Synthetic Opal
lab-grown opal or opal-resin composite
Real opal chemistry assembled by people, silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, often with resin. Pierre Gilson cracked it in 1974. People carry it for transformation, intuition and self-love. Tradition attaches it to the element water, the crown, heart chakra, Neptune.
Seen · you don't have this one yet
Manufactured by sedimenting and consolidating silica microspheres, often with a polymer impregnation that lowers hardness and density relative to natural opal. Sold legitimately as created or lab opal by reputable dealers, and passed off as natural by others.
This one does not go in water. It dissolves.
Mineral facts
Hardness
4.5-6.5 Mohs
Formula
SiO2·nH2O, often with polymer binder
Family
man-made
Where it comes from
manufactured, France (Gilson), Japan (Kyocera), China, Russia
What it is
Real opal chemistry assembled by people, silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, often with resin. Pierre Gilson cracked it in 1974. It is not a fake in the way glass opalite is a fake; it is an opal that had a manufacturer, and the difference matters both ethically and in what you should pay.
What it is confused with
natural-opal, opalite, ammolite, labradorite, doublet-opal, triplet-opal
Play-of-colour that is too regular: broad, evenly sized colour patches arranged in an orderly mosaic, often with a distinctive columnar or lizard-skin structure visible from the side of a cabochon, parallel columns of colour running perpendicular to the surface. Natural opal's colour patches are irregular in size, shape and distribution, and its play shifts unpredictably. Synthetic material is frequently too bright, too complete and too cheap, with colour covering 100% of the face.
Commonly faked · check before you buy
How to tell
Look at the stone edge-on under magnification for columnar 'chicken wire' or lizard-skin structure, which indicates a Gilson-type synthetic. Total, perfectly even colour coverage at a low price is the practical warning. Note this is a genuine lab-grown opal, not glass, unlike opalite, which is glass and shows an orange backlight glow.
Manufactured by sedimenting and consolidating silica microspheres, often with a polymer impregnation that lowers hardness and density relative to natural opal. Sold legitimately as created or lab opal by reputable dealers, and passed off as natural by others.
What it means for you
The Moon is at 1° Scorpio today. Synthetic Opal is a man-made, 4.5-6.5 on the Mohs scale, and it is the stone traditionally carried when the problem is proximity rather than intensity.
You know what this one would do for you. You just don't have it.
Synthetic Opal for every sign
Aries
This is an opal that had a manufacturer.
Pierre Gilson worked out how to stack silica microspheres into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, and he did it in 1974. Look at a cabochon edge-on for columnar lizard-skin structure, which is the tell. This is an opal that had a manufacturer. That is different from glass.
Taurus
Pierre Gilson worked it out in 1974.
Silica microspheres sedimented and consolidated into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, often with a polymer binder that lowers the hardness. Pierre Gilson worked it out in 1974. It is an opal that had a manufacturer, which matters ethically and in what you should pay.
Gemini
An opal with a manufacturer instead of a deposit.
Gilson cracked it in 1974: real silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, usually consolidated with resin. Look at a cabochon edge-on for columnar lizard-skin structure, which natural opal does not have. Calling it a fake is inaccurate.
Cancer
The bad luck superstition traces to an 1829 novel.
The superstition that opals carry bad luck traces to a Walter Scott novel from 1829 and to nothing older. This one is lab-grown from real silica microspheres stacked into the diffraction lattice nature also uses, usually held together with resin. Heat and solvent both damage it.
Leo
Genuine opal chemistry that happens to have a manufacturer.
Look at it from the side of the cabochon. Lab opal shows parallel columns of colour running perpendicular to the surface, and the patches on top are too evenly sized to be natural. Pierre Gilson worked the process out in 1974. Genuine opal chemistry, with a manufacturer.
Virgo
An opal that had a manufacturer, which is different.
It is a real opal with a manufacturer. Silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, usually with resin, a process Pierre Gilson solved in 1974. Look at a cabochon edge-on for columnar lizard-skin structure. Full colour coverage at a low price is the warning.
Libra
Opal with a manufacturer, which the price should reflect.
Real opal chemistry assembled by people: silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, often with resin. Pierre Gilson worked it out in 1974. Opal with a manufacturer, and the difference from mined material should show in the price.
Scorpio
An opal that had a manufacturer.
Silica microspheres stacked by people into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, usually with a polymer. Pierre Gilson worked out the process in 1974. This is an opal that had a manufacturer, and the difference from glass matters both ethically and in what you should pay.
Sagittarius
The result is an opal that had a manufacturer.
Pierre Gilson worked out how to do this in 1974: silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, often with a polymer. The result is an opal that had a manufacturer. Look at a cabochon edge for columnar lizard-skin structure.
Capricorn
An opal that had a manufacturer.
Real opal chemistry assembled by people: silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, usually with resin. Pierre Gilson worked it out in 1974, and you can spot it edge-on by the columnar lizard-skin structure. It is an opal that had a manufacturer.
Aquarius
It had a manufacturer, which is not the same as fake.
Real opal chemistry assembled by people: silica microspheres stacked into the diffraction lattice nature builds, cracked by Pierre Gilson in 1974. Look at the side of a cabochon for parallel colour columns, because natural play-of-colour is never that orderly. It had a manufacturer, which is not the same as fake.
Pisces
Pierre Gilson worked it out in 1974.
Silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, usually held together with polymer that lowers the hardness. Pierre Gilson worked it out in 1974. Heat and solvents damage it, so do not soak it and never put it in an ultrasonic.
Correspondences
What tradition attaches to this stone. Folklore, not chemistry.
Element
water
Planet
Neptune
Chakra
crown, heart
Signs
libra, scorpio, cancer
What tradition says
In crystal lore, opal is associated with emotional amplification and with a persistent Victorian superstition about bad luck, which originates with Walter Scott's 1829 novel Anne of Geierstein rather than with any older tradition.
Care
- Do not put this one in water. It dissolves or spalls. Dust it dry.
- Salt scratches it. Do not bury it in salt.
- Resin-bearing synthetics are damaged by heat, solvents, alcohol and ultrasonic cleaners. Do not soak. Warm water briefly and dry immediately; treat as you would treat natural opal, which is to say gently.
Common questions
What does synthetic opal mean?
Synthetic Opal is carried for transformation, intuition and self-love. Real opal chemistry assembled by people, silica microspheres stacked into the same diffraction lattice nature builds, then consolidated, often with resin.. Tradition links it to the crown, heart chakra.
Is synthetic opal real or fake?
Manufactured by sedimenting and consolidating silica microspheres, often with a polymer impregnation that lowers hardness and density relative to natural opal. Sold legitimately as created or lab opal by reputable dealers, and passed off as natural by others.. Look at the stone edge-on under magnification for columnar 'chicken wire' or lizard-skin structure, which indicates a Gilson-type synthetic. Total, perfectly even colour coverage at a low price is the practical warning.. Manufactured by sedimenting and consolidating silica microspheres, often with a polymer impregnation that lowers hardness and density relative to natural opal.
Can synthetic opal go in water?
No. Synthetic Opal dissolves or spalls in water. Dust it dry instead of soaking it, and keep it out of salt.
Common · white with fire, black with fire, blue-green flash, violet flash
Where this leads
This stone belongs to
Related crystals
From the Grimoire
FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND REFLECTION. NOT MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. How this works