Natural Black Ethiopian Opal Sterling Silver Necklace

Dark rich black natural Ethiopian Opal(1.32ct, VS, Ethiopia) hand set in a sterling silver cabochon setting on a sterling silver chain. One of the world’s most coveted gemstones, opal’s name evolved from the Roman opalus which was derived from the Greek opallios, meaning “to see a change of color.” The Greek word was a modification of the ancient Indian Sanskrit name for opal, upala, which meant “precious stone.” Opal's unique qualities have attracted the attention of many ancient civilizations – and still do. Opals possess flashes of rainbow colors that change with the angle of observation, called play of color. Ethiopian opals require different care than other opals due to their ability to absorb water. While it has been popularly considered a good idea to soak opals in water, this does nothing for an opal and in fact, should be avoided in the case of Ethiopian (Wollo) opals. If they do get wet, they will lose their play of color, becoming almost opaque. Not to worry – if allowed to dry in a normal environment, they will revert to their original appearance, usually within an hour, but this depends on size of the opal and humidity. For this reason, it is best to avoid dirty or colored water and even oils. Clean them with a dry, soft cloth. Opals should be protected from chemicals, high heat, and harsh wear. Because opals contain 5 to 10 percent water, some opal has been known to dry out and craze (small hairline cracks) after a short while or even after a lifetime of use in a piece of jewelry. Ideally they should not be stored in dry, air-tight containers like safe-deposit boxes. Opal jewelry should be cleaned with mild soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Please ask questions