GRADING REPORT FWO161
- Identification: Natural Unheated & Untreated White Crystal Opal
- Carat: 1.61
- Shape: Rectangular(-ish) Free-Form One-sided Cabochon
- Measures: 13.78x7.38x3.90 (millimeter)
- Body Color: Fog- (not smog-) White
- Play of Color: Very Good
- Pattern: Broad Flame
- Clarity: Transparent - Free of Inclusions
- Cutting Grade: Very Good
- Finish: Very Good
- Depth: 53%
- Origin: Ethiopia, Welo
Treatment: None
Certificate No: IGI 310837679
Overall Grade: Very Good
Comment: Last opal for this month, promised. I hope those who are not yet hooked on opal forgive our current attention to this new section. We are not driven only by plain fascination, but also by a window of opportunity to stock up on Welo opals. Over the years, decades now for us, many new finds have come and gone, mandarine, paraiba, mahenge, and those who waited too long, hesitated, procrastinated, had no cash, or, for that ONE time WRONGLY, thought 'too-good-to-be-true', still pull their hair. I, for example, thought the first Mahenge spinels were surface-diffused, too-good-to-be-true, and didn't even look at them for under $100/carat, aaahahh!! Well, those who waited to long, saw supply ending and prices doubling annually. I have no information on the supply of Welo but I'm finally convinced they are just THAT good. Yes, we have found various treatments and fakes, but many are all-natural, and of finest quality by the 'old', mostly Australian, standards. Such quality still costs fortunes from other origins. We concentrate on jewelry gems (as opposed to frisbee-sized collector pieces), such as this 14x7 white-fog opal with a full rainbow play-of-color, pendant-size, flawless body, no dead spot, no inclusions, untreated and natural of course (and documented as such by 3rd party reports). See 'more images': these are only a few aspects caught by a still camera. In movement under changing light, there is no limit to new impressions. Of course, the zoom highlights details that need closer inspections, but as you can see in the many hand-shots: there are as many fascinating effects at arms' length.
