Much of the opal produced from the Wollo Province has an orange, yellow or reddish body color along with play-of-color. The orange, yellow or reddish body color meets the definition of a fire opal, and the play-of-color meets the definition of a precious opal. Meeting both criteria, these opals could be called “precious fire opals.”

The orange body color opal in the accompanying image is an example of one of these “precious fire opals.” It has an orange body color, and if played in the light it has a play-of-color that flashes between electric green and purple. It is a beautiful example of Ethiopian opal.

This type of opal is quite abundant in the production currently coming out of the Wollo Province. It is transparent, like the example shown here, and that enables play-of-color deep within a bead, cabochon, or faceted stone to be visible.