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theresa
02-09-2015, 05:15 PM
Can anyone shed light on why a Welo Opal should lose its colour and 'fire'.
I made some earrings and a pendant using Welo last October and now they have come back because the flash has gone on 2 of them and they look like pale brown glass. (Perhaps they are, who knows?)
I have searched the web and can't find the answer.
Thank you
:confused:

ajda
02-09-2015, 06:03 PM
I don't know much about this and I'm sure there are others on the forum who know better, but I think some opals will lose their colour when they get wet and absorb water - if that is the case, it may come back when they dry out though I'm not sure how best to do that...
Alan

ps_bond
02-09-2015, 06:31 PM
They won't absorb much water, but oils & gunk might not help the situation. A gentle clean with a mild detergent and warm water, then leave them to dry somewhere for an hour or two would show if that's the issue. Are they scratched at all?

Edit - OK, Wollo will absorb more water than most opal due to the more porous structure. Which also makes them easier to treat... And possibly worse for picking up oils, but I've not found anything on it yet.

http://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/FA13-LN-technique-hydrophane-opal
http://www.diamonds.net/Magazine/Article.aspx?ArticleID=38027&RDRIssueID=85
http://www.stonegrouplabs.com/SmokeTreatmentinWolloOpal.pdf

ajda
02-09-2015, 06:55 PM
There's some info here, though I don't know how reliable... http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/What-Is-Ethiopian-Welo-Opal-/10000000178258718/g.html

josef1
02-09-2015, 09:15 PM
http://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/FA13-LN-technique-hydrophane-opal some info here

Tabby66
02-09-2015, 09:57 PM
http://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/FA13-LN-technique-hydrophane-opal some info here

Useful Josef, thanks :)

ps_bond
03-09-2015, 06:02 AM
http://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/FA13-LN-technique-hydrophane-opal some info here

Woah... Deja vu :D

theresa
03-09-2015, 09:29 AM
Thanks everyone. I have now read everything but none the wiser!
8095
This the stone. As you can see it is lifeless. It started out quite flashy and not so yellow.
I think I shall steer clear of them in future.

Patstone
03-09-2015, 12:02 PM
Its still an opal, and I think its better than "flashy". I love the setting too, well done.

vernon
03-09-2015, 12:10 PM
Pretty sure people are right about absorbing moisture, They are known as unlucky mainly because when women wore Opals out to the theatre or on the town the change of temperature and humidity would ofetn crack them or they would fall out of settings. Most settings for Opals are bezel because they can break when claw set due the the moisture issue. I have only set one, for my sister, and I bezel set it and it 4 years later is worn every day and is fine.

Tabby66
03-09-2015, 09:50 PM
Woah... Deja vu :D

Lol Peter,hadn't spotted your link to the same info :X

josef1
03-09-2015, 11:58 PM
lol neither did I

theresa
04-09-2015, 05:14 PM
Its still an opal, and I think its better than "flashy". I love the setting too, well done.

Actually, Pat, I didn't make the setting I got it from Kernowcraft because my efforts were rubbish. It was all to small. I much prefer bezel setting unless the claw set stone is big!:">

glitterandgem
27-10-2015, 05:44 PM
I have done 3 stones from the same piece of Welo, 2 are fine with nice fires the other if it gets anywhere near moisture it just goes cloudy even temperature change. Its a shame really because it was the biggest one