Discover BIRON® Gems
Lab Grown Opal : Colourful & Iridescent
The Opal
Photo Credit: Broken River Mining
The opal is one of the most unique gemstones of them all with a distinctly colourful and iridescent shine. In Indian mythology, the Goddess of the Rainbow was turned into an opal, and Arabic legends say opals fall from the heavens in flashes of lightning. With deeply mystical ties, cultures all over the world have cherished this kaleidoscopic stone for its symbolism of hope, innocence, and purity.
But, as you well know, getting your hands on a high-quality precious opal is difficult.
Natural precious opals — the opals with the most colourful and iridescent qualities — are incredibly rare and hard to come by. But, the lab-grown market is also just as difficult to navigate, with resellers and manufacturers flooding the market with ordinary opals and opals that vary in grade, quality and price.
If you get stuck with lab-grown opal that doesn’t have the right clarity, hues and play-of-colour, you can’t bring your designs to life. Worse, poor-quality stones can completely discredit the reputation you worked so hard to build.
So if you want reliable access to top-quality opals and to lead the market with luxury, sustainable jewellery, you’re going to want to learn about how BIRON®’s lab-grown stones can transform your business.
The GILSON® Difference
Photo Credit: Inter-pacific
Upon first glance at a GILSON® lab-grown opal, all you will notice is its incredible play-of-colour.
But behind that gem is a laboratory that uses silica to replicate the exact same chemical composition of a natural opal with extra hardness.
Your current customers will love gaining access to such high-quality, sustainable opals.
And you can now attract new customers who increasingly value ethically sourced and sustainable stones.
Available in an extraordinary range of colours, our rainbow precious opals will impress your customers.
Backed by 35-years of experience in gemstones sourcing, we are trusted by clients all over the world for both our gemstone and business integrity — inspecting each and every stone before delivery so that you can stay true to your art and fulfil your orders.
Make Your Jewels Stand Out
Photo Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald
With its unique play-of-colour, the opal makes some of the best statement piece jewellery. One of the world’s most famous examples of such is “The Queen’s Opal”, given to Queen Elizabeth by the Australians during her Coronation tour.
Weighing an incredible 203-carats, the opal was set in an ornate, 18k palladium necklace with diamonds. Suffice to say, this necklace makes quite the statement with or without the adornments. Just imagine the bold, beautiful designs you could create yourself.
Need some more inspiration?
The opal is the birthstone for the month of October, and is also given as a 14th wedding anniversary present. It goes well with brilliant white diamonds.
Partnering with GILSON®, you can now secure the premium, lab-grown gems that your new, discerning and eco-conscious customer craves for every occasion.
Get in touch with our specialists today to learn more about how GILSON® can transform your business.
The More Popular Lab-Grown Opal Cuts
Testimonials
I was in awe!
The cut, colour, clarity and brilliance … are no different than the pricier ones at the fine jewellery boutiques at ifc mall.
GILSON® Lab Created Opal: A Symphony of Colour & Iridescence
Discover the unparalleled brilliance of BIRON®’s lab created opals, crafted using the revolutionary GILSON® method. With over 58 dazzling colours to choose from, our opals offer a kaleidoscope of possibilities for jewellery designers and enthusiasts.
Product Overview
Opal has long been cherished for its mystical allure, captivating jewellers and designers with its unique play of light. However, sourcing high-quality natural opal presents significant challenges. Inconsistencies in colour, fragility due to high water content, and the unpredictable nature of mining create hurdles for the fine jewellery industry. BIRON® offers a solution with our lab-grown opals, engineered for perfection. Our gemstones provide consistent quality, vibrant colour, and structural integrity, ensuring a reliable supply free from ethical concerns and supply chain disruptions.
Opal mine cave diving. Photo Credit: Martin Steimska
Key Benefits
Photo credit: BBC SCIENCE FOCUS MAGAZINE
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Structural Integrity: Natural opals, containing up to 21% water, are susceptible to temperature changes and impact. Our water-free opals ensure long-term stability.Composed of hydrated silica, our lab-grown opal surpasses its natural counterpart in durability and heat resistance (up to 800°C), with a Mohs hardness of 5.5. This provides designers with greater flexibility in setting and ensures long-term wear.
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Ethical Sourcing: Provide your clients with an eco-conscious choice. Our opals are 100% conflict-free and produced with minimal environmental impact.
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Supply Certainty: Avoid the unpredictable pricing and scarcity of the natural opal market. Our consistent, reliable supply allows you to plan inventory and production with confidence.
Features
The GILSON® Difference
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Our lab created opals stand out due to the renowned GILSON® process. This meticulous three-step method involves precipitating microscopic spheres of high-purity silica, followed by dehydration and a curing process lasting over a year. The final step impregnates the structure with silica, resulting in a gem with the same chemical composition as natural opal but with zero water content. This innovation yields a more durable opal, resistant to cracking and crazing, and capable of withstanding higher temperatures during jewellery setting.
Unleashing Creative Freedom
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Imagine a palette of over 14 consistent, vibrant opal colours at your disposal. The GILSON® process makes this dream a reality, unlocking unparalleled creative freedom for designers and brands. Perfect colour matching allows for exquisite pairs of lab created opal earrings and perfectly graduated strands for lab created opal necklaces. The enhanced durability permits intricate cuts and settings, pushing the boundaries of design and creating signature pieces that are both beautiful and enduring.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
Why Choose GILSON® Lab Created Opal
Photo Credit: Inter-Pacific
Natural opals, despite their beauty, present significant challenges for jewellery designers and manufacturers due to their fragility, inconsistent quality, and ethical sourcing concerns. BIRON®’s lab created opals directly address these pain points. By offering a gem with superior structural integrity and consistent coloration, we eliminate the risks associated with natural opal, providing a reliable and high-quality material for your creations.Our lab created opals are engineered for durability, making them perfectly suited for everyday wear and intricate designs. This allows your customers to enjoy the captivating beauty of opal without concerns about damage, seamlessly integrating into their active lifestyles. Furthermore, our ethical sourcing ensures that choosing GILSON® aligns with a sustainable and responsible approach to fine jewellery.
FAQs
What are the main differences between lab created and natural opal?
The primary differences lie in composition and stability. While chemically identical, our lab-created opals are water-free, making them stronger and less prone to cracking. They offer perfect colour consistency and are ethically produced, providing a sustainable alternative.
Can lab created opals be used for intricate jewellery?
Absolutely. Their enhanced durability and resilience make them ideal for intricate designs. The wide range of consistent colours is perfect for creating perfectly matched lab created opal earrings and other coordinated pieces.
Why choose GILSON® created opals?
The GILSON® method is a year-long process that perfectly replicates opal’s natural structure without its flaws. The result is a gem with superior hardness, zero water content, and a more vibrant, consistent play-of-colour than other lab-grown or natural options.
Contact Us
How can we help you?
Whether you wish to create your first ethical and sustainable jewellery brand or enrich your current collections, we are here to help.
