I purchased a small bag of Welo Ethiopian opal rough and have spent time cleaning and polishing some of the stones. This one fit well into a recycled brass 25 caliber bullet shell casing. The opal has nice color flash including red, green, gold and violet. It is semi-opaque with an overall honey color. This comes with a 24 inch gold plated chain.

Australia produces around 97% of the world’s opals. Nevada produces a wide variety of precious black, crystal, white, fire, and lemon opals. Other significant deposits of precious opal around the world can be found in the Czech Republic, Nicaragua and Ethiopia. The water content of Opal is usually between three and ten percent, but can be as high as twenty percent.

Opals are known for their unique display of flashing rainbow colors called play-of-color. The areas within an opal that produce a play-of-color are made up of sub-microscopic spheres of silica arranged in a grid-like pattern. As light passes through the spheres it is diffracted into the colors of the spectrum. The size of the spheres and their packed geometric pattern determine the quality of light and the fiery colors of the opal.

Opal can help heal emotional distress and bring joy and happiness back into your life. It is a good stone to use in stressful situations and frees you from worry and anxiety. It enhances clarity and stability and is useful in getting rid of past psychic injuries. Wear an opal to surround yourself with positive energy and lightness of being.

Opal promotes psychic opening and development and sensitivity to spirits. They were once considered unlucky by those who feared psychic phenomena. Opal assists in the control of temper and calms the nerves. It aids in the development of psychic ability.

Opals are surrounded with superstition and lore. The opal is considered to be the most ill-fated of all gemstones. Some people believe that opals turn pale in the presence of poison, and lose their shine once their owners die. These superstitions surrounding opals did not discourage the development of a counter folklore which cast the stone as a symbol of hope, innocence, and purity.

Stones listed as natural, raw, or rough may have some imperfections and inclusions. Be sure to check all photos, including the zoom feature, for details about a particular stone. Please see photo with ruler for size. Colors may vary with individual monitors.

Many stones are susceptible to fading, and they should be kept out of direct sunlight. Do not use hot water or salt water to clean them. Stone properties and descriptions are for informational purposes only and do not offer any guaranteed outcomes. Also, they are not intended as a substitute for medical care.

An original Beautiful Bullets design. I have been creating bullet jewelry since 2009 and have designed over a hundred different styles and types. I use recycled bullet shell casings, metal filigrees, Swarovski crystals, natural gemstones and vintage glass. All of the bullet casings I use are recycled so please allow for variations and small imperfections.

I started my bullet jewelry line as a peace project, and I continue to donate part of the sale to different charities. I have sent donations to the Peace Corps, the Patriot Guard Riders, the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, and the USO. Thanks to everyone who has purchased one of these designs and made that possible.

Please see my FB page at: http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulBullets