Also known as blue opalite and “Tiffany Stone”, among others, opalite is beloved by crystal collectors for its opalescent beauty and many healing properties.
This man-made stone’s aesthetic appeal may go without saying, but its manifold benefits and high-energy value are less well known. From facilitating the success of business transactions to healing old traumas and strengthening relationships, opalite’s connection with various chakras make it an unmatched crystal for channelling optimism, insight, and connection with youthful innocence.
What’s more, opalite is far more affordable and easier to track down than organic opal, which is only found in nature.
Jump To a Section Below
- What Is Opalite?
- Is Opalite A Real Gemstone?
- Where to Buy Opalite Online?
- What Is The Meaning Of Opalite?
- Benefits And Healing Properties Of Opalite
- Which Chakra Is Opalite Good For?
- How To Use Opalite?
- Where Should I Put Opalite?
- How To Cleanse And Charge Opalite?
- How Can You Tell If Opalite Is Real?
- Which Crystals To Combine With Opalite?
What Is Opalite?
Opalite is an artificial crystal designed to mimic the appearance of the October birthstone, natural opal, which is forged organically out of volcanic ash. It is usually composed of a mixture of glass and metal, although some manufacturers also add plastic resin and other elements.
Although it is most easily recognisable as an opalescent pearl-blue rock, it actually comes in many different colours. The stand-out aesthetic of opalite is its lustrous play-of-colour, creating the glowing illusion of phosphorescence. Surprisingly, the brilliance of opalite is often greater than that of natural opal.
Although the term “opalite” once referred to a certain type of natural opal, it has been synonymous with synthetic opalite crystal since the 1980s. Other names often used to refer to opalite include common opal, purple opal, opalite crystal, ice-cream stone, and opalised fluorite.
Is Opalite A Real Gemstone?
Opalite is not a real gemstone because it is man-made and does not occur in nature. As a result, it is cheaper and more readily available than the natural opal that inspires it. This affordability, however, does not diminish the luminous beauty and many intrinsic benefits of the man-made crystal.
Some opalite contains plastic resin and other components not present in organic opal, whilst others are made up exclusively of metal and glass. In 1974, chemist Pierre Gilson identified the clear spherical atomic structure of organic opal, enabling manufacturers to replicate it more accurately in a laboratory setting.
Collectors should be careful not to confuse opalite with organic blue or green opal, which are far rarer and more expensive. Unscrupulous gem dealers may market synthetic opalite at higher prices, referring to it by exotic-sounding names like “moonstone” and “sea opal”.
Where to Buy Opalite Online?
There are plenty of places to buy this gem online. From specialty online shops to online giants like Amazon.
Our recommendation is to browse Amazon first to get a sense of prices, variety, and quality. Then do a detailed comparison online. Another specialty retailer is TinyRituals, which only sells gemstones of grade AA or higher.
What Is The Meaning Of Opalite?
For crystal healers, opalite is steeped in profound symbolism. It is considered to be emblematic of youthful optimism, playfulness and resilience. Blue and white, the two primary colours often found in opalite, are associated with peace, tranquillity and purity.
Benefits And Healing Properties Of Opalite
Happily, the benefits and healing properties of opalite are equal to those of organic opal.
Like a calming force against a storm, opalite is seen as a helpful catalyst in passing through trying times. By instilling the holder with a sense of peace and self-assurance, opalite can smooth things over in both personal relationships and business interactions.
It is said to facilitate light-heartedness and ease the burdens felt by, in particular, sufferers of emotional illness and trauma. As part of this, opalite helps to clear the mind, thereby reducing fatigue and increasing energy. As such, it is an ideal meditation aid.
Opalite is also said to work well for treating physical ailments including insomnia, nightmares, arrhythmia, and breathing difficulties.
Which Chakra Is Opalite Good For?
Opalite crystal is primarily associated with the crown and third eye chakras. The crown chakra connection enhances self-insight, intuition and psychic abilities. The third eye chakra connection further strengthens self-understanding, in addition to clarifying perceptions of the external world.
In blue opalite, these qualities combine with a connection to the throat chakra to imbue the stone with the power to smooth interpersonal communication and enhance self-expression. Green opalite, meanwhile, resonates with the heart chakra to magnify warm and loving energy in all its forms.
Evidently, the colour of your opalite crystal strongly influences its chakra connections. Regardless of colour, however, opalite is a powerful stone for clearing blockages in the chakras and meridians. It is also frequently used to balance the feminine and masculine energies.
How To Use Opalite?
Opalite is ideal for use during times of change or upheaval. You may simply keep it close at hand, particularly in the location (the bedroom, the office, etc.) where you feel it is most needed, wear it as jewelry, or even integrate it into your meditation practice.
Where Should I Put Opalite?
To have continuous access to the benefits of opalite, you can simply carry it around with you in your pocket. For maximum benefit, wear opalite as jewelry to ensure contact with the skin, where, like other healing crystals, opalite works its greatest magic.
During meditation, you can place your opalite crystal over the chakra on which you would like to focus. For example, place it over your third eye to help clear your mind and tap into your creativity.
You can also experience opalite’s benefits simply by being in the same room with it. So consider keeping some opalite in places where you tend to make important decisions. Here, it will diffuse negative energies and facilitate clarity of mind.
If you have placed your opalite in a common area, be sure to cleanse it more frequently to eliminate stored-up energies.
How To Cleanse And Charge Opalite?
Like other healing stones, opalite crystal requires periodic spiritual cleansing. This should be done when you first acquire it and after long periods of disuse, as well as every now and then during regular use.
There are two ways to cleanse opalite – by placing it in a special amethyst or quartz container overnight or by smudging.
Appropriate containers for opalite cleansing include the geodes, druses, beds and clusters. Both quartz and amethyst have the ability to absorb and neutralise any negative energies within the opalite. Alternatively, smudging involves holding the opalite stone in the smoke of a burning smudge or incense stick.
To charge your opalite crystal, you may expose it to sun- or moonlight after cleansing it. Some argue that all that is necessary to charge opalite is the touch of your own body.
How Can You Tell If Opalite Is Real?
Since it is not actually a true gem, genuineness is a moot point when it comes to opalite. All opalite is synthetic. More commonly, collectors are concerned with whether a crystal is man-made opalite or organic opal.
If you are trying to make this distinction, it is best to use a loupe magnifier and an ultraviolet torch. Using a high level of magnification, you will be able to spot the regularity and lizard-skin-like pattern characteristic of synthetic opalite. Also note that, if your crystal gives off a greenish glow under UV light, it is sure to be opalite and not true opal.
Which Crystals To Combine With Opalite?
You may also consider combining opalite with other crystals to magnify its healing attributes:
- The passionate and vital energy of fire opal counterbalances the tranquillity of opalite, making this an ideal combination for the bedroom.
- Opalite rebounds off of blue Peruvian opal’s similarly strong link to the third eye chakra. Together, they strengthen insight and intuition.
- Clear quartz magnifies opalite’s positive energy to add to its healing properties, fostering goodwill toward others.
- Combine opalite with goldstone and you will find your determination and creative prowess strengthened.
Whenever you use opalite, alone or in combination with these or other crystals, remember that focused intention is the key to harnessing its special power.
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.