Gem of an idea: Synthetic opals' colors never fade. These Cambridge University. May 30, 2013, 1:18 PM EDT. By Science. By Jillian Scharr. TechNewsDaily . Opals have a unique property: ...

Opal miners in South Australia's north say the sale of synthetic opals is crippling the industry. Opal miner James Mougris says cheap synthetic opals are keeping the price of genuine stones down.

Nature News reports that British and Canadian chemists have developed synthetic opals that can very quickly switch between various colors when a few volts of electricity are applied to them. The ...

A synthetic material that mimics the qualities of an iridescent opal may have wide-reaching technological applications, its creators say. With the application of an electric current the material can ...

By layering tiny nanospheres onto stretchy fabric, scientists have created a material that changes color when stretched. Called "polymer opal" by the team, the material mimics the multicolored ...

HIGHLAND PARK, N.J., Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --The Fusing Shop unveils its breathtaking Borosilicate Galaxy Marble with Radiant Synthetic Opal, a captivating new addition for collectors and art ...

Opal industry groups say high-quality synthetic opals are threatening to undermine the industry. Fake opals are allowed to be sold in Australia as long as they are clearly identified as synthetic.

Opals have a unique property: Their color comes not from pigment, but from their internal molecular structure, which is organized in such a way that it reflects certain wavelengths of light.