Originally stemming from the Sanskrit word "upalas" (meaning stone, jewel), then the Greek word "opallios" (meaning to see a turn of color), the term we are familiar with today, "Opal", has its roots in the Latin word "opalus". A bit softer than quartz, and not quite as dense, Opal is hydrated silica and an amorphous mineral.
In its' natural form, Opal consists of intimately packed combination spheres of silica as silica oxide, and water in varying amounts up to 15%. These spheres are arranged in a series of layers allowing light to pass through, defracting at specific points, creating the play of colors that attracts us to Opals. The larger the spheres, the more vibrant the colors produced. Referred to as "as base opals", are those which lack the colored sparkle of the "precious opals", though both are used in jewelry.
Opal - Natural Vs Lab
Hitting the market in 1974, Lab Created Opals have found their rightful place in the World Gem Market. There are different references to these Opals along with synthetic, simulated, and mosaic.
Mosaic Opal: is created from left over chips of Opal, fitted together to form a new "stone". Since the only involvement of man is the putting together of the "puzzle pieces" of actual opal, hardly qualifying as Lab Created.
Synthetic Opal: is created in a Lab, but its' properties, chemical, optic and physical, are identical to that of a plainly occurring Opal.
Simulated Opal: is also created in a Lab, and is optically identical to natural Opal, but does not have the same physical and chemical characteristics.
One of the biggest distinctions, and branch of turn over for classification, is what is used in place of water in the Lab Created Opals. The inventor of the artificial Opal, Pierre Gilson Sr., uses pure silica to fill the gaps in the middle of the Opal spheres. Thus creating a goods that is 100% Opal. Other manufacturers use a polymer-resin (epoxy glue), with only 70-90% of the stone being pure silica. Thus the question: do they qualify as artificial or simulated Opal?
Whatever You decide, All varieties are quite beautiful! The simulated/synthetics are much hardier than their plainly occurring cousins, not so branch to climatic characteristic change, drying out, cracking or crazing. They can be, however, as expensive as the natural Opal, due to the long growing process (up to 2 years!). So, unless you are buying for speculation purposes, find the stone you Love, and don't worry too much about the How (or Who) of its' creation. Enjoy it plainly for the satisfaction it brings!
Opal - Natural Vs Lab
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