FAQ

My name is Amanuel and I am an Ethiopian Welo Opal exporter based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I have been in the Ethiopian Opal Export Business since 2008. I can say I’m knowledgeable in the sector. I created opalexporter.com to make it easier to shop for Ethiopian opals directly from the source online from the comfort of your home.

Ethiopian Opals are real opals mined from the Welo region of Ethiopia. 

In a way, yes. Ethiopian opals are mined by the locals only. These miners are also farmers who till their land during the rainy seasons and also mine the adjacent mountains where the opals are. Please support opal mining and trade by buying from reputable and trustworthy suppliers.

Ethiopian Opal is a precious opal mined from the Welo region of Ethiopia. Since its discovery in 2008, Ethiopian Opal has become popular for its amazing play-of-colors as well as reasonable price. 

Opals are mined in the Welo region of Ethiopia hence sometimes the name ‘Welo/Wollo Opals” is used to describe them.

Mezzezo opals was discovered in earlier but the now popular Welo Opal was discovered in 2008. Read more on our Ethiopian Opal Blog.

Ethiopian opals are mined using hand tools only. It is a painstaking process but totally worth the hard work.

Ethiopian opal price is generally lower when compared to specially Australian opals. However some Ethiopian opals are so expensive due to their size, amazingly one-of-a-kind patterns and play of color.

Yes it can and there is no problem with that. I personally don’t recommend putting them in water, the hydrophane type of Ethiopian opal will absorb water and turn translucent. No worries, the color will return once they dry.

Most but not all Ethiopian opals are hydrophane – meaning they absorb water due to their porous nature.

The reason is simple – there is a steady supply of opals at the mines in Welo, and also they have to be cheaper to compete in the hundred year old Australian opal dominated market.

Ethiopian opals hardness is 5.5 to 6 on Moh’s scale of hardness.

At Opal Exporter we are always working hard to deliver the best Ethiopian Opals we can get our hands on. Do contact us for a trustworthy partnership for all your Ethiopian Opal.