Knowledge of opal types can be hard to obtain without a trained eye, certain patterns and ‘tells’ can often be overlooked. That’s why it is so disheartening when online stores sell synthetic ‘fake’ opal. Unfortunately, many individuals will not think of authenticity when looking at opal jewellery to purchase, as there is already a gathered trust that what they are buying is ‘genuine’.
Opals currently make the best gifts; opal rings and jewellery are simple and easy to get for that special someone and can be bought for both men and women alike. Opals can be acquired at reasonable prices and add depth and elegance to any jewellery collection. By educating yourself before buying an opal, you can avoid being unfairly charged exorbitant amounts and shop without the anxiety of a deal-gone-wrong.
Currently, the only way to ultimately tell if an opal is synthetic is through visual ques. Luckily, all the sure-fire ‘tells’ are pretty distinct, if you know what to look for.
What Exactly Is A ‘Fake Opal’?
There’s nothing wrong with a lab-created opal. In fact, some of them are employed to create amazing works of art. Manufactured opals are also frequently less expensive, making it simpler for more people to include opals in their jewellery collections. The issue arises when unethical businesses seek to market and sell these opals as natural.
A ‘fake’ opal (also known as a synthetic, or man-made opal) are stones that have been created with the same properties as an opal, just under the conditions of a lab and human intervention, rather than the rare phenomenon that opal is known for. This concept of ‘imitation opal’ is not new, and although upon first glance they can be deceiving, their chemical compact contains minerals that cannot be found in natural opal, meaning the synthetic gem must be cared for differently in comparison to its natural counterpart.
Currently the only ways to determine an opals authenticity when shopping are strictly visible. The main ‘catch’ is what gemologists refer to as a ‘columnar structure’, or ‘snake skin’ pattern. If you are able to hold the opal, turning it on its side could reveal straight columns of colour that run vertically; if these are present in the stone, then it is a fake opal. Synthetic opals also will emit a green colour when examined under a UV light, which is the reason why jewellers will often carry a UV torch to test if the stone ‘fluoresces’. If there is nothing, then it is a natural stone.
By educating yourself before purchasing opal, potential fraud can be avoided. To help you be a more informed and confident customer, we’ve put up a list of some more simple techniques to recognise whether an opal is real or not.
1. The Opal Pattern
One of the simplest ways to discover an opal’s origins is to look at the stone’s pattern. When looked at (either under magnification or with the naked eye), you can observe that synthetic opals have a regular colour pattern. Natural stones are random and do not have an even spread of colour’ flashes’. If the stone is exhibiting structural patterns, then it is likely to be fake.
2. Country of Origin
Most opals are mined from Australia, the ‘opal capital of the world’. Although opal can be mined from other places, Russia and Hong Kong have become notorious in recent years for producing high-quality fake opals that some sellers may try to pass off as the real thing.
3. Symmetry
No opal will contain a perfect split. If the opal is natural then even cutting and polishing the stone, it may not be entirely symmetrical.
4. Colours on the Surface
One of the most appealing aspects of opals is the uniqueness of their colour and look, which give them an added depth and character as no two natural opals are the same. Natural opals are layered, akin to a ‘sea of colour’. If the stone you are inspecting is very ‘shallow’, or only appears to have colour on the top layer, then you should proceed with caution.
5. Price
Opals are incredibly versatile, however, a $20 price tag (as is often seen on online jewellery stores) should create a healthy amount of suspicion. The deal may be real, but the chances are the opal is not.
Source Your Opal from a Reputable Opal Jeweller
From opals rings to opal necklaces, working with a respected provider is one of the greatest ways to assure you obtain a genuine opal. Both jewellers and gemstone merchants should be prepared to guarantee their work and provide third-party authentication of their opals.
No matter if you’re seeking gold opal rings or men’s opal rings, synthetic opal gemstones may be stunning, with dynamic, crystal clear light and colour plays. Both jewellers and gemstone merchants should be prepared to guarantee their work and provide third-party authentication of their opals.
Manufactured opals can provide access to exquisite jewellery styles and appearances at a budget-friendly price because they are so inexpensively priced. However, if you’re paying genuine opal costs, make sure you’re getting a genuine opal.
