Can Opalite go in Water? All of Your Opalite Questions Answered!

Last Updated on December 29, 2023

Unlike many other crystals, gems, stones, and minerals, opalite—typically known for its smooth texture, sky blue color, and glimmering white appearance in sunlight—is commonly found in its manmade form rather than natural form. What does this mean for opalite’s relationship with water then?

Yes, Opalite can go in water, but there are some precautions that you should take when rinsing or bathing it.

Personally, I prefer only to rinse my opalite briefly every now and then because there is less of a risk of damage occurring.

Some collectors avoid rinsing their opalite in water altogether.

However, by the end of this article you should be in a place to make an informed decision regarding whether or not you wish to rinse or soak your opalite in water, or use other methods to cleanse it.

Contents

What is the Difference Between Manmade and Natural Opalite?

Before we get into determining whether or not it is beneficial to rinse your opalite in water, perhaps it is best to discern between manmade and natural opalite: Manmade opalite is created from glass while natural opalite forms from volcanic ash in places like Africa and Brazil.

Other than the fact that one is manmade and the other naturally occurring, there really aren’t that many differences between the two visually.

When it comes to the Mohs Hardness Scale, opalite—natural opalite in particular—has properties similar to that of opal and sits between a 5 and 6. Typically, any stone, gem, crystal, or mineral that is between 1 and 5 should never go in water. Opalite sits right on the brink of that limit, so this is where you have to make your own decision regarding whether or not you wish to put your opalite in water.

What Happens when Opalite goes in Water?

Like so many crystals, stones, gems, and minerals, opalite can—in fact—go in water. There are just some consequences that may occur over time.

For instance, if you rinse your opalite for a brief moment in water every few days and dry it off immediately with a soft cloth, then it will probably take an extremely long time to notice any damage occurring.

However, if you put your opalite in a water bath for a couple hours every day, you are likely going to see its visual appearance deteriorate much quicker. Opalite has tiny cracks that might not be visible to your eye, but they’re there alright. And if you soak your opalite for long enough, the water could cause those cracks to widen and the opalite to break apart.

The opalite may break apart even quicker if you bathe it in hot water or saltwater. So, if you are going to rinse your opalite in water, it is ideal to use room temperature tap or filtered water.

Are there Alternative Methods for Cleaning Opalite?

You can definitely still rinse your opalite in water if you take the extra precautions.

However—if you are concerned that rinsing your opalite in water might compromise its appearance and structure—then there are several other ways you can clean your opalite.

If you are a collector, you might simply place your opalite next to other stones, crystals, gems, or minerals—like selenite—in order to clean and recharge its energy.

If you do not have access to any other stones, gems, crystals, or minerals, then there is always the option of cleansing and recharging your opalite with sunlight, moonlight, or even burying it under the ground for a period of time.

What Energetic Properties does Opalite Have?

If you don’t already have opalite in your collection but are reading this article because you’ve been considering purchasing it, then I’d highly recommend that you go ahead and purchase it. It’s a must-have in every collection!

Why is it a must-have, you may be wondering?

Well—other than having a beautiful shine and eye-catching color combination—opalite is known for its energetic properties of hope and optimism, youth and child-like nature, and often brings new beginnings and clarity. It helps bring out your inner child, which all of us need sometimes.

Opalite is also known for being a mood booster, so it might be beneficial to carry around a small piece with you—maybe in the form of a necklace, bracelet, earrings, anything really—so you can be reminded of your child-like qualities and bring optimism wherever you go.

Eran Hayo is the Chief Editor of Jewels Advisor, with over 5 years of experience in the fields of jewelry and memorabilia. He built Jewels Advisor to serve one main purpose – to teach you everything he knows about jewelry, and help you make better-informed decisions when buying diamonds and engagement rings online. His work has been cited on famous publications such as The Sun, MSN and WikiHow.