FAQ’s
Common Questions
What is Aurora Opal?
Aurora Opal is a synthetic opal composed of approximately 80% resin and 20% silica. It is mold formed in 110x110x40mm blocks.
How can I work with Aurora Opal?
Aurora Opal can be cut with carbide tools of all sorts, it can be turned on wood lathes and can also be worked using lapidary equipment. These opals have a pencil hardness of 3-5H.
Why do these opals look so different from other synthetic opals?
Our other lab grown opals are formed through a sedimentation process that yields a column orientation of the opal fire. Aurora opals have a non-direction pattern because our curing process does not allow for a specific orientation of the silica spheres.
Do you offer wholesale pricing?
Yes! We are interested in partnering with retailers and are happy to offer discounts on larger order. Please reach out to [email protected]
Can I pay using a check or other payment platform?
In most cases. When paying with a check we will send out your order once the check has cleared. We can also accept payment via Zelle or Venmo. Please reach out to [email protected].
Is lab-grown opal structurally identical to mined opal?
Synthetic opal has a similar silica composition to geological opal and produces play-of-color through Bragg Diffraction physics. The distinction: our material incorporates a polymer stabilizer in place of the water content found in natural specimens—eliminating the primary failure mechanism.
How do professionals distinguish synthetic from natural?
Under 10x magnification, synthetic opal exhibits a characteristic columnar structure—sometimes called “lizard skin”—resulting from the controlled growth process. Natural opal displays more irregular internal architecture. To the naked eye, high-grade synthetic is virtually indistinguishable from premium natural material.
What is the failure rate compared to mined material?
Natural opal’s 5-10% water content makes it vulnerable to dehydration crazing, thermal shock fracturing, and impact failure. Lab-grown opal contains zero water. The polymer matrix permanently stabilizes the silica structure. Material produced today will maintain identical optical and structural properties decades from now.
What are the machining considerations?
Lab-grown opal machines predictably. Standard lapidary equipment, diamond tooling for cutting and drilling, standard polishing compounds. No special humidity storage required. No temperature acclimation period. The material behaves consistently across batches—critical for production workflows.
How does pricing compare to premium natural opal?
High-grade Australian black opal commands $500-1000+ per carat with significant quality variance. Our blocks deliver consistent, vibrant play-of-color at a fraction of that cost. You pay for performance and reliability rather than geological scarcity.
What is the environmental differential?
Traditional opal extraction involves open-pit excavation, aquifer depletion, diesel-powered heavy machinery, and tons of waste rock per carat recovered. Controlled synthesis eliminates habitat destruction, reduces water consumption by orders of magnitude, and produces zero mining waste. Same optical properties. Drastically reduced footprint.