Lab-Grown Opal

Mineral: Opal | Hardness: 5-6.5 | Birthstone Month: October | Anniversary: 14th

Chatham grows opal through a slow sedimentation process, making it one of the most challenging gemstones to grow. Rather than using heat and pressure to grow other gemstone varieties, Chatham uses a form of colloidal chemistry to grow opals instead. The process takes about 24 months, making it the longest growth period of any other gem.

Chatham lab-grown opal displays the same vibrant play-of-color characteristic of mined opals, exhibiting a spectrum of colors that includes flashes of red, green, blue, yellow and orange. The colors shift and change as the stone is viewed from different angles, giving these opals a dynamic and captivating look.

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SHOP LOOSE LAB-GROWN OPAL

Chatham’s loose stone category is exclusively wholesale. We will gladly connect you with one of our Authorized Gemstone Retailers through our Concierge Service, or you can visit our Store Locator for a retailer near you. For a truly customized Chatham experience, book a virtual appointment with one of our expert team members, to ensure we fulfill your expectations.

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Chatham's Quality Standard

Color

Chatham lab-grown opal ranges from transparent to opaque, in white, crystal, and black opal. Known for their vivid color play and high degree of translucency, flashes of red, blue, orange and green enhance its overall brilliance and beauty.

Clarity

Opals are unlike other transparent stones. Opal's play-of-color is created by internal diffraction: tiny silica spheres and grids that break up light into spectral colors.

Cut

Each lab-grown gemstone is carefully hand-cut and rigorously inspected before reaching your hands.

Chatham lab-grown white and black opals are most commonly cut in a cabochon—flat bottom with a dome top—to maximize color play. But, Chatham lab grown crystal opals are mesmerizing faceted!

Shapes

Chatham offers lab-grown opals in a range of popular shapes cut to calibrated sizes. We are also able to accommodate custom cut orders in any size and shape, within reason.

Chatham lab-grown opals are most commonly preferred in cabochon rounds, ovals and pears.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OPAL?

Visit our Opals blog to learn more about what makes opals so desirable.

CHATHAM LAB-GROWN GEMSTONES

Chatham grows a kaleidoscope of gemstones. For a closer look, click each lab-grown stone to learn more about it’s beauty, quality and color possibilities.

OPENING A WHOLESALE ACCOUNT

Chatham is the exclusive distributor of Chatham lab grown gemstones. If you are a retailer interested in creating an account, please click here to complete our form. Someone will be in touch shortly with your account details.

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