Why I'm Testing Fireable Opals in Bronze Clay — And What I'm Hoping to Find
If you've followed my work for a while, you'll know I'm passionate about fireable opals — those gorgeous, play-of-colour stones that survive the kiln and come out looking absolutely stunning set right into metal clay. I've been working with silver for a while, and the results speak for themselves.
But lately, I've been getting a question more and more from makers in the community: "Lou, have you tried them in bronze?"
And honestly? Not yet. But that's about to change.
▶️ Watch the video of some of my opal shapes here
Why Bronze?
Bronze clay has grown massively in popularity over the last few years — and for good reason. It's significantly more affordable than silver, which makes it a brilliant entry point for makers who want to experiment without the financial pressure. The warm, rich tones of fired bronze are also genuinely beautiful, and there's a growing community of makers who work almost exclusively in it.
But bronze fires differently. It needs to be buried in carbon, firing temperatures and schedules vary, and the chemistry of the metal is quite different from fine silver. So the big question is: will fireable opals survive the process — and still look their best?
The Bronzes I'll Be Testing
I'm not just testing one bronze — I'm putting seven different bronze clays through their paces across three brands, so we can really see if there are any differences in how the opals perform.
Prometheus Bronze Clays
- Prometheus Sterling White Bronze Clay
- Prometheus Light Yellow Bronze Clay
Sunny & Prometheus Rapid/Low Fire
- Prometheus Bronze Clay — Rapid & Low Fire
- Sunny Bronze — Rapid & Low Fire
Project X Bronze Clays
- Project X White Bronze Clay
- Project X Bronze Metal Clay
- Project X Light Bronze Clay
Each of these fires differently — different temperatures, different carbon requirements, different metal compositions. That's exactly why testing all seven matters.
What I'll Be Testing
I'll be running a series of tests using opals from my own Galaxy Opal and Bello Opal ranges — the same ones that perform beautifully in fine silver — set into bronze clay pieces. I'll be looking at:
- Whether the opals survive the firing process intact
- How the play of colour holds up after firing
- Whether the bronze atmosphere (carbon firing) affects the stones
- Which opal sizes and styles seem best suited to bronze work
- Any tips or adjustments to the process that make a difference
- Whether results vary across the different bronze clay brands
✨ Want to try fireable opals in your own work? Shop the full range of Premium Lab-grown Fireable Opals here.
Why I'm Sharing This
I could just run the tests quietly and update my product listings. But that's not really how I work. I'd rather bring you along for the ride — the good results and the not-so-good ones — because that's how we all learn and grow as makers.
If you've already tried fireable opals in bronze and have experience to share, I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
What's Coming Next
Part 2 is on its way once the testing is done — I'll be sharing the full results, including the failures (yes, I'll be honest about those!) as well as what worked beautifully.
And for my GalaxyVIP members, there's something extra coming: a downloadable PDF tutorial covering the successful bronzes — firing schedules, tips, opal recommendations and more — available at a reduced price exclusively for VIPs.
Not a GalaxyVIP member yet? Join here to get early access and member pricing when the tutorial drops.
— Lou