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Fake vs Real Opal
Are you sure your Opal is real? Is it a fake being passed off as the real deal? Is it a synthetic mimic? Are you confusing it with another stone? Let's learn to pick out genuine Opals for your collection.
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What is Opal?
Opal is a hydrated silica stone that comes in a range of colors, from precious to common.
Becoming familiar with the real thing will help you weed out the fakes. To learn in-depth, visit Opal Meaning.
How can you tell if your Opal is real?
The best way to determine if your Opal is real or fake is to purchase it from a reputable seller who is knowledgeable about the item they are selling.
If you do not have access to a reputable seller, here are some tips to follow to tell if your Opal is real:
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Real Opal is a 5-6.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. It can be scratched by Quartz, which is a 7, but not by Fluorite, which is a 4. Beware, some Common Opals may reach a 7 on the scale.
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Real Opal will have inclusions and random patterns. Notice the color variations, irregular flashes, mineral inclusions, veins, craters, dips, and imperfections in your stone. You may not find these in a fake, which usually has uniform patterns and colors.
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Real Opal is not magnetic. It can have magnetic mineral inclusions, but it is actually diamagnetic, meaning it weakly repels magnetic forces.
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Real Opal may have air bubbles. These can be bubbles of liquid, gas, or solid. These can be confused with glass air bubbles.
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Real Opal reacts to acid. While it may not bubble like Calcite, Opal is sensitive to acids. Acid can break down the stone over time.
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Real Opal will always have a white streak. Despite its outward appearance, Real Opal will have a white powder in the crystal streak test.
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Real Opal is always cold to the touch. It will take a while to heat up in your hands, whereas plastic or resin will be relatively warmer.
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Real Opal may fluoresce. Many Opals show fluorescence under UV light, but it is not a quality all Opals have. Some may even show daylight fluorescence.
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Real Opal can be chatoyant. It is rare, but some Real Opals will have a shimmering iridescence on their surface.
- Real Opal can have play-of-color. This is when light diffracts off the uniform silica spheres forming the gemstone. This is the most popular feature of Precious Opals.
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Real Opal has a specific gravity between 1.98 and 2.20. Here is a video on how to measure your stone's density at home.
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Real Opal has a refractive index range of 1.37 to 1.47. This test requires a refractometer.
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Real Opal will not dissolve in water. Real Opals may be damaged by prolonged water, but they will not dissolve. Faux Opal, made of clay or other materials, may dissolve.
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Real Opal will not burn. It can crack and fade under high heat, but it will not ignite. Plastic and resin will burn and melt under heat.
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Real Opal will not have distinct layers. Composite stones, in which Opals are glued onto various backings, will show layers.
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Real Opal will not turn cloudy. Cloudy patches are indications that the glue holding the composite stones together is wearing down.
- Real hydrophane Opals will change with water. If you have a porous Opal, like some Ethiopian Opals are, it will feel sticky on your wet finger. It will also turn transparent as it absorbs water, but will revert to its natural colors once dry.
None of these tests is conclusive on its own. If you are still unsure, you can send your stone to a certified gemological laboratory for testing. You can also find additional tips in the Crystal Identification Help.
Is it real Opal or another stone?
Some vendors may be naively or deceptively mislabeling other stones as Opal. The sting is not so bad if you end up with a more valuable gemstone over a cheaper stone, but if you are seeking Opal, you want to get the real thing!
Let's check out the differences between Opal and commonly confused crystals:
Green Opal vs Serpentine
Green Opal is a Common Opal with varying tones of green. It can easily be confused with Serpentine. To tell them apart:
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Green Opal is a 5.5-6.5, and Serpentine is only a 2.0-5.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness.
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Green Opal is much lighter in weight when compared to Serpentine of the same size.
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Green Opal has a smooth feel, whereas Serpentine can have a soapy feel.
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Green Opal is pricier than Serpentine.
Learn more about Serpentine.
Opal vs Opalite
Opalite is a transparent to translucent manmade glass with an iridescent, milky sheen.
Good to know: The term Opalite was first used to describe Common Opals. These days, it mostly refers to the manmade material.
Opalized Ammonite vs Ammolite
Ammonites are ancient squid-like sea creatures that lived in shells 388 million years ago. The shells of the creatures were fossilized through time and can show a rainbow sheen. This is similar to the sheen seen in abalone shells and can be confused with Opalized Ammolites.
Ammolites are formed from all sorts of fossils, including Ammonite fossils. The fossils crystallize with minerals like Iron, Magnesium, and Silica to create vibrant rainbow colors and flashes. This is a process that results in a rare, opal-like gemstone.
On the gemstone market, you will falsely see many rainbow Ammonites marketed as Opalized Ammonite. Beware of the confusion when seeking true Opalized Ammonite, aka: Ammolite. Real Ammolite is very expensive and is only found in certain regions.
Fire Opal vs Fire Agate
Fire Opal and Fire Agate can look similar in their fiery colors, but they are two distinct stones.
Fire Agate usually shows bubbly patterns and banded layers that are characteristic of the Agate family. It is more opaque with iridescent layers of color versus Fire Opal's translucent, depth of color. Fire Agate shows a brownish, coppery red tone, moodier than Fire Opal's bright reddish orange flames.
Fire Opal does not refer to all Opals with play of color, only those with orange and red tones.
Opal vs Moonstone vs Labradorite
Opal can be confused with Moonstone or Labradorite because of their similar iridescent sheen. Rainbow Moonstone is a white stone with a rainbow sheen. Labradorite is a dark stone with a rainbow sheen. These sheens seem to be flowing over the surface of the stone as compared to Opal's colors, which are glowing from within the stone.
Moonstone and Labradorite are more common and more affordable than Precious Opal.
To add to the confusion, Rainbow Moonstone is technically a Labradorite, but has been accepted as a tradename in the gemstone industry.
Is my Opal treated?
Many Opals are treated to enhance their stability and color. Here are some treatment methods you may find:
Composite Treatment: A thin layer of Precious Opal is glued to an artificial dark backing, like Common Opal, ironstone, or glass, to enhance the vibrancy of the colors.
Doublet: A thin layer of Precious Opal is glued to a backing.
Triplet: A thin layer of Precious Opal is glued between a clear cap and a backing.
Dyeing: Porous Opals take well to dye. Bright purple and pink Opals are commonly dyed as they don't occur naturally.
Impregnation Treatment: An Opal is filled with oil, wax, or plastic to increase its stability.
Sugar Acid Treatment: An Opal is soaked in sugar-water and then in sulphuric acid. This process turns the white stone black, intensifying the contrast between the body and color play.
Smoky Treatment: An Opal is wrapped in paper, heated in an enclosed container, then cooled and washed to intensify its colors.
What are synthetic Opals?
Synthetic Opals are created in laboratories under similar conditions to those that form Real Opals. The chemical composition of Synthetic Opal is identical to the real thing.
Two of the most popular Synthetic Opals were developed in the 1970s: Gilson Opal and Slocum Opal, or Slocum Stone.
Synthetic Opals usually don't show the depth of color that is seen in Real Opals. The play of color seems to be limited to the surface of the stone.
Under the microscope, Synthetic Opals will usually show a columnar pattern, whereas Real Opals will show an irregular pattern.
Shop Real Opal Gems
The power of real Opal can never be replaced by fakes. Go ahead, try it for yourself. Here are real stones from the Satin Crystals Opal Collection to add to your treasures:
Crystal Guides
Contact Satin Crystals
Have any questions about crystals? Comment below! Sheila, Ann, and Lisa Satin would love to hear from you. We'll reply soon.
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