What is Gilson Opal?

Gilson Opal is the 1st synthetic opal which has been successfully produced.

In 1972, Mr Pierre Gilson succeeded in synthesizing opals, and two years after in 1974 Pierre Gilson started to sell this man-made opal to the public as Gilson Synthetic Opal.

Gilson Synthetic Opal is chemically identical to natural opal.
Its play of color is very clear and beautiful. If you cut Gilson synthetic opal according to the vertical angle of color pattern growth direction and polish them, you can observe the typical honeycomb structure, which is called ‘lizard skin’ under the optical microscope. This is the distinctive feature of synthetic opals from the naturally occurring opals.

In 1980, Mr Pierre Gilson sold his technology of synthetic opals to other companies.But then, these companies both stopped manufacturing Gilson Opal.
Nowadays, you may still be able to buy Gilson Opal stock from some synthetic opal seller. Gilson Opal has become a name which is commonly used by marketers to describe lab-grown opal which is chemically identical to natural opal. Others may also call this kind of opal as lab-grown opal, lab-created opal, lab-made opal, created opal, resin free created opal.

If you would like to know the created opal which you have purchased to be either “Produced by Mr Pierre Gilson” or not
You may simply ask supplier about the origins. Since time pass, Gilson Opal stock will be definitely sold out.

Bello Galaxy Opal is a good alternative to Gilson Opal as they are in same chemical elements and characteristics and showcases same beauty of natural precious opal.