Lab Grown Opal Jewelry: Rings, Necklaces and Earrings
No two opals are ever quite the same. The stone flashes green, blue, orange and pink as it moves, an effect called play of colour that no other gemstone reproduces. That makes opal the most personal stone we set, and the one customers most often describe as alive. The Gem Noir opal collection includes solitaire and halo rings, pendant necklaces that catch light as you walk, and stud and drop earrings, every piece made to order in your chosen metal and gemstone size.
What Makes Opal Special
Opal is hydrated silica, built from microscopic spheres packed in a regular grid. Light entering the stone is diffracted by that structure, splitting into spectral colours, which is why opal flashes rather than simply reflects. The effect depends on the size and order of the spheres, so every stone has its own pattern. Our lab grown opal reproduces this internal structure under controlled conditions, giving a vivid, consistent play of colour that mined material only sometimes achieves. Opal sits at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is softer than most gems, so protective settings and sensible wear matter more here than with sapphire or moissanite.
Opal: The October Birthstone
Opal is the birthstone for October, sharing the month with pink tourmaline, and it is the gemstone given for a fourteenth wedding anniversary. It is associated with Libra and Scorpio, and across cultures with imagination, creativity and hope. The Romans regarded it as the luckiest of stones because it contained the colours of all the others. An opal pendant makes a memorable October birthday gift, and because each stone is different, it feels chosen rather than bought. Opal engagement rings have also returned to fashion for people who want something that is not a white stone.
Opal Rings, Necklaces and Earrings
Opal is usually cut as a smooth dome, a cabochon, because that shape shows play of colour better than faceting. Oval and round cabochons dominate the collection, with pear and heart shapes popular in pendants. Bezel and halo settings are the practical choices for rings, since a rim of metal or a frame of accent diamonds protects the edges of a softer stone. Pendants and earrings are gentler environments than rings, so if you want opal you will wear constantly, a necklace is the sensible starting point. Diamond accents add contrast that makes the flashes of colour read more strongly.
Metals, Sizes and Made to Order Craft
Choose from Platinum 950, 14K white gold, 14K yellow gold, 14K rose gold or 925 sterling silver. White metals let the colours inside the stone do all the work, which is why platinum and white gold are the usual choices. Yellow gold picks up the warm oranges and reds in the play of colour, and rose gold flatters stones with more pink. Ring sizes are made to order, stone sizes are listed on each product page, and every piece is crafted after you order.
Caring for Your Opal Jewelry
Opal needs the most care of any stone in our range. It contains water, so avoid extreme heat, very dry environments and sudden temperature changes, which can cause crazing. Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners. Clean with a soft damp cloth and mild soap only. Remove rings before washing up, swimming, cleaning or sport, and store opal separately from harder gems in a pouch. Treated kindly, an opal keeps its fire indefinitely.
Why Shop Opal at Gem Noir
Lab grown opal gives you the vivid play of colour of fine Australian material without the price or the fragility of heavily included natural stones. Every piece is made to order, shipped free and insured within the US, with free first resizing inside thirty days and thirty day returns.
