Description: Like a fragment of captured aurora suspended in silica, this Ethiopian opal reveals a vivid internal world where colour moves through the stone in flowing luminous ribbons. Rather than appearing as isolated flashes, the chromatic fire unfolds in elongated bands that travel across the surface and through the translucent body, creating the impression of liquid light frozen within the mineral. The specimen originates from the Mezezo region of Ethiopia, one of the earliest and most historically important sources of Ethiopian precious opal. Opals from this locality are renowned for their warm body tones and exceptionally vivid play of colour, formed through volcanic processes that allowed silica rich fluids to solidify within cavities and fractures of host rock. Across the exposed opal surface, the colour display is both intense and highly dynamic. As the stone is rotated or the light source shifts, the internal ribbons ignite sequentially, revealing a full chromatic spectrum that includes fiery reds, bright oranges, golden yellows, electric greens, deep blues and flashes of violet. The colours appear not as scattered points but as flowing chromatic currents, moving across the opal in layered bands that respond immediately to changes in viewing angle. The body of the opal is translucent to semi translucent, allowing light to penetrate beneath the surface and activate deeper colour zones. This internal transparency amplifies the visual depth of the piece, enabling multiple colour layers to appear simultaneously. Some zones ignite with intense red and orange fire, while adjacent areas produce vivid green and blue flashes that sweep across the stone like moving light. Natural host matrix remains attached to portions of the specimen, creating a strong visual contrast between the earthy volcanic material and the luminous opal body. Small mineral inclusions embedded within the matrix further emphasise the geological origin of the piece and frame the opal’s colour play in an organic and natural setting. The surface preserves natural undulations and growth features typical of Ethiopian opals formed within volcanic environments. Fine internal striations and subtle curvature across the opal planes enhance the ribbon like optical effect, guiding the colour bands across the specimen when illuminated. This combination of full spectral colour coverage, ribbon fire pattern and strong chromatic intensity produces an opal that is visually vibrant from virtually every angle. The piece expresses the dynamic optical behaviour that has made Ethiopian opals among the most celebrated precious opals discovered in the last decades. Specifications: • Weight: 1.42 g • Weight in carats: 7.10 ct • Dimensions: 22 × 13 × 8 mm • Origin: Mezezo, Ethiopia • Mineral: Opal • Variety: Natural precious opal • Body tone: Translucent to semi translucent • Pattern: Ribbon play of colour • Colour play: Full spectral play of colour • Dominant colours: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet • Matrix: Natural volcanic host rock present • Lustre: Vitreous to resinous • Treatment: None Notable Points: • Natural Ethiopian opal from the historic Mezezo locality • Distinct ribbon pattern producing flowing bands of colour • Full spectral play of colour across the entire visible range • Strong red and orange flashes among the most valued opal colours • Neon green and electric blue flashes appearing with rotation • Deep violet and purple accents enhancing colour complexity • Translucent body allowing light to activate internal colour layers • Colour response changes dramatically with light direction • Natural host rock matrix preserved around the opal • Strong visual contrast between luminous opal and volcanic matrix • Naturally formed specimen with no cutting or enhancement • Highly animated chromatic behaviour from multiple viewing angles Collector’s Interest: Opals displaying ribbon fire patterns are particularly appreciated because the colour appears organised in flowing bands rather than scattered flashes. This creates a more continuous and dramatic colour movement when the stone is rotated or illuminated from different directions. Material from Mezezo holds additional interest for collectors due to its geological significance as one of the earliest Ethiopian opal sources that revealed the remarkable colour potential of the region. Specimens combining strong colour intensity, full spectral coverage and visible ribbon structures represent especially expressive examples of Ethiopian precious opal formation. Lapidary Potential: The opal exhibits strong colour distribution across its exposed surfaces, indicating that cutting could potentially yield small gems with vivid play of colour. However, the natural specimen already displays extensive colour ribbons and a highly expressive optical behaviour in its current state. Preserving the piece in its natural form allows the full extent of its colour movement and geological context to remain visible, making it equally appealing as a mineral specimen or display opal. —————— Shipping and Handling: All orders are shipped by Portuguese National Post. • Dispatch time: within 1 to 3 business days after payment confirmation to Catawiki • Transit time with CTT service: between 5 to 7 business days within europe and worldwide, depending on destination national post. • A tracking number is always provided Photography and transparency: All photographs are taken under controlled lighting conditions using a macro lens, carefully selected to present each specimen as accurately as possible. No filters, colour enhancement, or artificial saturation are applied. The lighting setup uses a calibrated 5500K light source, replicating neutral daylight to reveal natural tones, surface features, and internal characteristics. Under warmer or weaker indoor lighting, colours may appear slightly different, which is normal. The purpose of this photographic process is documentation and representation, not visual enhancement. Images are intended to reflect the specimen faithfully as it appears under balanced natural light conditions. Identification and ethics: All specimens offered are natural and described to the best of our knowledge, based on direct sourcing, professional experience, and information provided by trusted suppliers working at the origin. Every effort is made to ensure transparency and accuracy regarding identification, locality, and general characteristics, avoiding misleading statements about treatment, provenance, or nature. Customs and import taxes: Any customs duties, import fees, or local taxes applied by the destination country are entirely the responsibility of the winning bidder. These charges are not included in the auction price or shipping cost and are determined by the buyer’s local authorities. Guarantee and resolution: Customer satisfaction is important. In the unlikely event of an issue such as loss, damage, or discrepancy, please contact us promptly through Catawiki’s messaging system. Each case is handled individually and fairly, with appropriate solutions offered when justified. Appreciation and commitment: We sincerely thank you for your trust. Our work focuses on careful selection, accurate representation, and respectful presentation of mineral specimens with character and interest. Each piece is chosen for its individual qualities rather than speculative or financial considerations. We aim to provide a transparent, reliable, and consistent experience for collectors at all levels. With gratitude, GemPulse Minerals