Synthetic Opal

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How do you feel about Synthetic opal?

I HATE IT!
4
50%
I don't really like it
3
38%
It's "ok"
0
No votes
I'm feel the same as PinkDiamond feels about it...
0
No votes
It's better than natural
1
13%
SYNTHETIC OPAL ROCKS! <OH YEAH!>
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 8

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Brightlights
Posts: 211
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:48 am

Synthetic Opal

Post by Brightlights »

This is what Synthetic opal looks like in the rough. 8-) I'm sure most of us know this, but I don't recall any pictures of it for the beginners if there are any lurking. I got this piece from someone's estate. It seems to be a piece of "Gilson" opal.


First, a little background.

There are 3 main types of Synthetic opal. Gilson, Kyocera-Inomori and Lison.

From http://minerals-n-more.com/Opal_Gil_Info.html
The laboratory opal producing process, was first invented by Pierre Gilson, Sr. of France in 1974. This process produces a kaleidoscope of colors. From the rare and precious black opal,
to crystal and white opaque opal.

The Gilson formula is considered the truest gemological process in the world today. Considered by many gemologists to by the world's finest laboratory grown Opal. This process takes from 14 to 18 months,and the colors are natural with no treatment or enhancements.

Unlike its natural counterpart, this created opal is much tougher and not prone to breaking.
It gets it's hardness because it contains no water. Unlike natural opal which does contain water. The lack of water in Gilson opal has currently brought about debates and differences of opinion. Concerning the final classification of Gilson Opal.
*I should add here that the Gilson has a component that does not exist in natural opal, so the statement about the "truest gemological process" is questionable.

According to http://manninginternational.com/GilsonCreatedOpal.html (owners of the Gilson Process) all the created rough and finished Gilson opal was sold to a 3rd party. I don't know who that is, so if anyone has information, please share.

From my understanding the Gilson opal is not the same process as was created in asia by Kyocera-Inomori (Yes, the copier company!) http://global.kyocera.com/news/2009/0202_hgus.html Kyocera opal has various outlets, one of which is: http://www.sanwapearl.com.hk/product_categories_intro.php?cid=45 and also http://www.reliableopal.com.hk/index.do

Then there is the Lison opal that looks similar to the Gilson but made in small batches. It is also made in the United States. According to their website http://lisonopal.com/about_us "So far Lison opal is the best synthetic opal for its identical chemical composition and physical property with natural opal."

So obviously many different companies have worked on synthetic opal and we all know the story about Len Cram's jars of opal in his shed. To those that doubt Len created opal I would just point out that it seems plausible that he stumbled onto a similar process that is currently being produced by Lison. Lison opal also stated their opal was originally discovered when
initiated from a side discovery of brilliant light and play-of-color in an experiment due to lack of control in a research collaboration for optical memory...
.

What is the best way to cut Synthetic opal? Depends....

There are two ways of cutting the Synthetic opal. The "A" cut is the spatter or dot patterns that is cut horizontal to the "color layer" we are used to in most natural opal. That is the most desired pattern, usually. The "B" cut is cut perpendicular to the "color layer" and gives stripes or fingers. When Ethiopian opal first came to market, many US jewelers were uneducated about the new source and dismissed many Ethiopian opals as Synthetic when they saw them because the patterns were too much like the synthetic patterns. It was quite the Chaos and some jewelers still only deal in Synthetic and the average person on the street wouldn't know the differences.

Ok, without any farther ado ("Whatever an ado is!") My entry for Synthetic Opal, variety: Gilson Opal:


This is the Top or the "A" side. You can just make out some patterns that are below the surface:
0130161716-1.jpg


These are looking along the edge, or the "B" side:
0130161717-1.jpg

0130161718-1.jpg

0130161718a-1.jpg


Now, I know you are probably wondering WHY would I post all this about Synthetic opal when I personally HATE and DESPISE Synthetic opal? Well, I do... As a cutter. BUT, you have to admit there are something now possible in designs that would be too cost prohibited with natural and especially since consistency of quality is always questionable and abundance of resource. WHY is black opal Australian opal as expensive as it is? Because of the limed resource that it (and all natural opal) is. SO, if you want an heirloom quality cabochon then you would want a natural opal. If you opal dust for your fingernails (REAL PRODUCT!!! http://www.sanwapearl.com.hk/product_categories.php?cid=89) then you would want the synthetic.

Someplace I had a piece of slocum stone but until I find it, you'll all have to post yours instead! Also, if anyone has any experiences with trying to produce their own synthetic opal like Len's please share any results or process you had tried. Why not, lets have some fun. OpalCreations, I think you played with that a bit... :mrgreen:

Last of all, will I ever cut this? I don't know... It's almost worth more to ME as a specimen. I don't know if I want to cut it just to get a cabochon and know that it is synthetic. :(
Too many beautiful distractions... https://twitter.com/burningems
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PinkDiamond
Posts: 15402
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 9:30 pm
Location: Ozark Mountains

Re: Synthetic Opal

Post by PinkDiamond »

That is an excellent review of synthetic opals BL, thanks so much for posting. :!: :)
PinkDiamond
ISG Registered Gemologist


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