Opalite Carvings, Hearts & Jewelry

Man-Made Glass With an Opal-Like Glow

About Our Opalite

Opalite is man-made glass, made to be opalescent so that it seems to glow from inside. Against a dark surface it looks pale blue. Hold it up to a window and it warms to amber and peach, because the glass scatters blue light back toward you and lets warmer tones pass through. Opalite is a different material from natural opal, a gemstone with shifting flashes of color, and from moonstone, a natural feldspar with a sheen that slides across its surface. You may also see opalite sold as sea opal. Our guide to what opalite is covers the differences in full.

Most of our opalite pieces are small: hearts, pyramids, tower points, beaded bracelets and carved animals, from axolotls and frogs to rabbits, horses and turtles. They make easy gifts for anyone who notices pretty things, and collectors add them as a glowing companion to the natural stones already on the shelf. People in the crystal community associate opalite with calm, clear communication and steadiness during times of change, and many link it with the third eye chakra. Set a piece where daylight reaches it and it will show both its blue and its gold through the day.

For more small treasures, explore our mini crystal carvings and crystal hearts, or browse our unique gift ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Opalite

Is opalite real opal?

No. Opalite is man-made glass, and opal is a natural gemstone that forms in the earth. The names are close, so the two are often confused. Opalite has an even glow, blue in shadow and gold in the light, while precious opal shows flashes of color that shift as the stone moves. Our guide to the difference between opal and opalite explains more.

Is opalite a crystal?

Not in the geological sense. Opalite is glass, and glass has no crystal structure. People collect, display and gift it alongside crystals because of its soft glow.

Is opalite a good gift?

Yes. Opalite hearts, pyramids and carved animals are small, easy to display, and fun to hold up to the light. A heart suits a birthday or a thank-you, a carved animal suits a collector, and a beaded bracelet suits someone who would rather wear it.

Can I wear an opalite bracelet every day?

Yes. Opalite is glass, so water will not harm the beads, and you can wash them with mild soap and dry them with a soft cloth. Opalite can chip if it is knocked against a hard surface and scratch against harder stones such as quartz, so take it off for rough work and store it on its own.

What is opalite used for?

Most people keep opalite where they can see it: a tower or pyramid on a desk, a heart on a shelf, a carved animal in a collection. People in the crystal community also work with it for calm, clear communication and steadiness during times of change, and many associate it with the third eye chakra.

Will my opalite piece look like the photo?

Close to it. Opalite is consistent from piece to piece, but its color depends on the light: pale blue against a dark background, amber or peach when light shines through. The same piece can look different from one photo to the next. Carvings are finished by hand, so small details vary.