The most important thing to know when buying opal jewelry is that “opal” can describe natural opal or laboratory-grown material, while other products may only imitate an opal-like appearance. These categories should not be treated as interchangeable.
Natural opal is hydrated silica formed through geological processes. GIA identifies its chemistry as SiO₂·nH₂O and explains that precious opal’s famous play-of-color results from light interacting with regularly arranged microscopic silica spheres. Lab-created, or synthetic, opal is produced rather than mined, but properly identified synthetic counterparts can have essentially the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as their natural gemstone counterpart. An imitation, by contrast, merely reproduces the appearance and can be made from a different material.
That distinction is especially relevant when shopping Chainstones. The current Chainstones Lab-Created Opal Ring clearly identifies its center stone in the specifications as Lab-Created Opal (Synthetic) rather than natural opal.
Here is what those terms mean and what to compare before buying.
What Is Natural Opal?
Natural opal is a hydrated silica gem material.
Unlike gemstones with a regular crystal structure, opal consists of silica spheres. In precious opal, the arrangement of those spheres can diffract visible light and separate it into spectral colors.
That optical effect is called play-of-color.
GIA describes natural opal as having a Mohs hardness of approximately 5 to 6.5 and notes that it can contain up to about 20% water within its silica structure.
Natural opal can occur in many appearances. Major categories include white opal, black opal, crystal opal, water opal, boulder opal, and fire opal. Importantly, not every natural opal displays play-of-color. GIA distinguishes precious opal, which shows play-of-color, from common opal, which does not.
So “natural opal” does not automatically mean “rainbow flashes everywhere.”
What Does Play-of-Color Mean?
Play-of-color is one of the most important opal terms to understand.
It describes flashes or patches of spectral color that become visible as the gemstone, viewer, or light source moves.
You may see:
- Blue
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Violet
- Several colors together
The effect is not simply colored pigment inside the stone.
In precious opal, light diffracts through the ordered microscopic silica structure, producing different visible wavelengths. The size and arrangement of the silica spheres influence which colors appear.
That is also why one photograph cannot fully communicate an opal’s appearance.
When shopping online, several photographs—or video when available—are much more useful than one heavily lit close-up.
Natural vs. Lab-Created Opal: What Is the Difference?
The principal difference is origin.
Natural Opal
Natural opal forms through geological processes.
Its appearance, transparency, background color, pattern, inclusions, and play-of-color can vary substantially from one piece to another.
Lab-Created Opal
Lab-created or synthetic opal is manufactured under controlled conditions rather than mined.
GIA explains that synthetic counterparts of gemstones can have essentially the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as the natural material. That is different from an imitation, which only resembles the gemstone visually.
However, buyers should not assume that every material marketed loosely as “lab opal” has the same composition or construction.
The safest approach is to use the exact disclosure provided for the specific jewelry.
For example, Chainstones identifies its current ring as Lab-Created Opal (Synthetic). The product also uses white cubic zirconia accents and white-gold-plated 925 sterling silver, with US sizes 6, 7, and 8 currently shown on the page.
Is Lab-Created Opal Fake?
“Fake” is not a useful gemological description.
The better question is:
Is it natural, synthetic/lab-created, or an imitation?
A synthetic gemstone is laboratory-produced material corresponding to a natural gemstone.
An imitation only copies the appearance and may have completely different composition and properties.
That is why precise product labeling matters.
If a piece contains synthetic opal, it should be sold as lab-created or synthetic opal—not simply described in a way that leads buyers to assume it was mined.
Chainstones’ current Opal ring makes that distinction in its specifications.
What Should You Look for When Buying Natural Opal?
Natural opal requires a different evaluation from many transparent faceted gemstones.
GIA identifies three major aspects of opal quality:
Color — including background color and play-of-color.
Pattern — how the play-of-color is arranged.
Clarity — transparency and the presence of inclusions or other characteristics.
Cut also matters because the cutter tries to preserve and display the strongest color.
Look at the play-of-color from several angles
A natural opal may emphasize different colors when rotated.
One angle might show mostly blue and green while another reveals orange or red.
Look at the background color
Opal can have white, dark, transparent, translucent, orange, red, and other backgrounds.
Background color and play-of-color are separate characteristics.
Look at the pattern
Some opals show small pinpoints of color; others display broader patches, bands, or more complex patterns.
There is no requirement that every buyer prefer the same pattern.
GIA specifically notes that individual opals vary widely and that choosing a pattern is partly a matter of personal preference.
What Should You Check When Buying Lab-Created Opal Jewelry?
With lab-created material, concentrate on accurate disclosure and the complete jewelry construction.
1. Confirm the material
Look for wording such as:
Lab-Created Opal
or
Synthetic Opal
Do not infer natural origin from the word “opal” alone.
2. Check the setting metal
The current Chainstones Opal ring uses white-gold-plated 925 sterling silver.
Plated sterling silver and solid white gold are not the same material, so the complete description matters.
3. Identify accent stones separately
The Opal ring uses white cubic zirconia accents.
Those accents should not be confused with diamonds simply because they appear clear and sparkling in photographs.
4. Check actual sizing
Rings require correct finger sizing.
The current Chainstones design lists US sizes 6, 7, and 8.
5. Review several images
The live Opal ring gallery currently contains five images. Use different views to examine the setting, proportions, band, and multicolor appearance rather than making a decision from the hero image alone.
What About Blue Opal Jewelry?
Color names deserve special attention.
Chainstones also carries a Blue Opal Starfish Necklace whose current specifications identify lab-created Blue Opal arranged as geometric mosaic inlay inside a sterling silver starfish pendant. The pendant measures approximately 35 × 25mm.
This is a very different jewelry construction from the Opal ring.
The ring uses one multicolor synthetic Opal focal stone surrounded by CZ.
The starfish uses multiple pieces of blue lab-created Opal as decorative inlay.
Chainstones also carries a Blue Opal Sea Turtle Necklace with a mosaic-inlay shell design.
These examples show why “opal jewelry” is too broad a description to tell you what a piece will actually look like.
Check material + color + construction + setting.
Is Fire Opal the Same as Play-of-Color Opal?
Not necessarily.
This is one of the most common terminology problems in opal shopping.
GIA defines fire opal primarily by its transparent-to-translucent yellow, orange, or red bodycolor. A fire opal may display play-of-color, but it does not have to.
Meanwhile, the word fire is sometimes used casually in jewelry marketing to describe colorful flashes or sparkle.
Those uses are not equivalent.
If you are buying an actual fire opal, the material should be identified specifically rather than inferred from phrases such as “multicolor fire” or “fiery sparkle.”
Natural Opal vs. Lab-Created Opal: Which Should You Choose?
Neither category is automatically the right choice for everyone.
Choose based on what matters to you.
Consider natural opal if:
You specifically want naturally formed gemstone material.
You appreciate individual variation.
You enjoy evaluating play-of-color, pattern, transparency, and natural appearance.
Consider lab-created opal if:
You like an opal-style multicolor appearance and the listing clearly identifies the material as synthetic.
You prefer a more controlled or repeatable design appearance.
You are choosing primarily by jewelry design rather than natural gemstone origin.
The key is disclosure.
A buyer should know which category is being purchased before comparing price or appearance.
How Should Opal Jewelry Be Cared For?
For natural opal, GIA recommends warm soapy water for cleaning and advises against exposing the gemstone to extreme heat, dryness, or intense light. Opal is suitable for jewelry but requires care to avoid scratching or breaking.
Natural opal’s Mohs hardness of approximately 5 to 6.5 also means it can be scratched by harder jewelry materials.
For routine care:
- Avoid hard impacts.
- Keep opal jewelry away from harsh household chemicals.
- Avoid abrasive cleaning materials.
- Store it separately from harder jewelry.
- Use warm, mild soapy water for natural opal when cleaning is needed.
- Avoid extreme heat and prolonged very dry conditions.
For lab-created opal, follow the care instructions for the specific material and jewelry construction. Do not automatically assume that every synthetic opal has exactly the same durability, water response, or treatment tolerance.
That distinction is especially important because laboratory-grown materials can differ by manufacturing process.
Five Practical FAQs
Is lab-created opal real opal?
Properly identified synthetic opal is laboratory-grown material designed to correspond to natural opal rather than simply imitate its appearance. Always check whether a seller identifies the material as natural, synthetic/lab-created, or imitation.
What causes the rainbow colors in natural opal?
In precious opal, microscopic silica spheres arranged in an ordered structure diffract light into spectral colors, producing play-of-color.
Does every natural opal show play-of-color?
No. Precious opal displays play-of-color; common opal does not.
Is fire opal always rainbow-colored?
No. Fire opal is defined mainly by its yellow-to-orange or red bodycolor and may or may not show play-of-color.
Is the Chainstones Opal ring natural?
No. The live product specifications explicitly identify the center as Lab-Created Opal (Synthetic). It is set with white CZ accents in white-gold-plated 925 sterling silver.
Choose Opal Jewelry by Material First, Appearance Second
The best way to shop for opal is to identify the material before judging the color.
Ask whether the opal is natural, lab-created/synthetic, or imitation. Then consider play-of-color, background color, pattern, construction, metal, accent stones, dimensions, and how the piece will actually be worn.
For natural opal, individual variation is part of the gemstone’s character. For lab-created opal, clear disclosure is essential so you know exactly what you are purchasing.
Explore the Chainstones Sterling Silver Rings Collection to compare the current lab-created Opal design with Rainbow Moonstone, lab-created Blue Zultanite, white CZ, green CZ, and other sterling silver ring styles. The collection currently contains seven designs.
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Explore Opal and Sterling Silver Jewelry at Chainstones
Start with material identity, then choose the design that fits your style. Compare the current Lab-Created Opal Ring with Chainstones’ broader New Arrivals Collection and Sterling Silver Rings collection to explore different gemstone colors, settings, and silhouettes.