Welo Opal

[Lee Little]

Hi Everybody,
This post is a test to see if I can manage to post a picture on here as I could not do it the last time I tried. The picture is of some Welo Opals that I bought on my most recent gem buying trip. They are not currently for sale. Though gemstone investments are often questionable, I am tucking these away as I have a little 'insider' information, LOL. Have a great new year! Lee

 

[Lee Little]

Hey! It worked! That was easy to post. The last time I think I was trying to use features on the top of the page as that is what some old instructions said to do but this time I scrolled to the bottom and saw a tab called 'upload attachment'. That is the magic button.
Since I started this in colored gems we can talk about Welo Opals. They come from Ethiopia. Some have stability issues, some don't. The bases are often water-like and the play of color is amazing. Other base colors are white, cream, yellow and gray. The gray is possibly from a smoke treatment. Attempts are being made to darken the base to appear to be black Opal from Lightning Ridge Australia as those are often very expensive. The yellow base can be the result of a treatment of Super glue which 'yellows' in time. I am just learning about these gems so will be interested to read what the knowledgeable post here. Best regards, Lee

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Gorgeous!!!

 

[michellechan2211]

That's a lovely lot of opals <3 I have a soft spot for opals, and those are lovely

 

[JewelFreak]

Those are beautiful, Lee! So, do you suspect treatment in any of them? The yellow one, maybe?

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Those are gorgeous! Very clear with awesome POC.

 

[Lee Little]

Those are beautiful, Lee! So, do you suspect treatment in any of them? The yellow one, maybe?

Hi Jewel freak,
Thanks! The picture is a bit yellow but IRL the gems are all clear or just a little milky, the one in the pic with yellow is actually the most milky, reflecting my yellow lighting. I showed these to a couple a experts and they both said the same thing, likely stable and no treatment. So far so good. Best regards, Lee

 

[chrono]

Lee,
I've been informed that the best way to evaluate the colour is to have the opal sit on the back of the hand. A dark background over-enhances the colour play and a white background is too pale to show the colour play. Those look pretty to me. No way to guess enhancement from your photos though.

 

[Quantz Studios]

Or stability. I've learned that once you get the confidence to declare an opal stable, it is then determined to prove you wrong.

 

[LD]

The yellow one looks very much like a Mexican water or jelly opal (the term is used interchangeably). I love opals! My favourite is a chocolate opal - it's absolutely nothing special but it's more the name that I like!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Sweet! I have some Welo coming my way as well. If the post ever delivers them...

Ryan, I just had some hydrophane go pale on me. It looked amazing for a long time and then, almost overnight, it lost all color. A quick soak fixed it but it just isn't permanent. A couple of days over 35C did the trick.

 

[Travelngal]

I'd like to know about the "insider info". I've been looking for a nice welo but haven't found one I love yet. Any info you care to pass on (even by private pm) is good.

 

[Agneau]

No fair! So beautiful... I don't know how to handle this opal envy.

 

[Agneau]

Ps... Lee can you explain this superglue nonsense? Never heard of it before and it makes me a tad worried. Just bought another welo opal and it has an orange/honey like base. Transparent.
I trust my source but still curious.
Will be posting pictures soon.

 

[Lee Little]

Lee,
I've been informed that the best way to evaluate the colour is to have the opal sit on the back of the hand. A dark background over-enhances the colour play and a white background is too pale to show the colour play. Those look pretty to me. No way to guess enhancement from your photos though.

You are right Chrono, the background color really makes it hard to judge the opal. I like to hold them up in the air and look thru them, even then with no background you still have to notice the color of the lights around.
I took this picture, actually it is a video, on one of those rotating mirrors. Sure looks black in the picture. Maybe a picture laying on a piece of suspended glass in the sunlight would be the most true. Best regards, Lee

 

[Lee Little]

I'd like to know about the "insider info". I've been looking for a nice welo but haven't found one I love yet. Any info you care to pass on (even by private pm) is good.

I have been talking to 'Opal' guys and so all my insider info is just hearsay, really, but in the gem world that is pretty much all we have. There is no PM on this site but you can always contact me thru my signature link. Best regards, Lee

 

[Lee Little]

Ps... Lee can you explain this superglue nonsense? Never heard of it before and it makes me a tad worried. Just bought another welo opal and it has an orange/honey like base. Transparent.
I trust my source but still curious.
Will be posting pictures soon.

I wish I knew more about this super glue remark but all I have is that a guy from Lightning Ridge mentioned it in regards to yellow orange. I would imagine the resin is visible under a microscope, look especially at the surface. Best regards, Lee