Opal Gemstone Beads
Opal is a natural gemstone made from silica mineral and 90% are found in Australia. What makes Opal distinct is what is referred to as ‘play of color’, a phenomenon that occurs when light hits the chips of silica inside the gemstone and a rainbow of different colors refract inside the stone.
Opal Gemstone Beads for Elegant & Colorful Jewelry
Madagascar Dendiritc Green Opal 10mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
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$27.00
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$27.00
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$27.00
$27.00
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$27.00
Ethiopian Opal 5-6mm Pebble Black - 15-16 Inch
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$168.00
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$168.00
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$168.00
$168.00
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$168.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
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$168.00
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$168.00
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$168.00
$168.00
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$168.00
Yellow Moss Opal 8x10-9x13mm Side Drilled Pebble - 15-16 Inch
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Yellow Moss Opal is transparent to opaque, milky white to pale yellow in color. It features dark brown to black dendritic inclusions that branch li...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Madagascar Dendiritc Green Opal 8mm Round A Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$18.00
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$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$18.00
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Original price
$18.00
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$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00
Australian Boulder Opal 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$36.00
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$36.00
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$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
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$36.00
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$36.00
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$36.00
$36.00
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$36.00
Ethiopian Opal 4x9-12mm Pear Black - 15-16 Inch
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$210.00
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$210.00
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$210.00
$210.00
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$210.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
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$210.00
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$210.00
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$210.00
$210.00
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$210.00
Ethiopian Opal 5-6x6-8mm Pear Brown - 15-16 Inch
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$252.00
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$252.00
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$252.00
$252.00
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$252.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
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$252.00
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$252.00
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$252.00
$252.00
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$252.00
Black Opal 4mm Round Faceted - 15-16 Inch
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$44.00
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$44.00
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$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
Black Opal is a naturally occurring variety of precious opal mined in Australia. this opal variety is characterized by their dark base tone. It is ...
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$44.00
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$44.00
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$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
Mexican Fire Opal Dark 2-10mm Chip - 15-16 Inch
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$46.00
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$46.00
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$46.00
$46.00
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$46.00
[Use Fire Opal description? This Fire Opal contains both Opal and the rhyolitic host material in which it is formed, which provides sufficient hard...
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$46.00
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$46.00
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$46.00
$46.00
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$46.00
Madagascar Green Dendritic Opal 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
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$24.00
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$24.00
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$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$24.00
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$24.00
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$24.00
$24.00
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$24.00
Ethiopian Opal 3x5mm (Dyed) Blue Chip - 17 Inch
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$44.00
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$44.00
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$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full details
Original price
$44.00
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$44.00
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$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
Yellow Opal 5-8mm Banded Faceted Rondelle - 18 Inch
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$56.00
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$56.00
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$56.00
$56.00
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$56.00
Yellow Opal is transparent to opaque, milky white to pale yellow in color. It sometimes features dark brown to black dendritic inclusions that bran...
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$56.00
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$56.00
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$56.00
$56.00
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$56.00
Yellow Opal 6x12-10x20mm Free Form Dancing Drops A Grade - 15-16 Inch
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Yellow Opal is transparent to opaque, milky white to pale yellow in color. It sometimes features dark brown to black dendritic inclusions that bran...
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Dendritic Opal 9-10mm Irregular Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
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$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$19.00
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$19.00
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$19.00
$19.00
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$19.00
Ethiopian Opal 5-10mm Heart Brown - 15-16 Inch
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$210.00
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$210.00
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$210.00
$210.00
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$210.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full details
Original price
$210.00
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Original price
$210.00
Original price
$210.00
$210.00
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$210.00
Dendritic Yellow Opal 15x20mm Oval - 15-16 Inch
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
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$17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
Australian Boulder Opal 10mm Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$90.00
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$90.00
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$90.00
$90.00
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$90.00
Boulder Opal is a golden-brown to dark brown stone, displaying these colors in patterns of parallel bands. It is considered a precious Opal, and fo...
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Original price
$90.00
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Original price
$90.00
Original price
$90.00
$90.00
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$90.00
Light Yellow Ethiopian Opal 3x5-7x10mm Graduated Faceted Drop - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$208.00
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$208.00
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$208.00
$208.00
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$208.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full details
Original price
$208.00
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Original price
$208.00
Original price
$208.00
$208.00
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$208.00
Ethiopian Opal 4-9mm Heart Black - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$210.00
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Original price
$210.00
Original price
$210.00
$210.00
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$210.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full details
Original price
$210.00
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Original price
$210.00
Original price
$210.00
$210.00
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$210.00
Ethiopian Opal 3x5mm (Dyed) Hot Pink Chip - 17 Inch
Original price
$44.00
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Original price
$44.00
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$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full details
Original price
$44.00
-
Original price
$44.00
Original price
$44.00
$44.00
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$44.00
Ethiopian Opal 1x2-3x5mm Graduated Irregular Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$52.00
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$52.00
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$52.00
$52.00
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$52.00
Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in Ethiopia in 1994, with additional major finds in 2008 and 2013. Beautiful specimens of Precious Opal, Fire O...
View full details
Original price
$52.00
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Original price
$52.00
Original price
$52.00
$52.00
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$52.00
Olive Green Opal 8x10-9x13mm Side Drilled Pebble - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
A form of common opal, Olive Green Opal certainly features its namesake olive, but blends it with browns, tans and even a pea green from time to ti...
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$14.00
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$14.00
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$14.00
$14.00
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$14.00
Yellow Opal 6mm Faceted Round - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$26.00
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$26.00
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$26.00
$26.00
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$26.00
Yellow Opal is transparent to opaque, milky white to pale yellow in color. It sometimes features dark brown to black dendritic inclusions that bran...
View full details
Original price
$26.00
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Original price
$26.00
Original price
$26.00
$26.00
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$26.00
Dendritic Opal 6mm Hexagon - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$31.00
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$31.00
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$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
This variety of opal is named "dendritic" for the small inclusions within it that resemble moss or ferns. These inclusions consist of iron, mangane...
View full details
Original price
$31.00
-
Original price
$31.00
Original price
$31.00
$31.00
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$31.00
About this stone
Color
WhiteBlackFireBoulderCrystalPinkYellow
Origin
AustraliaEthiopiaMexicoPeruBrazil
Mohs hardness
5.5–6.5
Treatment categories
NaturalStabilizedSmoke-treated
Industry-standard treatment
Most precious opal is natural; some Ethiopian welo opal is smoke-treated to darken body color; doublet/triplet assemblies are separate categories
Mineral chemistry
Hydrated amorphous silica (SiO2·nH2O), water content 3–21%
Crystal system
Amorphous
Stone family
Opal
Birthstone
October
Common cuts
RoundFaceted RoundRondelle
Common sizes
3mm4mm6mm8mm
Care notes
Moderate hardness (Mohs 5.5–6.5) with high water content. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, dry/hot environments, and harsh chemicals; mild soap and soft cloth only.
Related stones
Opalite (glass), Common Opal, Fire Opal, Welo Opal
Frequently asked questions
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What's the difference between common opal and precious opal?
Precious opal shows play of color — the rainbow flash that moves as the stone is rotated, caused by microscopic silica spheres diffracting light. Common opal does not show play of color; it is opaque to translucent and prized for its body color (pink, blue, green, yellow, etc.) rather than its flash. Most opal in the bead trade is common opal — Peruvian pink, blue, green, and yellow opal are all common opal. Play-of-color opal beads (Ethiopian Welo, occasional Australian) are specialty and stocked intermittently. -
Is opal soft? Can it scratch easily?
Opal is Mohs 5.5–6.5 — softer than agate, jasper, and quartz (all 6.5–7). Opal beads can scratch against harder beads on the same strand or against metal findings during wear. For mixed-stone designs, pair opal with stones of similar hardness or use softer spacers to protect the opal surface. Opal works well in earrings, pendants, necklaces, and low-impact bracelets; ring use is possible but reserves the stone for less-active wear. -
Why does opal crack? What is crazing?
Crazing is a fine network of internal cracks that develops in opal when the stone dehydrates too rapidly. Opal contains 3–21% water by weight locked into its silica gel structure; if that water is lost quickly — through direct sun exposure, heat sources, dry indoor environments, or ultrasonic cleaners — the structure can fracture internally. Crazing is permanent. Standard care: store opal away from direct heat, clean with a damp soft cloth not solvents, avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning, and avoid prolonged direct sunlight. -
Is Ethiopian opal different from other opal?
Ethiopian opal (often called Welo opal after the Wollo Province where it's mined) is hydrophane — it absorbs water and temporarily loses transparency when wet, returning to normal as it dries. This is a property of the porous silica structure unique to certain opal deposits. Practically: don't submerge Welo opal during wear (showers, swimming), avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning, and let it dry naturally if it does get wet. The visual change is temporary if brief, but repeated wet/dry cycles stress the stone. -
Is yellow opal natural or dyed?
Both exist in the bead market. Natural yellow opal — often Indonesian or Mexican common opal — is a muted mustard to honey tone. Bright neon yellow or saturated lemon-yellow is a dye signal; natural opal's palette is soft. Treatment, when present — ask before buying if a strand doesn't specify. Across Dakota's catalog, color tags identify yellow opal but treatment posture per strand should be confirmed on the individual listing.