Ethiopian Opal Strand
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From clients
“Catherine is someone who not only works with morals, integrity and ethics, but she has amazing pricing and helped me find a unique loose diamond that beat the price of every quote I got from other retailers.”
“My fiancée wanted her ring unique, elegant, and to stand out without being flashy — and we hit all three. I couldn’t have found anything like this anywhere else. The blue diamond is going to blow her away.”
“The charms themselves are stunning — delicate, sparkly, and beautifully made. They catch the light in such a pretty, subtle way, and the different cuts give each one its own personality.”
Ethiopian welo opal rondelles — 2–3 mm, hand-strung on natural white silk and finished with solid 14k yellow gold end rings. Each bead is translucent and lit from inside with play-of-color: flashes of blue, green, red, and orange that shift as the strand catches the light. An open-length strand, sold without a clasp; it closes on a charm lock (sold separately).
The Object
- Name: Ethiopian Opal Strand
- Silhouette: Open-length Ethiopian opal strand — hand-strung on white silk, finished with solid 14k yellow gold end rings; closes on a charm lock (sold separately)
- Edition: Made to order in 14"–24" lengths
- Collection: Strands
The Opal
- Type: Natural Ethiopian welo opal
- Cut: Rondelle (flat-sided round bead)
- Bead size: 2–3 mm
- Color: Translucent body — mostly clear to milky — with strong play-of-color: blue, green, red, and orange flashes visible in most beads at most angles
- Character: Welo opal from the Wollo region of Ethiopia is prized for its fire. Every bead is unique; the strand reads as a run of small internal fires rather than a uniform color
Silk & end rings
- Silk: Natural white silk, hand-strung in the studio
- End rings: Solid 14k yellow gold at each terminus
The strand ships open-ended with a small yellow-gold jump ring at each terminus. Both ends attach to a charm lock (or any two-ended clasp) of your choosing.
Measurements
- Available lengths: 14", 16", 18", 20", 22", 24"
- Bead size: 2–3 mm rondelle
- Closure: None — the strand closes on a charm lock (sold separately). The two end rings accept any two-sided clasp or lock.
As a length guide: 14" sits at the base of the neck; 18" falls to the collarbone; 22"–24" lies below the collarbone.
Provenance
- Stone sourcing: Natural Ethiopian welo opal, mined in the Wollo region of northern Ethiopia — a hydrophane opal with characteristic play-of-color
- A note on hydrophane opal: Welo opal absorbs water. Avoid prolonged submersion (swimming, long baths) and don't store it in a sealed plastic bag. Wipe with a soft dry cloth after wear. A little care, and it will hold its color for a lifetime
- Silk: Natural white silk cord, hand-strung in the studio
- End rings: Solid 14k yellow gold
Read more on our approach to stones → On Stones
Production & Delivery
This piece is made to order. Production begins after your order is placed. Please allow 3–6 weeks from purchase to delivery.
Delivery: Fully insured shipping via UPS or USPS, calculated at checkout by package weight. Signature required on delivery. Complimentary on US orders over $500 and international orders over $1,000.
Add a charm lock
Strands are sold open — pair with a lock to close.
