WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN SHOPPING AT THE OPAL DEALER
For a limited time, enjoy an extra 30% off on top of our built-in volume pricing! Get 5 grams each of our Best Selling Crushed Astral Opal™ colors. Explore the incredible color possibilities of our lab-created opals and bring a touch of brilliant beauty to your jewelry making, resin art, and woodworking projects with this exceptional value bundle.
What's Included:
- Black Emerald: A deep green and blue base with black accents.
- Black Fire: A rich black base that explodes with rainbow fire.
- Pearl White: A pristine white base with a complex, glistening rainbow fire.
- Ruby Red: A rich red base that shines with deep red and orange fire.
- Sleepy Lavender: A calming purple base that shimmers with delicate blue fire.
Product Specifications
| Material | Synthetic Crushed Astral Opal™ (Silica & Polymer) |
|---|---|
| Grain Sizes |
Ultra Fine (0.01-0.5mm), Fine (0.3mm-0.5mm), Medium (1mm-2mm), Large (2-3mm) |
| Hardness | 4 on the Mohs scale |
| Heat Resistance | Up to 250°F / 120°C |
Why Choose Our Best Selling Crushed Opal?
- Curated Color Palette: A perfect selection of our best-selling opals for a wide range of projects and tastes.
- Superior Quality & Stability: Our lab-created opal won't crack, craze, or yellow over time, offering superior durability over natural opal.
- Versatile Grain Sizes: Available in all three popular sizes to suit all your crafting needs, from intricate to bold designs.
Creative Applications
- Jewelry & Ring Inlay: Create stunning custom jewelry that is guaranteed to impress with these popular shades.
- Custom Woodworking: Fill voids with the appearance of a variety of precious gemstones that contrast beautifully with wood grain.
- Resin Art & Casting: The perfect choice for creating elegant art pieces, colorful designs, or sophisticated art.
- Pen Turning: Craft custom pen blanks that evoke the classic and timeless beauty of these favorite shades.
Pro-Tip: The opal's true vibrancy is revealed when "wet" or mixed with a binder (like resin or CA glue). For the most dramatic fire, use a dark base. For a lighter, more subtle effect, try a white or light-colored base.
*Discounts automatically apply. No additional coupon stacking is allowed. Available only while supplies last or until the offer expires.
About Our Crushed Opal
Our Crushed Opal is a high-quality, lab-created material composed of silica and polymer. The polymer stabilizes the opal, making it significantly more durable and far less prone to cracking or crazing. These are common issues in natural opals that often make them unsuitable for everyday wear, especially in jewelry that sees regular use.
Natural opal is beautiful but fragile, and many jewelers advise against wearing it daily. Our synthetic opal solves that problem. It retains the vibrant look of natural opal while offering the strength and stability needed for long-term, daily use.
Thanks to its slightly softer composition, our synthetic opal is also easier to work with. It is ideal for turning, cabbing, inlay, and other artistic applications. It resists fading over time and holds up well against common chemicals such as acetone and alcohol.
How Our Synthetic Opal Is Made
Our synthetic opal takes approximately one year to grow in a highly controlled environment. During this slow and meticulous process, uniform silica spheres self-assemble into a highly ordered lattice through sedimentation. This internal structure is what gives opal its signature play-of-color.
Once the opal structure is fully formed, it is carefully dried using controlled conditions that preserve the integrity of the silica lattice. After drying, the porous material is impregnated with a polymer resin under vacuum. This stabilizes the opal’s structure, enhances its optical brilliance, and transforms it into a vibrant, gem-quality synthetic opal.
After the opal has fully formed, it is cut into rough stones, then crushed and sifted into four optimized sizes:
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LARGE: 2 to 3mm pieces
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MEDIUM: 1 to 2mm pieces
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FINE: 0.3 to 0.5mm pieces
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POWDER: Ultra-fine particles
How Lab-Created Crushed Opal Performs
Our product photos show Crushed Opal in its "wet" state, which is how it will appear once a binding medium such as adhesive, resin, or nail polish is applied. This is when the opal’s full vibrancy and depth of color are revealed, especially under natural lighting.
Please note:
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Due to the crushing process, some pieces may appear less colorful when dry. (Incorporating the opal into your project will show its full potential)
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Fine and Powder sizes may look lighter in their dry form but become much more vibrant when used.
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Color appearance may vary slightly depending on your screen settings.
Crushed Opal Heat Resistance
Our Crushed Opal can tolerate heat up to 266°F (130°C). Use caution when applying heat, especially with tools like torches or soldering irons, and proceed at your own risk. This product is NOT compatible with borosilicate glass.
Processing Times & Shipping Offers:
- Processing Times: 1-3 Business Days *Unless otherwise specified
- US orders over $100 are eligible for Free Ground Shipping via USPS (estimated 3-5 business days)
