Ethiopian Welo Opal (Doodhiya Patthar) 10.02 Carat (11 Ratti) — Strong Fire / Play-of-Colour

Natural Ethiopian Welo Opal (Doodhiya Patthar) – 10.02 Carat (11 Ratti) Oval Cabochon

This Natural Ethiopian Welo Opal (Doodhiya Patthar) weighs exactly 10.02 Carats (11 Ratti) with calibrated dimensions of 18.7 x 12.9 x 8.5 mm. Expertly polished into a smooth Oval Cabochon, this Earth-mined precious opal displays an enchanting rainbow play-of-colour with vibrant spectral flash across its surface.

Mineralogical Identity & Physical Constants: Precious Opal is an amorphous hydrated silica mineraloid (SiO₂·nH₂O) containing between 3% and 10% naturally bound water within its structure. Ranking at Mohs hardness 5.5 to 6.5, it exhibits a refractive index of 1.400 to 1.480 and a specific gravity of 1.90 to 2.20. The mesmerizing optical phenomenon known as play-of-colour is produced by the diffraction of white light passing through regularly packed sub-microscopic spheres of amorphous silica arranged in an orderly three-dimensional grid.

Geographical Origin & Lapidary Profile: Mined from the high-altitude volcanic ignimbrite plateaus of the Welo (Wollo) Province in Ethiopia, Welo opals are globally acclaimed for their dynamic, three-dimensional play-of-colour. Displaying vivid spectral flashes of orange, red, green, and electric blue within a translucent body, this gemstone is a 100% natural, solid Earth-mined opal. It has received no smoke treatment, chemical dyeing, or sugar-acid darkening.

Cultural Legacy & Traditional Wearing: Known in Hindi as Doodhiya Patthar (दूधिया पत्थर) or Opal Ratna, opal holds high esteem in Vedic astrology as the primary secondary substitute (Upratna) for Natural Diamond (Heera), traditionally linked with Venus (Shukra / शुक्र). In traditional wearing practices, it is customarily set in Sterling Silver (925 Silver), White Gold, or Platinum for rings or pendants worn on the middle finger (Madhyama) or ring finger (Anamika) on Friday mornings during Shukla Paksha.

Please Note: Ratna Gems shares these historical, cultural, and gemological details solely for educational awareness. We sell all gemstones strictly on the basis of verified physical authenticity, mineral quality, and accredited laboratory certification, and make no astrological, metaphysical, or curative claims.

Care Instructions

• Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners: Natural opals contain bound water within their silica matrix and can crack or fracture under ultrasonic vibrations or high thermal steam.
• Clean gently using lukewarm water, a mild dish soap solution, and a soft microfiber cloth, then pat completely dry.
• Avoid prolonged immersion in water, and protect from perfumes, hairsprays, household bleach, alcohol, and harsh solvents.
• Store in a padded jewel box at normal room humidity; avoid storing in excessively dry, hot environments or under high-intensity display heat lamps.

Frequently Asked Questions