Cultured Opal: What is it and how is it made?

What Is Cultured Opal?

Cultured opal, sometimes called lab-grown opal, is created in laboratories using advanced techniques that replicate the structure responsible for the spectacular play of colour found in natural opal and mimic the geological conditions that form the natural stone over time. So, rather than being mined from the earth, cultured opal is carefully cultivated in controlled environments, allowing the gemstone to develop its characteristic flashes of iridescent colour.

Why Do We Use Cultured Opal in Our Jewellery Collections?

Used in both our Flinder and Marina collections, cultured opal maintains the mesmerising play of colour that makes natural opal so striking while offering greater consistency, durability, and design versatility. Every piece is carefully handcrafted and set in sterling silver.

The Marina Collection: Kyocera Cultured Opal

Our Marina Collection features Japanese Kyocera cultured opal, an innovative polymer-impregnated synthetic opal that closely mirrors the properties of natural opal. Unlike many imitation materials, it contains a high percentage of silica; at least 80%, combined with approximately 20% polymer. This unique composition creates a gemstone with remarkable colour vibrancy and durability.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Kyocera opal is its cultivation process. It takes approximately one year to grow in a laboratory, during which the material develops a distinctive vertical growth pattern that contributes to its exceptional play of colour.

Minimalists and those looking to add a sophisticated pop of colour to their jewellery collection will love the Marina Collection. The ring and matching cuff feature marquise-shaped turquoise cultured opals, bezel-set within sterling silver. Vibrant blue tones shimmer with iridescent flashes as they catch the light, while the open-band design creates a sleek, contemporary silhouette.

The Flinder Collection: Inspired by Butterfly Wings

Our Flinder Collection is made using Astral Opal, an advanced cultured opal engineered to recreate the dramatic flashes of colour found in natural opal. It is created using a precise face-centred cubic (FCC) lattice structure. Over several months, microscopic silica spheres self-assemble into perfectly aligned vertical columns. Once polymerised, this highly ordered crystalline grid produces the same Bragg Diffraction effect found in natural opal.

This remarkable optical effect is what makes the Flinder Collection so visually captivating, creating iridescent flashes that resemble butterfly wings in motion.

Each piece of Astral Opal is hand-cut by our artisans and carefully set into specially coloured resin. While the opal itself provides the characteristic flashes of light and colour, the resin backdrop enhances and influences the overall hue of the finished piece. This technique allows us to create a wider palette of colours than would typically be possible with natural opal, including Emerald, Turquoise, Lavender, White, Blue and Green, while retaining the opal's signature iridescence.

The versatility of cultured opal allows our skilled artisan partners in Mexico to create everything from bold statement jewellery, such as our Flinder Larisa range, to delicate everyday pieces, like the Flinder Dotty range. We have been working with these artisans since 1992, collaborating to develop contemporary designs that combine traditional craftsmanship with innovative materials.

From rich emerald tones perfect for evening glamour, to vibrant turquoise shades that evoke summer skies, and soft lavender hues that add a playful pop of colour, there is a Flinder piece for every style and occasion. If you're looking for jewellery that sparks conversation and stands out from the crowd, explore the collection and discover the unique beauty of cultured opal.