Opals are as beautiful and breathtaking as they are demanding; opal beads are composed of silica, quartz, and water, and cannot be allowed to dry out, which will cause them to crack. While opal beads can be treated with resin, oil, or other finishing compounds, opals should be stored in damp cotton wool. Opals have a hardness of around 6 on Moh’s scale, and are prized for their luminous, fiery inclusions. Opal beads would be perfect for a wire wrapped pair of earrings or a cherished necklace. Match our African opal beads with an opal cabochon to make a pendant or jewelry set your clients will adore!

Wire-Sculpture is committed to keeping thousands of beads for making jewelry in stock, so you always have a source for the beads you need. Use our beads for any beading project. Even if you primarily work in chain maille, try a metallic or glass bead to accent your work - experiment!

We have a giant selection of gemstone beads to match the cabochon gemstones you work with. Jasper beads, quartz beads, and multi-stone assortments are always popular choices. Explore our gemstones for the stones perfect for your wire jewelry making!