Sanwa Asia 博客
Gilson Opal is the world's first synthetic opal — created by Pierre Gilson in 1972. Learn its history, characteristics, and why Galaxy Opal is the modern alternative.
Gilson Opal is the first synthetic opal to have been successfully produced. Its story is the story of how modern lab-grown opal began.
The birth of Gilson Opal
In 1972, Mr. Pierre Gilson succeeded in synthesizing opals. Two years later, in 1974, he released Gilson Opal to the market. Gilson synthetic opal is chemically identical to natural opal — composed of silica and a small amount of water, with no resin content.
Characteristics of Gilson Opal
Its play-of-color is very clear and beautiful. When cut along the vertical fire pattern, the color shows uniformly and vividly. Gilson Opal is resin-free, making it glass compatible and chemically resistant — qualities prized by jewelry designers and glass artists alike.
The end of Gilson Opal production
In 1980, Pierre Gilson sold his synthetic opal technology to other companies. Those companies did not continue producing the material, and Gilson Opal production stopped. Today, remaining stock can still occasionally be bought from some synthetic opal sellers, but genuine Gilson Opal is becoming increasingly rare.
How to verify authentic Gilson Opal
If you would like to confirm whether a synthetic opal you have purchased is "produced by Mr. Pierre Gilson" or by another company, you may simply ask your supplier about its origin. Provenance matters — both for value and for confidence in quality.
The modern alternative: Bello Galaxy Opal
Bello Galaxy Opal is a strong alternative to Gilson Opal — it shares the same chemical composition (silica and water, resin-free) and the same key characteristics (glass compatibility, chemical resistance, vertical fire). For designers seeking the Gilson experience with reliable modern supply, Galaxy Opal is the natural successor.
