Created opal jewelry features opals grown in a laboratory setting rather than mined from the earth, designed to replicate the stunning beauty and optical properties of natural opals. These gems are a testament to human ingenuity, crafted in controlled environments to mimic the natural opal's essence.
Understanding Created Opals
A created opal, often referred to as a lab-created or synthetic opal, is chemically and structurally similar to its natural counterpart. The process involves replicating the specific geological conditions under which natural opals form, resulting in a stone that shares many of the same physical and optical properties as an opal found in nature.
The Creation Process
Scientists meticulously replicate the conditions necessary for opal formation. This typically involves allowing microscopic silica spheres to settle in a highly ordered pattern, which is crucial for producing the opal's characteristic "play-of-color" – the dazzling iridescent flashes seen when light interacts with its internal structure. This controlled environment ensures consistent growth and quality.
Key Characteristics
Created opals possess several key characteristics that make them attractive for jewelry:
- Play-of-Color: They exhibit the same vibrant flashes of color (known as opalescence) as natural opals, due to their organized internal structure.
- Composition: They share a similar chemical composition, primarily hydrated silica, with natural opals.
- Consistency: Lab-created opals can often be produced with more consistent color patterns and less internal fracturing than natural opals.
- Durability: While opals, both natural and created, require careful handling, created opals can sometimes be more stable and less prone to crazing (tiny cracks) than certain types of natural opals.
Distinguishing from Simulants
It's important to differentiate created opals from opal simulants or imitations. Simulants (like plastic or glass) only look like opal but lack its chemical, physical, and optical properties. Created opals, however, are genuine opals in every sense except their origin.
Why Choose Created Opal Jewelry?
Choosing created opal jewelry offers several compelling advantages, making it a popular option for many.
| Feature | Created Opal | Natural Opal |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Lab-grown, controlled environment | Mined from the earth |
| Composition | Hydrated silica, similar to natural | Hydrated silica |
| Appearance | Consistent play-of-color, fewer inclusions | Unique patterns, varied play-of-color, natural inclusions |
| Durability | Can be more stable, less prone to crazing | Varies greatly; some types are fragile |
| Price | Generally more affordable | Can be very expensive, especially for high quality |
Advantages of Created Opals
- Affordability: Created opals are significantly more accessible than natural opals of comparable visual quality, allowing more people to enjoy their unique beauty.
- Ethical Sourcing: They provide a conflict-free and environmentally conscious alternative to mined gems, as their origin is completely transparent and controlled.
- Consistency: Jewelers can more easily find matched sets or specific color patterns for designs due to the controlled production environment.
- Durability: While all opals need care, the controlled growth conditions can result in a more stable stone that is less susceptible to drying out or developing internal fractures (crazing) compared to some natural opals.
Caring for Your Created Opal Jewelry
Just like natural opals, created opals require proper care to maintain their brilliance and longevity. They have a relatively soft nature (5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale), making them susceptible to scratches.
- Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Keep opals away from cleaning solutions, chlorine, and abrasive materials.
- Protect from Impact: Store opal jewelry separately to prevent scratches from harder gemstones.
- Gentle Cleaning: Clean with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners.
- Temperature Stability: Extreme temperature changes or very dry environments can potentially damage opals over time, though created opals are often more resilient.
For more in-depth information on lab-created gemstones, you can consult resources like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
