Cheshire Crushed Opal

About Our Crushed Opal

Our Crushed Opal is a high-quality, lab-created material composed of silica and polymer. The polymer stabilizes the opal, making it significantly more durable and far less prone to cracking or crazing. These are common issues in natural opals that often make them unsuitable for everyday wear, especially in jewelry that sees regular use.

Natural opal is beautiful but fragile, and many jewelers advise against wearing it daily. Our synthetic opal solves that problem. It retains the vibrant look of natural opal while offering the strength and stability needed for long-term, daily use.

Thanks to its slightly softer composition, our synthetic opal is also easier to work with. It is ideal for turning, cabbing, inlay, and other artistic applications. It resists fading over time and holds up well against common chemicals such as acetone and alcohol.

How Our Synthetic Opal Is Made

Our synthetic opal takes approximately one year to grow in a highly controlled environment. During this slow and meticulous process, uniform silica spheres self-assemble into a highly ordered lattice through sedimentation. This internal structure is what gives opal its signature play-of-color.

Once the opal structure is fully formed, it is carefully dried using controlled conditions that preserve the integrity of the silica lattice. After drying, the porous material is impregnated with a polymer resin under vacuum. This stabilizes the opal’s structure, enhances its optical brilliance, and transforms it into a vibrant, gem-quality synthetic opal.

After the opal has fully formed, it is cut into rough stones, then crushed and sifted into four optimized sizes:

• LARGE: 2 to 3mm pieces

• MEDIUM: 1 to 2mm pieces

• FINE: 0.3 to 0.5mm pieces

• POWDER: Ultra-fine particles

How Lab-Created Crushed Opal Performs

Our product photos show Crushed Opal in its "wet" state, which is how it will appear once a binding medium such as adhesive, resin, or nail polish is applied. This is when the opal’s full vibrancy and depth of color are revealed, especially under natural lighting.

Please note:

• Due to the crushing process, some pieces may appear less colorful when dry. (Incorporating the opal into your project will show its full potential)

• Fine and Powder sizes may look lighter in their dry form but become much more vibrant when used.

• Color appearance may vary slightly depending on your screen settings.

Crushed Opal Heat Resistance

Our Crushed Opal can tolerate heat up to 266°F (130°C). Use caution when applying heat, especially with tools like torches or soldering irons, and proceed at your own risk. This product is NOT compatible with borosilicate glass.

Processing Times & Shipping Offers: 

• Processing Times: 1-3 Business Days *Unless otherwise specified
• US orders over $50 are eligible for Free Ground Shipping via USPS (estimated 3-5 business days)