17.5Ct Ethiopian Fire Mocha Opal AAA Fire!NR TM
About This Auction |
About This Seller: mayantiquities |
||
| Minimum Bid (USD) | 51.00 | Feedback Rating | 100.00% Positive |
| Current Bid (USD) | 51.00 | Member Since | September 9, 2008 in United States of America |
| Bid Increment | 1 |
|
|
| Bids Placed | 25 jump to bid history | ||
| Starting Bid (USD) | 1.00 | ||
| Reserve Price (USD) | none | ||
| Starts | November 16, 2008 9:00 PM | ||
| Ends | November 23, 2008 9:00 PM | Basic Shipping Information | |
| Auction Category | NR Opals | Shipping Cost | 3.00 paid by buyer |
| Auction ID | 140281 | Shipping Insurance (optional) | 2.67 |
This auction has closed |
|||
| * note for every bid placed in the last 5 minutes the auction end time increases by 60 seconds - refresh page to update | |||
Gallery
| |
* Hint: Click on the thumbnails above to see the full sized version. Images are of the actual item unless otherwise indicated.
Description
|
17.5Ct. Ethiopian Fire Mocha Opal Rough
|
|
This is a beautiful 17.5 Carat Ethiopian Fire Mocha Opal Rough. This material is AAA in quality and exemplifies top quality Ethiopian Opal . It measures 21mm x 15mm x 13mm.It has amazing AAA Red Fire with a sprinkeling of other colors as well.This truly is a spectacular gem. We are new to Opal Auctions , but we want to become known as the premier source for Top High Quality Ethiopian Opal at affordable prices!....
****International Orders Please add $12.00 Shipping****
Ethiopian Opal
Opal has been a gemstone that lots of people love and some adore with a passion. I fit into the second category, probably because opal is about the only gemstone that can have such a diverse brilliance of colour that encompasses the whole of the colour spectrum. Because of this I find it such an uplifting and beautiful stone.
In the past most opal has come from either Australia or Mexico, as opal mainly comes from two types of deposits; volcanic and sedimentary. Australia provides the largest sedimentary deposit, whilst Mexico the largest siliceous volcanic deposit. Smaller deposits can also be found at opal Butte, Oregon, although this mainly is not commercially exploited for jewellery.However, as late as 1939 the famous anthropologist Dr. L. Leakey reported that early man used opal to fashion tools based on a discovery of artifacts in a cave in Kenya that were dated from around 4,000 years B.C. and so believed that opal mines must exist in Africa. In was not until much later in 1994 that actual proof of these opals came to light with a Dr. N. Barot who reported in an article in the ICA Gazette that opals from Ethiopia had been seen at a Nairobi gem market in 1993. In the same year a minerals engineer by the name of Telahun Yohannes learned about these opals whilst on holiday and started investigating its location along with a lease to explore and mine the area. And that begins the start of a new and stunningly beautiful opal onto the market.
These opals are found at Yita Ridge, in the Menz Gishe District of Shewa Province, around 150 miles northeast of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The opal field lies around 12 miles north of Mezezo and extends for several square kilometers along the northern side of the Yita Ridge.
|
|
||
| Payment Options: | |||
We accept Paypal. Please send payments to mayantiquities@gmail.com  |
|||
| Shipping, Handling & Insurance: | |||
| If you choose not to take out the optional insurance, you assume all responsability for lost or damaged goods. |
|||
| Refund Policy: | |||
| Return your item (As it was recieved) up to 7 days after you recieve it for a refund.International orders have 14 days to return the item. | |||
| Other: | |||
The opals are found in a nodular form within a continuous layer of welded volcanic ash (tuff, similar to obsidian in character), about 3 metres thick, that lies between weathered rhyolite layers. The nodules are very numerous though in my opinion the percentage of gem precious opal is quite small. In 1997 out of 10 kilos of un-opened nodules I acquired I found only one with good precious opal, around 20 with some colour play and the rest were either empty, filled with common opal or quartz. Figures in 1995 estimated that around 15% of the opal recovered was gem quality, and around 1% shows distinct play of colour.
Good Ethiopian opals are quite diverse and ever since I first acquired them have shown a variety of base colours, including red, orange, clear, white, grey, black, yellow, blue, brown and green. The play of colour shows in the usual way or as a contra-luz, when held against a light. The best pieces show vivid play of colour usually with the full colour spectrum as well as turquoises and indigos.
It should be noted that a lot of the opals do in fact show internal fractures and crazing that in my opinion do not detract from their beauty. In fact I wear a polished slice showing fractures which I made into a pendant, and it is always admired. I also have some opals that have been cut and show no fractures at all.
It is still relatively early days in the exploration of these opals and cutters are finding new techniques and ways to bring these beautiful opals to the market. The photographs will never do these opals justice, so if you are interested you need to get the real things to discover just how amazing they are. ..............
Bidding History
| Member | Bid | Time & Date |
| dittop | 51.00 | November 23, 2008 8:01:40 PM |
| Master sculptor | 50.00 | November 23, 2008 8:01:40 PM |
| dittop | 46.00 | November 23, 2008 8:01:20 PM |
| Master sculptor | 45.00 | November 23, 2008 8:01:20 PM |
| dittop | 41.00 | November 23, 2008 8:01:00 PM |
| Master sculptor | 40.00 | November 23, 2008 8:01:00 PM |
| dittop | 36.00 | November 23, 2008 8:00:45 PM |
| Master sculptor | 35.00 | November 23, 2008 8:00:45 PM |
| dittop | 31.00 | November 23, 2008 8:00:26 PM |
| Master sculptor | 30.00 | November 23, 2008 8:00:26 PM |
| dittop | 27.00 | November 23, 2008 7:59:59 PM |
| Master sculptor | 26.00 | November 23, 2008 7:59:59 PM |
| dittop | 25.00 | November 23, 2008 7:59:37 PM |
| Master sculptor | 24.00 | November 23, 2008 7:59:37 PM |
| dittop | 23.00 | November 23, 2008 2:36:11 PM |
| mina28 | 22.00 | November 23, 2008 12:13:02 PM |
| struppenheimer | 21.00 | November 23, 2008 12:13:02 PM |
| mina28 | 18.00 | November 23, 2008 12:12:50 PM |
| struppenheimer | 17.00 | November 23, 2008 12:12:50 PM |
| mina28 | 6.00 | November 23, 2008 12:11:13 PM |
| Master sculptor | 5.00 | November 23, 2008 12:11:13 PM |
| mina28 | 4.00 | November 23, 2008 12:10:51 PM |
| Master sculptor | 3.00 | November 23, 2008 12:10:51 PM |
| mina28 | 2.00 | November 17, 2008 10:00:27 PM |
| Master sculptor | 1.00 | November 17, 2008 2:21:07 PM |
About This Seller
mayantiquities's Shipping, Handling & Return Policies
Free Shipping! Except on NO RESERVE AUCTIONS
No Reserve Auctions Shipping Rates are 3.00 within the United States and 12.00 For International Orders
****NEW RETURN POLICY*******
The item you see in the listing is the exact item you recieve.IF the item is not as described in the listing you have up to 7 days from reciept of the item to return it.All returns are subject to a 10 % restocking fee.IF you are bidding on opal rough then if you touch the opal with any machine or sanding / finishing device or alter it in anyway from the way you recieved it, you own it and it no longer qualifies for a return and we are no longer obligated to honor a return.
Once you bid on an item or buy the item you are legally bound to pay for the item.ALL non-paying bidders will be subject to debt collection and will bbe reported as a non-paying bidder to Opal Auctions administration.Sorry for the newstrict policies ,however there have been a few who have ruined the experience for many, there will be no exceptions.
Payment Options
Paypal: 
Questions & Comments
Similar Auctions
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Master sculptor, November 23, 2008:
I don't think my last message went through but have since found out you are located here in the U.S. and is not an international order and hope you can let me know what you estimate the debth of color on the gem is before I continue bidding any higher. I will be cutting/ shaping/ and polishing this with a dremel but may have to use a tile saw with thin blade to slad with. This is for a very special ring. I am a wire sculptor and this will be for my first engagement ring/wedding band for which I have cut some small accents for the wedding band that will match perfectly!!!!!!!
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
depth of color is superb ...it has awesome fire you wont be disappionted!
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
depth of color is superb ...it has awesome fire you wont be disappionted!
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
we will be more than happy to accomodate you.We at May Antiquities Respect,Honor,and treasure our military veterans and those on active duty serving our country.I would also like to offer you free shipping on this item as a special discount as a special veterans discount for serving our country
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
it was a yes and we will include free shipping as special veterans discount for you
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
the site has very beautiful things.you are a gifted craftsman to be sure
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
i have no idea but if you will look through my items , we have a fe that are even better tha the one you are bidding on...if you could give me an idea of what you really want i can give you an item number that is in your price range..i also have some that arent listed yet so if you could give me an idea of what you want and how much you want to spend ill match you with the perfect opal for you that will have the girlfriend crying with gratitude
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
i can go down to 35 on the 10 carater
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
lemme check to see if i have any slabs...i was just working on one but it isnt what you want and im not even sure it has much fire al all but lemme look be right back hold on
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
ok hold on ill snap a few pics off and email them to you
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
Automated Message: You won item 140281 for 51.00
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
okay i have emailed two opal pics to you i can still match what you want if those arent what you are looking for
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
i am up late i rarely sleep...the first opal is 35 and ill throw the second one in for 15 more...i think you will like the second opal i would check the pics out ..it is smaller but judging from your site it is up your alley for the money and 15 isnt that much for so much fire...again the first is 35 ans the second one is 15..ill throw in free shipping because you are a veteran and in the us
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
as far as cutting and polishing goes i have just ordered all new equipment and it will be at least two and a half weeks until i get everything set up as i am waiting for equipment and so on and so forth
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
21.5Ct. Ethiopian Fire Mocha Opal "T"
ill take 35 for it
35 for the 10 carat
15 for the 3 carat for a total of
85.00 for all 3
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
just do the buy it now for the 21.5 carat opal and ill discount the others accorddingly and invoice you through paypal and you can pay when you have the get the money
mayantiquities, November 23, 2008:
what is the email address you use for paypal so i can send you the invoice