Multicolor Opal Carving (Sea Turtle) (57.72 grams)

Item Description

Recently, the Wello (Wollo) locality in Ethiopia has produced some exceptional precious Opal specimens and gemstones. The highly desirable "Contra Luz" play of color and large "halequin" patterning that can be seen in the top gems and specimens is comparable to the best of Mexican Opals and even resembles color patterns seen in Australian gems. Opal is one of those minerals that looks as beautiful and impressive when it is opaque as when it is water clear. The amazing range of this material (considering the simplistic chemistry) makes it a cool mineral, and that's saying a lot considering the species does not even have any crystal form! Here we have a beautiful carving of fine quality multicolor precious Opal from this prolific locality in Ethiopia. Typically the material we've seen coming out isn't large enough to yield large carvings, but this piece is very good sized for the material. The blending of the dark earthy colors and overall shape is the perfect backdrop for the eye-catching sea turtle that was carved into the solid Opal. The piece shows excellent detail and fine three-dimensional form with the turtle sitting on a rocky coastline. When rotated in the light, the piece shows brilliant electric flashes of red, orange, gold, yellow, green and teal. The piece weighs 57.72 grams (288.60 carats) and came to us with a retail price of $2,000 which is actually LESS than $7 per carat, remarkably affordable for the material. The piece was carved in Chiang Mai, Thailand. High quality and very showy, rarely available on the market and certainly worth picking up if you collect carvings or any kind of Opal material.