Ethiopian opal has a promising future. They are becoming more visible in the gem and jewellery markets, as well as among the general public. All of this has occurred without a major mining company or jewellery brand investing millions of dollars in advertising. They are available in a range of translucent to transparent base colours with vibrant colour play in a range of patterns. They are currently very affordable when compared to similar-appearance material from Australia. Ethiopian opal is being produced in significant quantities, and the country may become the first significant challenger to Australian opal, which has dominated the world opal market for more than a century.
