Ethiopian Opal vs White Opal

Ethiopian opal is a hydrophane opal variety first commercially mined in the Welo Province around 2008. It is distinguished by its vibrant, high-contrast play-of-color, which can display broad flashes of red, green, and blue against a white or translucent body. Because it is porous, this opal absorbs water, temporarily altering its transparency, and requires specific care to prevent cracking, makin...

White opal is a variety of precious opal characterized by a white, milky, or light-colored base tone upon which internal spectral colors flash, a phenomenon known as play-of-color. The internal structure of this hydrated silica diffracts light to produce the shifting displays of color that make the stone distinct. It is predominantly mined in the Coober Pedy region of South Australia, which is wid...