Ethiopian Opal Glossary

Bubbles*

Used to describe many tiny phantoms inside of an opal, resembling static bubbles

Column Fire

A pattern on opals where the flash appears in a row of columns

Confetti Flash

A specific flash pattern of medium sized bits of flash that resemble confetti on the surface of the opal.

Contra Luz 

Spanish phrase meaning “against light,” used to describe opals that change in color when light hits the back of the stone

Craze

When a specimen opal dehydrates, it can crack or craze. Crazing looks like a network of multiple crack lines, almost like a spiderweb

Dendrite

Crystalline structures resembling tree branches or a snowflake that can form as inclusions inside opals. Black is the most common, but colors depend on the mineral makeup of the dendrite.

Fire Opal

Any opal with a vibrant red, orange, or yellow base

Flash

An opal term used to describe the flashes of color an opal displays when light enters it. Also called “play of color” 

Honeycomb

A pattern on opals resembling a honeycomb

Hydrophane

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The property 

Inclusion

An inclusion is a broad term used to describe the different materials and minerals that can be found inside an opal. Example include dendrites, phantoms, roots, and even fossils 

Jewelry Grade Opal

Jewelry Grade Opal is older and more stable than Specimen Opals, so they should be kept dry. This is the opal you want to set into any wearable jewelry!

Matrix 

The host rock opals are found in. Usually brown or gray

Milky Opal

Used to describe opals with a semi-opaque white base

Nugget*

A rounded opal with a rough exterior and very little matrix

Parcel

A collection or bundle of multiple opals

Phantom 

A phantom is an older opal trapped inside another opal. 

Pinfire 

A type of flash that appears as tiny pinpoints of color

Plume 

A pattern on the surface of the opal that resembles a leaf or fern imprint

Potch 

Opal that lacks any flash. Also called Common Opal

Specimen Opals

Opals were born of water and silica and some need to stay in their natural element. Specimens are for all the collectors out there that love to display their Opals but don't need to wear them. These opals need to stay hydrated in water, dehydration can result in damage to these opals.

Stayish Opals

Stayish Opals were discovered in 2013 and are in-between jewelry and specimen grade opals. They are extremely rare and are the darkest black opals found in Ethiopia. Stayish opals need to be kept dry like jewelry grade but they're quite fragile, so cutting/polishing is generally not recommended.

Wello

The specific region Ethiopian opals are found in

*Denotes an opal term created by Opal Trove