Opal Gemstone Beads In This Collection Are Used In Beading And Jewelry Making And Include Both Natural Peruvian Opal And Opalite.
Defined Within Gemstone Beads, Opal Materials Are Selected When Soft Color Presence And Diffused Light Behavior Support Balanced Design Outcomes.
Peruvian Opal Is A Variety Of Common Opal Sourced From The Andes Region Of Peru And Is Known For Its Soft, Diffused Colouration Rather Than Strong Play-Of-Colour.
Natural Peruvian Opal Occurs In Seawater Blue, Blue-Green, Grey, And Soft Pink Tones, Sometimes With Subtle Internal Clouding Or Dendritic Inclusions That Add Visual Texture.
Peruvian Opal Is Composed Of Hydrated Silica Formed At Low Temperatures And Typically Displays A Smooth, Waxy To Vitreous Finish When Polished.
With A Mohs Hardness Of Approximately 5–6.5, It Is Considered Moderately Durable And Is Selected For Beaded Jewelry Designs Where Gentle Colour Transitions And Organic Appearance Are Preferred.
Opalite Included In This Collection Is A Man-Made Glass Material Created To Imitate The Appearance Of Opal.
Opalite Is Amorphous Rather Than Crystalline And Is Manufactured To Produce A Milky, Translucent Look With Opalescent Light Reflection In Pale Blue, White, And Soft Pastel Shades.
Its Uniform Colour And Consistency Distinguish It Visually And Structurally From Natural Opal While Providing A Stable, Decorative Alternative For Beading Applications.
