WELO TOPS Ultra Bright Rare body color BEST rough 10+ct W302

	this will produce opals with bright strong play of color	bright red permeates this opal			strong red multicolor flashfire pattern
10.60 carats is a large opal	RED RED RED

* Hint: Click on the thumbnails above to see the full sized version. Images are of the actual item unless otherwise indicated.

Welo Top Grade Cutters

10.6 carats, measuring 18.5 mm x 13 mm x 13

This piece is part of a very special parcel of top grade brightness, rare body toneand/or highly geometric patterned opal rough. All of this group are grades above most of what is offered on the internet anywhere today.

This is a particularly rare and valuable rough from Welo. This is a confluence of  body tones, with blazing and brilliant opal color structures permeating them both, continuing the pattern and color without regard to the changing body tone. This rare combination offers many different paths to the finished product. This piece is shot through with red flashfire and some broadflash.

This rough could be cut into one large high dome oval, pure white crystal filled with precious play of color and filled with a darker heart which pops the color out even more. The back would be flat or cut as a low dome (boatback), then polished to present a face of beautiful light golden amber popping hot colors from the crystal body. This would be a stunning cut and suitable for gold and diamonds in a designer setting.

Another approach could be to slab the piece, making a series of 3 or more slices, each perfectly matched in body tone pattern and opal play of color, pattern and hue.  A perfectly matching set of opals in this body tone and extraordinary pattern and brightness would be a very valuable set indeed.

But however it is cut, or carved out for a specimen, this will be a stunning addition to anyone's collection or jewelry box.

Welo opal has hydrophane properties and will absorb water. Wetting it will cause it to gain weight and will affect both the body tone and color display. This rough has not been watered for weight or extra brightness, No treatments of any kind. Pictures are all taken dry, mostly in sunshine or bright overcast. It's been a rainy summer.

This site has a forum with lots of discussion on cutting Ethiopian opals in general and Welo rough in particular. I have posted lots of cutting information there and several other cutters have as well. We invite you to share your cutting experiences as well. Please contact me for more specific advice on cutting this piece. I'm happy to help my customers anytime.

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