Artificial gems have, for centuries, been popular in costume and fashion jewelry. However, high quality precious opal has never, until now, been truly copied. Our interest in holography started in 1972, but it was not until 1976 when we started using diffraction gratings.

In 1990, we developed a unique method of generating completely random holograms and as a result invented the process to simulate precious opal.

We have a patent on Opalus™, a method of making simulated gemstones and simulated opals for use in costume and fashion jewelry. Although the gems were originally designed for the mass costume jewelry market, the trends have moved towards the gems being set in gold or silver.

Opalus™ (simulated opal - below) is a patented product. The outer shell is composed of high impact acrylic containing over 100 layers of compressed material . Opalus is durable and will not crack or craze. However, it is affected by heat and may be pierced by a hot needle.

We manufacture the gem in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, some of which are quite unique, resembling large high quality opals. Like genuine opal, every stone is different and shows the characteristic play of spectral colours of high quality opals.

These artificial gems are made in two different qualities,

a) the better quality simulated gemstone for durability and;

b) the lower quality simulated gemstones for cost effectiveness.

Our simulated gemstones can be made to order from your own material and can be reproduced to be mirror matched in large or small volumes.

There may be a very slight, and maybe insignificant, colour variation from the original piece but the colour will be constant in batches.

The b) quality simulated gemstones are made in the following standard sizes:

10 mm X 8 mm
14 mm X 10 mm
18 mm X 13 mm

and a variety of round sizes from 8mm to 24mm.

The a) quality gemstones are currently being made in 18 mm X 13 mm and a variety of round sizes as well as some navettes and and baroques for individual setting.

The surface of the a) quality simulated gemstones is made in high impact acrylic for improved durability.