my own black opal pendant by wearing it on my charm bracelet almost 24\/7, I would trade it for this pendant and sell mine instead! This stone is THAT beautiful!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53981743841464,"sku":null,"price":155.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/DC734917-B6C2-4E98-AE6B-3A91C47A49FA.jpg?v=1787679345"},{"product_id":"9-2ct-white-ethiopian-opal-welo-fire-opal-pendant-spectacular-domed-rectangular-aaa-opal-cabochon-in-solid-sterling-silver-stellar","title":"9.2ct white Ethiopian opal\/Welo fire opal pendant. SPECTACULAR domed rectangular AAA opal cabochon in solid sterling silver! Stellar!","description":"\u003cp\u003eI present here a gorgeous natural (mined from nature rather than created in a lab) AAA grade, 13mm x 17mm, 9.2ct Ethiopian Welo fire opal pendant! When I saw this opal I knew that I HAD to get it set into a pendant, because I “saw” it in my mind’s eye the moment I laid eyes on this spectacular stone! Note that this opal is NOT calibrated (meaning it’s not precisely shaped), having one side sloping lower than the other. But this beauty had such CHARACTER that I knew immediately that I wanted it prong-set to maximize the surface of the opal that interplays with the light. The resulting pendant is MORE than I envisioned for this gem, and I’m not particularly excited to be parting with it! This stone is special, and because I personally chose it I personally guarantee that you will love it just as much as I do! (If you want more photos or a longer video showing this opal’s fire and flash, please message me and I will happily provide either or both upon request!) Its larger 9.2 carat size puts it in a higher echelon of opals, making this pendant not only a fine piece of jewelry but also a valuable investment piece!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpals are difficult to photograph due to their nature, as they change appearance in different types of light and when viewed from different angles. I therefore get frustrated photographing them, because I never feel I’m doing them justice. My photos and video don’t do this opal justice either, but it’s a show-off! There’s not a single millimeter of this stone that isn’t rich with fire and vibrant colors! From every angle it flashes blue, green, aqua, yellow and even red! As high-quality opals should be, this gem is semitransparent. Held up against the light it glows a beautiful orangey-red, like the setting sun just before it disappears below the horizon! This is a stone with serious character - a true status pendant, an excellent investment piece, and an heirloom treasure that will be passed down through the generations!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53981844734136,"sku":null,"price":260.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/E07C4C2B-DEE7-43F3-A431-38090282F9E6.jpg?v=1787680605"},{"product_id":"untitled-aug25_17-43-11","title":"A GORGEOUS 11.05ct AAA+ grade Ethiopian pendant, an elongated pear-shaped cabochon with galaxy pattern fire and phenomenal play of color!","description":"\u003cp\u003eI couldn’t *wait* for this opal to arrive from my stone setter because it instantly captivated me when I saw it loose (not set)! My photos and video don’t even come close to showing this opal’s spectacular properties, as opals are notoriously demanding about being experienced in person and eternally stubborn about being photographed! Each is like a living stone that reserves its best for the eye of its beholder. This opal is no exception! I have beheld it and declare that it is EXQUISITE!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI offer here an absolute piece of eye candy in this natural (mined from nature rather than created in a lab) 11.05ct Ethiopian opal in an elongated pear\/teardrop shape! The stone itself is AAA+ quality with galaxy pattern fire that you have to see in person to truly appreciate! Every quadrant of this opal is PACKED with fire - purple, orange, magenta, electric lime, yellow, neon blue! Its vibrant patterns of fire begin as points at the stone’s surface and streak with comet-like tails deep into the stone! At every angle it alters its colors, shifting from magenta to orange to yellow, from purple to lime to blue! It’s a truly beautiful stone that I might pull if it’s not purchased and keep as an investment piece for my son because it’s that special!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I saw this opal loose I INSTANTLY had a “vision” for its setting, immediately sketched it out and sent it to the opal dealer from whom I purchased it. I envisioned the “cap” as an inverted V-shaped\/chevron-shaped bezel and its “support” as a C-shaped bezel of silver on its rounded end. From there I left it to the setter to connect the cap and support in a way that flattered the stone and I could NOT be happier with the resulting pendant! He elevated the opal by setting it into a basket-type setting, then connected the top and bottom bezels with two bands of silver that follow the natural curvature of the stone. He left an open space between the bands to permit light to enter the stone from the sides, which is essential for letting an opal strut its stuff! With light entering from the front and sides of the opal the play of color is complete and on full display, streaking from the surface of the opal into its depth and from side-to-side!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI simply cannot describe this opal with words or with photos. The stone itself is a work of nature, and the setting is a silversmith’s work of art! It’s utterly captivating!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53982697619640,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/B3EFBD74-870E-44CC-B37F-366442F1BFC5.jpg?v=1787694800"},{"product_id":"ethiopian-opal-earrings-pair-b-a-beautiful-pair-of-rectangular-ethiopian-opal-earrings-approximately-4cttw-and-hand-set-in-sterling-silver-bezels","title":"Ethiopian opal earrings, pair B. A beautiful pair of rectangular Ethiopian opal earrings, approximately 4cttw and hand-set in sterling silver bezels!","description":"\u003cp\u003eNOTE: These opals are hand-carved\/shaped and hand-set in India. No two opals shaped and set in this way will match perfectly in size, shape, pattern of fire or play of color - which is *exactly* what makes them unique and special! They are also set in *raw* sterling silver, which means the silver is not plated with another metal. While this increases the speed at which the silver will tarnish, it’s another unique attribute of these beautiful earrings! A patina of tarnish will give them an aged, vintage look that I personally feel gives them a beautiful, ethnic flair! But if you don’t like such a patina, you can simply rub the bezels with a polishing cloth and they’ll shine up like new! And when not wearing them, keep them in an airtight baggie to prevent exposure to oxygen - it’s the chemical reaction between oxygen and silver that produces what we see and call “tarnish” or more specifically, “oxidation”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI offer here a gorgeous pair of 100% natural AAA-quality white Ethiopian opal studs. This pair features approximately 6mm x 8mm rectangular opals that are approximately 4cttw. Both of these opals display a high degree of neon green, electric blue and salmon pink in almost fully transparent bodies, with their shimmering, watery rainbow of colors resulting from loosely arranged silica molecules reflecting the light. They’re SO much more beautiful than my photos and video suggest! They’re GORGEOUS!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese opals are hand set by an Indian silversmith in raw sterling silver bezels, and the earrings come with butterfly backs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54006456484024,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/E03B6D8E-0A11-4099-A52B-96F2B028254E.jpg?v=1788026289"},{"product_id":"the-after-the-storm-ethiopian-opal-pendant-39-18ct-with-rare-rolling-fire-and-spectacular-play-of-color-collector-s-grade-aaaa","title":"The “After the Storm” Ethiopian opal pendant, 39.18ct with rare “rolling” fire and spectacular play of color! **Collector’s grade** AAAA++","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: The video is from before I had the setting made and had this incredible opal set in it, as my opal dealer is much better at capturing opals’ essences than I am!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI offer here yet another opal I’m loath to part with - it’s “rolling” fire is incredibly rare, its play of color is exquisite and its clarity makes it collector’s grade (especially at this size)! I need to stop buying opals *I* love so that it’s not so difficult for me to list them! I dragged my feet for days debating whether or not to keep it, but my husband is right - I can’t tie up my business’s finances in stones I keep! So here it is, the opal I named “After the Storm” the moment my dealer showed it to me! This 100% natural white Ethiopian opal measures 32mm x 22mm x 11mm (before setting), weighs a whopping 39.18 carats and is set in a heavy sterling silver semi-bezel pendant mounting that I designed specifically for my pear-shaped cabochons!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy favorite place on earth is the upper lower peninsula of Michigan, in the middle of the Manistee National Forest, where my grandfather built the 2nd cottage in the late 1960s on a lake called Thunder Lake. I extensively snorkled Thunder Lake and explored the surrounding areas during my childhood summers and I go camping up there even to this day! In the late afternoons, after the clouds have blown in from Lake Michigan and settle over the forest, powerful thunderstorms erupt and rumble through. The trees sway wildly and creak as the wind roars through them, thunder I can feel in my chest cracks overhead and lightning shreds the sky! It’s an awe-inspiring, sometimes frightening display of nature’s violent forces! But afterwards, as the gentler forms of nature settle back to themselves, yet before the tailwinds carry off the remnants of the clouds and as the late afternoon sunlight strains to overcome them, the skies look like this opal! After the storm!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis gorgeous stone is so clear I can see the patterns of my skin through it, yet it is FULL of color! Its upper silica structure plays out in vibrant magenta, golden-orange and yellow, underlying which plays peacock-green, electric blue, aqua and lime green! There are a couple “pockets” of more defined silica structures on the right bottom edge and in the point of the pear that flash blues and greens, yet they simultaneously reflect the other colors in the stone from various angles! It’s phenomenal! There is something about Ethiopian opals that makes them look different in photographs and videos than when observed with the naked eye, and “After the Storm” is many, MANY times more impressive in person than my photos come even close to accurately representing!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen it was still in India it was the rainy season, so “After the Storm” had absorbed a lot of moisture from the air. Here in my air-conditioned home it’s given up much of its extra moisture, and as it gets drier the colors just POP! If you are the one fortunate enough to own this opal, you’ll see the same behavior in it - clearer and with “shinier” colors when the air is moist and it absorbs water molecules, more opaque with vibrant “rolling” colors when the air is dry and the stone gives up water molecules! This “giving and taking” of water content is one of the most fascinating properties of Ethiopian opals, and especially in this amazing opal is mesmerizing to observe! If you love “After the Storm” and it’s within your budget, I urge you to bring this fantastic gemstone home! It *will not* disappoint you - GUARANTEED!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e“If it’s not good enough for me, then it’s not good enough for my customers. If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t belong in my shop.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e - Heather Constable \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy Personal Guarantee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hand-select every Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone I offer. I test every Moissanite I buy - even from gemstone dealers I trust and EVEN when the Moissanites come with certificates of authenticity! - so you can be certain your own test will tell you it’s a diamond (when tested with an electrical testing pen. More sophisticated testing, like light spectrometer testing, can distinguish between diamond and Moissanite). I pledge to never get lazy or sloppy with quality assurance because I understand that it’s your investment on the line. I know that you can spend your money elsewhere, so also at stake is my integrity as a shop owner to honor your trust in me for all your Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and genuine gemstone purchases! So please don’t be wary of my low prices - I negotiate good deals on loose gemstones and metals, and I double-check everything so that I can honor my pledge to bring you the best genuine gemstone jewelry at the lowest prices! And if you are ever unhappy with a purchase for any reason - or even if you just changed your mind! - I offer you a worry-free 14-day money back guarantee! So feel free to indulge in the unrivaled beauty of Moissanite, Ethiopian opal and other gemstones, and then feel good wearing genuine gemstone jewelry that you bought wisely at a price point lower than even others’ sale prices!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54038372876472,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/files\/FEF3CE8B-2099-4CBF-ACD9-ACD2398F6EF5.jpg?v=1788468156"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0975\/1527\/4424\/collections\/D660E8B4-4BA7-429D-A7AF-F80F9A6268F7.jpg?v=1787696011","url":"https:\/\/handknottedjewelry.com\/collections\/https-handknottedjewelry-com-ethiopian-opal-jewelry.oembed","provider":"Hand Knotted Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}