Lab Created Opals - Details and Description

Coarse and Fine Crystalline Opals with a Non-Directional Pattern of Play-of-Color (Type 1)

Based on research and various space experiments performed under microgravity, these opals are the world's first samples of homogeneously crystallized opals, also known as colloidal or photonic crystals. This kind of opals shows an intense play-of-color with an irregular, non-directional and polygonal pattern like natural opals, but without any cracks, inclusions or host rock (matrix). The opals are composed of self-organized and ordered monodisperse silica particles embedded in an organic polymer matrix and due to the lack of water in its chemical composition they are not prone to cracking or crazing. Seven varieties of the lab created opals in different body tones and with a beautiful, sparkling and vivid play-of-color are available: White Opal, Black Opal, Yellow Opal, Orange Opal, Blue, Purple and Green Opal.

These opals don't show a columnar pattern typical for synthetic opals grown by sedimentation. Thus, an orientation of the opals prior cutting is not necessary anymore.

Furthermore, in contrast to conventional impregnated synthetic opals the new preparation method by homogeneous crystallization allows a significant lower silica content. This makes the processing of the coarse and fine crystalline opals much easier and both types can be drilled, carved, sliced and cut by standard carbide tools and turned on a lathe.

Colloidal Crystallization - Pattern

Polygonal Colloidal Crystals (Microscopic Image)

Colloidal Crystals

Colloidal Crystallization (Microscopic Image)

Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Crystallization

Colloidal Crystals

The non-directional and coarse-grained pattern with big crystallites of 2-3 mm make the lab created opals an ideal material to cut colorful beads, teardrops and cabochons for jewelry. But of course, the opals can be used also as inlays for musical instruments and furniture, as mosaic tiles or handle material for knives, brushes and other exclusive objects. Due to the flexibility of the opals in thin sheets also curved surfaces can be decorated. Furthermore, the size of the opals allows carving of big objects and sulptures, solid opal rings and bangles.
Be inspired by our Gallery of Rough and Cut Synthetic Opals

Lab created opals, available colors (Color Charts):

Green Play-of-Color: Opals with Green Play-of-Color
Red Play-of-Color: Opals with Red Play-of-Color

A special variety of our opals type 1 are fine crystalline "Aurora Opals" with an impressive swirly or flame-like pattern of Play-of-Color. These opals are available in four bright different colors as opals with Green, Red and Orange and Blue as dominant colors. More information: Aurora Opals

Lab Created Opals Type 1 - Advantages and Properties

• Multicolored Pattern with Big Grains (Crystallites) of 2-3 mm
• Long-time Stable, No Cracking, Crazing or Yellowing
• Without Inclusions, Cracks or Host Rock (Matrix)
• Affordable Price
• No Blind Spots without Play-of-Color
• Intense Play-of-Color in dominant Red or Green, Seven Varieties in Different Body Tones
• No Special Care Required
• Flexible in Thin Sheets
• Easy Processing for a Wide Range of Applications
• Large Objects Producible from a Single Piece
• Ideal for Carving, Slicing, Cutting and Machine Processing
• Non-directional Pattern of Play-of-Color

Synthetic Opal (Impregnated) - Details and Description

Coarse Crystalline Opals with a directional pattern of play-of-color (Type 2)

The impregnated synthetic opals show an intense play-of-color with an directional (columnar) pattern without any cracks, inclusions or host rock (matrix). The opals are composed of self-organized and close-packed monodisperse silica particles embedded in an organic polymer matrix and due to the lack of water in its chemical composition they are not prone to cracking or crazing. All impregnated synthetic opals are available with a multicolored pattern in weights ranging from 50 - 800 grams as black opals, white opals, blue opals and fire opals. Due to a higher silica content (= lower content of resin) our synthetic opals display a higher strength, toughness and better chemical and abrasion resistance compared to similar opals. Additionally, in contrast to the irregular synthetic opal fragments offered elsewhere, the consistent thickness of the synthetic opal slabs allows a more efficient processing (higher yield). Our synthetic opals are prepared by sedimentation of highly monodisperse silica particles, some steps of the opal synthesis are described on a separate page. Synthetic opal is an ideal material to create colorful opal beads, synthetic opal cabochons, inlays and opal carvings.

Synthetic opal is made in several steps. If you would like to learn more about the production of synthetic opal, please visit our page Synthetic Opal - Opal Manufacture.

Would you like to watch a synthetic opal grow? Then you can purchase dispersions of monodisperse colloidal silica particles in water in our online shop: Synthetic Opal - Online Shop.

Pictures and a color chart of our synthetic opals are available on a separate page: Impregnated Synthetic Opals.

Impregnated Synthetic Opal Type 2 - Advantages and Properties

• Long-time Stable, No Cracking, Crazing or Yellowing
• Without Inclusions, Cracks or Host Rock (Matrix)
• Affordable Price
• No Blind Spots without Play-of-Color
• Intense Play-of-Color
• No Special Care Required
• Easy Processing for a Wide Range of Applications
• Large Objects Producible from a Single Piece
• Ideal for Carving, Slicing, Cutting and Machine Processing
• Directional Pattern of Play-of-Color