Astral Opal Synthetic Bead

LAB-CRAFTED™ OPAL

for jewelry makers, lapidary artists, and production work.

SHOP OPAL MATERIALS WHOLESALE ACCOUNTS

7+ Years Supplying Lab-Grown Opal

4,500+ Verified Reviews

Trusted by Professional Makers Worldwide

Ethical, Man-Made Material

WHY LAB-CRAFTED™ OPAL OUTPERFORMS MINED STONE

TWO OPAL TECHNOLOGIES. ONE STANDARD OF QUALITY.

Both materials deliver real play-of-color through engineered silica structures. The difference is how that structure behaves in use.

Astral Opal™ Nebula Opal™
Classification Synthetic Opal (Lab-Grown) Lab-Crafted™ Imitation Opal
Internal Structure Ordered silica lattice, polymer stabilized Colloidal silica suspended in polymer resin
Visual Pattern Directional, columnar / striped Non-directional, marbled / swirling
Consistency Between Pieces Highly consistent and repeatable Visually unique from piece to piece
Hardness (Mohs) 4 2
Durability & Stability Excellent resistance to cracking, crazing, and temperature shock Excellent chemical stability and impact resistance
Best Applications Beads, components, rings, inlay, production jewelry Statement jewelry, artistic work, decorative inlay
Rough Form Factor Irregular, organic rough pieces Rectangular lab-cast blocks
Availability Over 90 colors available Over 45 colors in stock
Astral Opal™
Classification
Synthetic Opal (Lab-Grown)
Internal Structure
Ordered silica lattice, polymer stabilized
Visual Pattern
Directional, columnar / striped
Consistency
Highly consistent and repeatable
Hardness
4
Durability
Excellent resistance to cracking and temperature shock
Applications
Production jewelry, beads, components, inlay
Availability
Over 90 colors in stock
Nebula Opal™
Classification
Lab-Crafted™ Imitation Opal
Internal Structure
Colloidal silica suspended in polymer resin
Visual Pattern
Non-directional, marbled / swirling
Consistency
Visually unique from piece to piece
Hardness
2
Durability
Excellent chemical stability and impact resistance
Applications
Statement jewelry, artistic work, decorative inlay
Availability
Over 45 colors in stock
Trusted By Makers

4,500+ Verified Reviews

Proven performance for production work, consistent color, and reliable supply.

Jewelry Makers Lapidary Artists Bulk & Wholesale

APPLY FOR A WHOLESALE ACCOUNT

For jewelry designers, makers, and businesses purchasing materials for finished work that is resold. Approval is manual and based on fit and purchasing intent.

Account-Based Pricing Tiered Discounts No Per-Order Minimums
1

Apply

Submit the wholesale application with your business details and purchasing goals.

2

Get Approved

Applications are reviewed manually. If anything is missing, we will reach out.

3

Order With Wholesale Pricing

Once approved and signed in, wholesale pricing shows automatically across eligible products.

WHO IS THE WHOLESALE PROGRAM FOR?
Designed for makers and businesses who purchase materials regularly for finished work that is resold.
HOW DOES WHOLESALE PRICING WORK?
Wholesale pricing is account-based and tied to quarterly purchasing. Discounts vary by category and tier.
IS THERE A MINIMUM ORDER?
There is no minimum per order. Tier eligibility is based on cumulative spend over time rather than a single purchase.

HOW OUR OPAL IS MADE

Our opals are created in controlled laboratory environments designed for consistency, stability, and repeatable optical performance.

Illustrative micrograph of silica spheres arranged in an ordered structure
Illustrative micrograph showing ordered silica sphere arrangement used to produce play-of-color in synthetic opal materials.
1

Silica Engineering

Ultra-pure microscopic silica spheres are produced within a tightly controlled size range that determines color and optical behavior.

2

Structural Formation

The silica spheres are arranged through controlled processes into either an ordered lattice or a stabilized suspension.

3

Polymer Stabilization

Water is fully replaced with a stabilizing polymer that permanently locks the structure in place and prevents cracking or crazing.

4

Finishing

The finished material is cut, shaped, or processed into rough, beads, cabochons, or inlay material ready for fabrication.

Astral Opal™ and Nebula Opal™ use different structural methods, but both rely on the same optical physics to produce vibrant, permanent play-of-color.