No, the material most commonly sold as Opalite is not a naturally occurring mineral or gemstone; it is a man-made glass.

Here's what you should know about its composition:

The most common type of Opalite sold today is synthetic opalescent glass. Manufacturers create it by melting glass with a blend of other materials (such as dolomite and metallic elements) to achieve its distinctive milky, iridescent, and luminous glow. This soft shimmer has led to various trade names, including "sea opal" or "opal moonstone."

Opal Simulant: Opalite serves as an effective simulant, meaning it's specifically created to mimic the aesthetic of genuine gemstones like natural opal and moonstone. Crucially, it does not share the same chemical composition as natural opal, nor does it display the unique, vibrant, flashing rainbow effect, known as play-of-color, that defines precious opals.

Natural Confusion: To prevent mix-ups, it's important to know that the term "opalite" was historically used by some gemologists to refer to a natural, impure form of common opal that naturally lacks the vibrant color flashes. Today, however, most experts use the clearer term "common opal" to distinguish the natural stone from the widespread, man-made glass product.

When you purchase Opalite jewelry, you are buying a beautiful and popular glass material that is valued for its unique, luminous aesthetic.

How to Identify Man-Made Opalite

Since the vast majority of Opalite on the market is a man-made glass simulant, determining if it is "real" usually means determining if it is genuine Opalite glass versus a cheaper plastic or resin alternative, or if it's being mislabeled as natural opal.

Here are a few simple ways to check your piece, focusing on the properties of glass:

1. Check for Air Bubbles

While Opalite is designed to be clear and flawless, the manufacturing process (melting glass) can sometimes leave behind tiny air bubbles or swirl lines.

• Look closely: Examine the stone under bright light or magnification. If you see small, perfectly rounded air bubbles trapped inside, you're almost certainly looking at the man-made Opalite glass. Natural gemstones typically don't have these rounded bubbles.

2. Perform the Temperature Test (The "Palm Test")

Natural stones tend to feel cool to the touch and take longer to warm up than glass or plastic.

• Warm the Stone: Hold the Opalite piece tightly in your hand or palm for about a minute.
• Check the Temperature: When you remove it, a real natural stone (like quartz or common opal) would still feel cool or take a noticeably long time to absorb and hold your body heat. Glass or plastic (like Opalite) will warm up rapidly and feel closer to your body temperature. If the stone is no longer cool to the touch, it indicates a glass or plastic base, which is consistent with man-made Opalite.

3. Check for Flashing Color (Play-of-Color)

If the piece exhibits a rainbow flash, it's a sign of a true opal simulant:

• True Opal: Displays a vibrant, fiery, and irregular "play-of-color" (rainbow flashes that change intensely with the angle).
• Opalite (Glass): Displays a soft, milky, and overall iridescence that shifts between blue and peach/orange tones depending on the background, but it does not have the intense, multi-colored flashing fire of natural precious opal.

Synthetic Opals

Synthetic opalite gems are typically priced very affordably, generally costing $1 to $3 each.

No, opal and opalite are fundamentally different.

• Opal is a natural mineraloid formed over millions of years with a unique internal structure that creates its mesmerizing play-of-color (the flash of rainbow light). It is a genuine gemstone prized for its rarity and natural beauty.
• Opalite, in contrast, is a synthetic glass manufactured to mimic the milky, translucent appearance of opal and moonstone. While it has a beautiful luminous glow, it lacks the complex chemical structure and vibrant color flashes of natural opal.

No, Opalite is generally considered quite durable and is less likely to break than natural precious opal.

Because Opalite is a type of manufactured glass, it is actually harder and more resilient than the more delicate natural opal. This durability, combined with its affordability and beautiful luminous appearance, makes Opalite a popular and practical choice for everyday jewelry.

No, they are completely different materials.

Although Opalite and Moonstone are often confused because both can display a soft, luminous glow, they are fundamentally distinct:

• Moonstone is a natural mineral with a complex geological history. Its signature shimmer (adularescence) is caused by the internal structure of stacked mineral layers.
• Opalite is an artificial glass manufactured by humans. It is designed to mimic the glowing appearance of gemstones like moonstone and opal, but it lacks the natural composition and rarity of true Moonstone.