What is Crushed Opal?

Crushed Opal is a diverse inlay material that is commonly used for jewelry making and craft projects. 

The Material & Benefits

Most commonly, Crushed Opal is a Lab Created material. Lab Created Opal is grown in a controlled environment that is formulated to replicate the natural formation of Genuine Opal.

Our Crushed Opal is a blend of 80% silica & 20% resin and is resistant to chemicals such as acetone and alcohol. By using a polymer it also creates a slightly softer product making it superior for turning and cabbing. This provides a better user experience, as you will experience less cracking and crazing compared to Natural Opals. 

The first form is a large slab of synthetic opal that is then crushed down into small granular pieces. We offer a range of grain types, so you can find the size that works best for your needs.

The material is made in hundreds of color combinations providing endless possibilities for creative minds who value working with their hands. 

Click Here to learn more about how Lab Created Opal is made. 

The Intended Uses

Crushed Opal can be utilized for many types of craft projects and more!

Popular Crushed Opal Projects:

• Ring Making
• Jewelry Making
• Woodworking
• Blade Smithing 
• Resin Art
• Nail Art
• Pen Turning

Click Here to learn how to use Crushed Opal from a talented community of makers!

The Options

One of the best qualities of Crushed Opal is the endless options. Our Crushed Opal is available in 50+ color choices and four different grain types. 

Click Here to see our full collection of Crushed Opal Colors.

Grain Types:

• Large Size:
  3mm - 2mm stone pieces
  Consistency can be best compared to course salt
  Commonly used for Resin Art and larger scale Inlay Projects
• Medium Size:
  2mm - 1mm stone pieces
  Consistency can be best compared to table salt
  Commonly used for any Inlay Project 
  *Most Popular Size
• Fine Size:
  1.5mm - and smaller stone pieces
  Consistency can be best compared to sand
  Commonly used for Ring Making 
• Powder Size:
  No granular stone pieces
  Consistency can be best compared to dust
  Commonly used for Nail Art

FAQ

Q: What is the material made of?
A: Crushed Opal consists of 80% silica & 20% resin.

Q: Is Crushed Opal heat resistant? 
A: Our Crushed Opal is heat resistant up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and is not intended to be used with high heat levels.  

Q: How is Crushed Opal typically measured?
A: Crushed Opal is commonly sold by the gram. We offer quantities starting at 1 Gram up to 150 Grams.

Q: What is the MOHS Hardness Level?
A: Crushed Opal has a MOHS hardness level of 4.

Q: Is Crushed Opal resistant to chemicals?
A: Yes, Crushed Opal is resistant to acetone and alcohol. 

Q: Is Lab Created Crushed Opal created equally for the same purpose?
A: No, Crushed Opal can be produce using different stabilizers and/or processes that makes the composition of the material fundamentally different. Each type of Crushed Opal may have different intended purposes. 

Q: Why does Crushed Opal look different dry versus wet?
A: Due to the crushing process, Crushed Opal can appear somewhat dull to the naked human eye in it's dry state. However, this does not reflect the vibrancy of the material. The material needs to be "wet" or used with an additive to showcase it's full range of color. Such as; CA Glue, Epoxy Resin, Nail Polish, etc. 

Click Here to learn more about dry versus wet Crushed Opal!

Q: Why does the color of Crushed Opal vary when inlaying?
A: Each color of Crushed Opal can be seen differently depending on the lighting, angle and the way the material is being used. We find that giving the crushed opal a background color, allows the material to pop in a way that showcases the color play due to the fact of some crushed opal colors being semi-transparent. 

Click Here to learn more about the transparency of Crushed Opal!