I'd like to ask the members of the Pearl Guide community what you think of Ethiopian opal jewelry?

[katarinaalves]

I've recently become quite fond of Ethiopian opals—the interplay of color and light in each piece is so vibrant.
Some say they are too soft for everyday wear, while others call them the most brilliant of gemstones.
I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts—do you own or work with Ethiopian opal jewelry? What has your experience been like so far?

 

[pattye]

Pearls are our #1 love around here! This forum is for discussing everything about pearls, so perhaps finding a forum for opal lovers will be more suitable for your topic.

 

[Cuon]

I've recently become quite fond of Ethiopian opals—the interplay of color and light in each piece is so vibrant.
Some say they are too soft for everyday wear, while others call them the most brilliant of gemstones.
I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts—do you own or work with Ethiopian opal jewelry? What has your experience been like so far?

I’m a colored stone nerd who’s just recently gotten into pearls.

Ethiopian opals are actually weirdly similar to pearls, in terms of care. Except worse in terms of durability.
They are VERY soft. 5.5-6.5 on the Moh’s hardness scale, depending on the specific stone. Quartz, a major component in dust, is a 7. These stones can quite literally be scratched by dust.
They’re also often unstable. Most Ethiopian opals cannot tolerate exposure to water, oil, basically any liquid, due to them often being hydrophane. If exposed, they’ll suck it up into the stone. It does not come out. It can permanently change the base color, play of color, and transparency of the stone.

Overall, yeah, they’re very pretty stones! And I won’t pretend that the play of color in Australian opals isn’t different. But Australian material is SO much more stable. The hardness is the same, and they’re still porous, but they don’t suffer the same level of environmental sensitivity that Ethiopian material does.

If you want Ethiopian opals in jewelry, same rules as pearls. Last on, first off. Do not expose to perfumes or lotions. The safest forms of jewelry for them are long necklaces, brooches/pins, and earrings. Basically anything that *isn’t* on the hands or arms where it can be easily bashed.

 

[MrGray]

I personally like opals, they are very interesting gems.
Also, they combine perfectly with pearls (please find attached photo of the necklace I made couple of years ago from Ethiopian opal and baroque freshwater pearls).

 

[katarinaalves]

I’m a colored stone nerd who’s just recently gotten into pearls.

Ethiopian opals are actually weirdly similar to pearls, in terms of care. Except worse in terms of durability.
They are VERY soft. 5.5-6.5 on the Moh’s hardness scale, depending on the specific stone. Quartz, a major component in dust, is a 7. These stones can quite literally be scratched by dust.
They’re also often unstable. Most Ethiopian opals cannot tolerate exposure to water, oil, basically any liquid, due to them often being hydrophane. If exposed, they’ll suck it up into the stone. It does not come out. It can permanently change the base color, play of color, and transparency of the stone.

Overall, yeah, they’re very pretty stones! And I won’t pretend that the play of color in Australian opals isn’t different. But Australian material is SO much more stable. The hardness is the same, and they’re still porous, but they don’t suffer the same level of environmental sensitivity that Ethiopian material does.

If you want Ethiopian opals in jewelry, same rules as pearls. Last on, first off. Do not expose to perfumes or lotions. The safest forms of jewelry for them are long necklaces, brooches/pins, and earrings. Basically anything that *isn’t* on the hands or arms where it can be easily bashed.

Thank you for such a detailed and accurate breakdown — I completely agree with your assessment.

Ethiopian opals really do require pearl-level care, especially due to their hydrophane nature. The softness and sensitivity definitely mean they aren’t ideal “set-and-forget” everyday stones.

That said, I think their appeal lies in their incredible play of color and accessibility. With proper education and the right jewelry design — pendants, earrings, or brooches rather than rings — they can still be a beautiful and rewarding choice.

I see Ethiopian opals less as daily wear stones and more as statement or occasion pieces, where their beauty can be enjoyed while respecting their limitations.

Education and setting choice really seem to be the key with these gems.

Do you feel that with proper education and the right jewelry designs (like pendants or earrings), Ethiopian opals can still be a reasonable choice for someone who understands their limitations?

 

[Cuon]

Do you feel that with proper education and the right jewelry designs (like pendants or earrings), Ethiopian opals can still be a reasonable choice for someone who understands their limitations?

Absolutely. I just think it very important to inform people of what they’re working with, so they don’t think they’re getting a diamond and end up with something that scratches if you look at it wrong.
I mean, turquoise has many of the same properties and has been used for a very, very long time in jewelry and art. It’s just all about education.

 

[linda.wald]

I think the Ethiopian opals are lovely! I love Australian opals too... Here is a strand of akoyas with opals.