Crushed Opal is a unique inlay material that adds a vibrant twist to countless projects, from ring making and resin art to woodworking and other crafts. One of its most captivating features is its ability to transform, revealing its brilliant colors only when integrated into your work.
Unlike tumbled or polished gems, our Crushed Opal comes in its natural, rough form. This is why it appears somewhat dull at first glance. The true magic happens when a clear liquid medium, like a UV resin, epoxy, or glue, is applied. This process brings the opal to life, allowing the full spectrum of its colors to shine through. Let's take a closer look at this transformation and how you can achieve it in your own projects.
From Dull to Dazzling: The Transformation of Crushed Opal
This side-by-side comparison shows the dramatic change that occurs when a liquid medium is introduced. On the left you'll see the crushed opal dry as it is sent from our shop, and on the right side we've added a clear medium to show the wet appearance. Although even the dull crushed opal looks good in these photos due to our flash photography, you'll notice a significant improvement in play-of-color and vibrancy.
Unlocking the Brilliance of Crushed Opal
The crushing process is how we get our lab-grown opals from their initial rough stone form to the beautiful fragments you use for your projects. We meticulously crush each stone and then sort the pieces into different grain sizes with mesh filters.
Because the crushed opal is not polished, a liquid is needed to fill the gaps and create a smooth, reflective surface that allows the full brilliance of the colors to be seen. You can see this effect with any clear liquid, but it is best achieved with the adhesive or resin you will be using for your project.
To get a perfect preview of how your chosen color will look, we recommend our simple water test! Just place a few pieces of crushed opal on a piece of paper and add a couple of drops of water. This will give you an exact idea of its final appearance. Don't worry, once the water dries, the opal will return to its original state.
Mastering Play-of-Color and Final Results
Beyond its inherent brilliance, our Crushed Opal is semi-translucent, which allows it to adapt to the colors underneath your inlay. To take full control of your final color outcome, consider painting your inlay space with the color of your preference before adding the opal.
Want to see how our colors shine? Click Here to explore our full collection.
For a more in-depth guide on this technique, click here.
Finally, don't miss this video demonstrating the stunning difference between dry and wet crushed opal.
No matter your project, Crushed Opal's beauty truly transcends when it is integrated into your craft. Its remarkable color and durability make it the perfect material for creating unique, captivating works of art.
Curious about how Lab Opal is made? Click Here to learn more.
Featured Crushed Opal
- Black Fire Crushed Opal (Size Medium)
- Deep Sea Coral Crushed Opal (Size Medium)
