Orchid Astral Opal™ Round Beads
- Astral Opal™ round beads for jewelry making
- 80% silica, 20% polymer
- High durability formulation for daily-wear
- Stable and consistent for production jewelry
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN SHOPPING AT THE OPAL DEALER
ALL AVAILABLE ROUND OPAL BEAD COLORS
Amethyst
Astral Opal™
Aurora
Astral Opal™
Black Ember
Nebula Opal™
Black Emerald
Astral Opal™
Black Fire
Astral Opal™
Black Rainbow
Nebula Opal™
Blizzard
Astral Opal™
Blue Haze
Nebula Opal™
Bubblegum
Astral Opal™
Cherry Blossom
Astral Opal™
Cheshire
Astral Opal™
Cotton Candy
Astral Opal™
Crimson Fire
Astral Opal™
Crystal Blue
Nebula Opal™
Dragon’s Egg
Astral Opal™
Golden Pineapple
Astral Opal™
Hibiscus
Astral Opal™
Jade
Astral Opal™
Key Lime
Astral Opal™
Lava Rock
Astral Opal™
Lilac Galaxy
Nebula Opal™
Moonstone
Astral Opal™
Nectar
Astral Opal™
Nuclear Green
Astral Opal™
Ocean Blue
Nebula Opal™
Orchid
Astral Opal™
Pacific Sapphire
Astral Opal™
Peach Fuzz
Astral Opal™
Pearl Pink
Nebula Opal™
Pearl White
Astral Opal™
Pharaoh's Gold
Astral Opal™
Ruby Red
Astral Opal™
Sleepy Lavender
Astral Opal™
Taffy
Astral Opal™
Teal Rainbow
Nebula Opal™
Turquoise
Astral Opal™
Twilight
Nebula Opal™
Ultra Violet
Astral Opal™
Unicorn Purple
Astral Opal™
White Rainbow
Nebula Opal™
SIZE GUIDE & APPLICATION
| Size | Visual Impact | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| 3mm | Delicate shimmer | Fine chains, stacking |
| 4mm | Balanced | Everyday bracelets |
| 6mm | Classic statement | Core bracelet size |
| 8mm | Bold | Chunky designs |
| 10mm | Oversized focal | Statement pieces |
Beads are measured across widest point. Slight tolerance may occur due to polishing.
Choose the Right Opal for Your Project
| Feature |
Astral Opal™ (Synthetic) |
Nebula Opal™ (Imitation) | Natural Opal (Mined) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition |
80% Silica 20% Polymer |
80% Polymer 20% Silica | Hydrated Silica (Contains Water) |
| Pattern Type |
Directional (Columnar / Striped) |
Non-Directional (Swirl / Marbled) | Random (Pinfire / Flash) |
| Consistency |
High (Repeatable Fire) |
High (Repeatable Look) | Variable (Piece-to-piece Variance) |
| Cost & Availability |
Excellent Value (Reliable Supply) |
Best Value (Reliable Supply) |
High Cost (Limited & Inconsistent) |
| Hardness (Mohs) |
4 More Durable |
2 Softer | 5.5 - 6.5 Hard but Brittle |
| Heat Resistance |
Up to 130°C (No Direct Flame) |
Up to 130°C (No Direct Flame) | Sensitive (Thermal Shock Risk) |
| Stability |
High (No dehydration) |
High (No dehydration) | Variable (Crazing risk over time) |
Selection Guide: Choose Nebula Opal™ for unique flow patterns. Choose Astral Opal™ for traditional directional fire. Both offer consistent supply and lower risk for everyday jewelry work compared to natural opal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. Beads are precision cut and polished for consistent sizing. Minor tolerance (±0.1mm typical) can occur due to polishing, but they are manufactured for repeatability and batch consistency.
- Full Drill: Hole passes completely through the bead. Best for stringing, wire wrapping, and elastic designs.
- Half Drill: Hole stops halfway through. Designed for stud earrings, glue-in settings, or flat-back applications.
Opal appearance changes with lighting and viewing angle. Under point light, flash appears stronger and more directional. Under diffuse light, color appears softer and more even.
Photos and videos show typical presentation, but slight variation in pattern and flash is normal.
Astral Opal™: 80% silica, structured columnar pattern, higher hardness (4 Mohs), traditional directional fire.
Nebula Opal™: Resin-dominant composition, non-directional swirl pattern, softer (2 Mohs), flow-style color.
Yes. Astral Opal™ & Nebula Opal™ beads are well suited for permanent jewelry applications when properly mounted. Avoid direct torch exposure and extreme heat.
No. Both Astral Opal™ and Nebula Opal™ are color-stable under normal wear conditions. They do not contain water like natural opal and will not dehydrate or craze.
Avoid prolonged exposure to harsh solvents or direct flame.
Ultrasonic cleaners and aggressive solvents are not recommended. Clean gently with mild soap and water. Avoid acetone and strong chemical exposure.
Lab-grown opals provide:
- Consistent sizing and supply
- Stable structure (no dehydration risk)
- Lower cost per comparable visual impact
- Predictable performance in jewelry applications
Natural opal can be beautiful, but is more variable and higher risk for daily wear.
Project Gallery
Customer Reviews
These I used to make an amazing bracelet for my wife. The Sleepy Lavendar is exceptionally beautiful. Even amateur jeweler like me can make a bracelet.
Beautiful product, quick and professional response, quick shipping.
I love this color as I do all the opal colors. This one is a nice vivid blue but not too bright. It gives your project the right amount of “pop.” I paired it with the Blizzard Blue opals in the photo.
This is a very unique shade of yellow (gold) in a good way. I love this one for that reason and will definitely buy more.
I love this shade of green!!! It’s perfect for my opal collection. The name is perfect also it makes me want to go out and get a Key Lime Pie 😂
