The white rhinestone in our line is White Opal. It is a soft, semi-opaque white with a milky glow, and it is the closest thing to a true white that exists in crystal. If you searched for white rhinestones and expected a flat, painted white, White Opal is what you are looking for.

Crystal is glass, and glass is transparent by nature. A white crystal is made by clouding the glass rather than coloring it, which produces a stone that glows instead of flashing. That is why White Opal reads softer than a clear stone and why it holds its color under stage lighting instead of disappearing into the fabric behind it.

White Opal is the standard choice for bridal work, lyrical and contemporary dance, figure skating, and any design built on ivory, champagne, or blush fabric. It sits against pale colors without the hard sparkle of a clear stone, which is what makes it read as elegant rather than flashy.

White Opal is stocked in flatback across MAXIMA Crystals by Preciosa^®, LUX European Crystal^®, and PriceLess Crystal^™, in sizes from 5ss to 30ss. Two AB versions are also available: White Opal AB and White Opal Shimmer AB, both of which add an iridescent shift over the milky base.

Frequently asked questions

Why are white rhinestones called opal?

Opal is the crystal industry's name for a semi-opaque finish, borrowed from the gemstone it resembles. White Opal is the white version of that finish. The name describes how the stone handles light, not a separate material, so a white rhinestone and a White Opal rhinestone are the same thing.

What is the difference between white and crystal clear rhinestones?

White Opal is semi-opaque and glows. Crystal clear is fully transparent and flashes. A clear stone takes on the color of the fabric behind it, so on an ivory costume it will read ivory. A White Opal stone stays white regardless of what it is set on. Choose white when you need the stone itself to be the color.

Do white rhinestones come in hotfix?

White Opal is currently stocked in flatback. Flatback stones are applied with adhesive, which gives you more control on stretch fabrics, mesh, and finished garments than a heat application would. If you need a hotfix white, contact us and we can check availability.

What is White Opal Shimmer AB?

It is a White Opal stone with both a shimmer treatment and an aurora borealis coating. The milky white base stays, and the coating adds a pale iridescent shift as the stone moves. Use it where plain White Opal reads too flat and a clear crystal AB reads too bright.

What other opal colors are available?

White Opal is one of several stones in the opal family, which also includes Rose Opal, Amethyst Opal, Chrysolite Opal, and Light Sapphire Opal. All share the same semi-opaque glow in different shades.