How To Spot Fake Crystals
One of the most common inquiries among crystal enthusiasts revolves around determining the authenticity of their crystals—distinguishing genuine ones from imitations.
The legitimacy of your crystals holds immense significance, as it underpins their healing properties and their intrinsic connection to the natural world.
Authentic crystals undergo extensive growth processes, maturing deep underground, underwater, or within darkness over thousands or even millions of years. They absorb the essence of creation throughout this profound journey before surfacing to enrich our lives.
Regrettably, some individuals exploit trust by producing counterfeit crystals. Synthetic versions, though chemically akin to genuine ones, are artificially grown in laboratories, hastening their formation and enabling mass production. Despite resembling authentic crystals, they lack the same healing attributes.
Moreover, outright fake crystals are imitation pieces crafted from plastic or less valuable stones, dyed and marketed to mimic authenticity. These mass-produced items deceive customers seeking genuine healing properties.
To safeguard against purchasing fake crystals, here are essential guidelines to ensure authenticity from your supplier.
Things To Consider To Avoid Buying Fake Crystals
1. Vet Your Source
The authenticity quest begins with your retailer. Trustworthy sellers value proving a crystal’s authenticity, often holding evidence of its origin. Inquire about their procurement sources and supplier relationships. Beware of retailers evading these queries or lacking supplier knowledge—a red flag for potential inauthenticity.
2. Understand Market Prices
Bargain prices for crystals might signal dubious authenticity. Genuine ones involve meticulous mining and processing, leading to higher costs. Compare prices: verified natural Amethyst from direct sources might cost $50 per 5 carats, but suspiciously similar items on mega-shopping platforms priced at $1 or $5 likely lack authenticity.
3. Be Wary of Naming Tricks
Authentic crystal names are typically straightforward (e.g., Amethyst, Quartz). Beware of quirky names like “Strawberry Turquoise” or “African Emerald,” often used to exaggerate value or peddle imitations. Such mislabeling erodes trust, prompting caution with these retailers.
4. Scrutinize Patterns and Features
Inspecting crystal patterns and striations under good lighting (with at least 10x magnification) helps determine authenticity. Genuine crystals showcase distinct interior and exterior contrasts, clean and precise patterns, while fakes might exhibit crude or irregular patterns, including extraneous markings.
5. Watch for Air Bubbles
Genuine crystals lack air bubbles or contain minute, few bubbles. Larger bubbles or numerous ones suggest possible fakery. Exception: certain crystal formations, like Amethyst Quartz Crystals, may naturally contain small air bubbles.
6. Assess Shape, Cut, and Aesthetics
Authentic crystals exhibit precision in shape and cut due to specialized tools and expertise. Poorly shaped or discounted “ugly” crystals may signify fakery, as genuine ones demand meticulous shaping methods.
7. Evaluate Color, Clarity, and Feel
Genuine crystals possess brilliance, transparency, and refractive properties. Suspicion arises with overly perfect or transparent crystals, or those exhibiting an oily or waxy feel—traits absent in genuine specimens.
8. Test Hardness
Using the Mohs scale, assess a crystal’s hardness. Scratching it against steel or Quartz-like materials might reveal imitations, although some authentic crystals share similar hardness, complicating this test’s effectiveness.
9. Verify Company Information
Reputable dealers offer accurate crystal descriptions, ample photographs, and detailed information. Be cautious of vague or misleading details, inaccurate photos, or missing crucial information—indications of potential counterfeit products. When in doubt, consult a professional appraiser or gemologist specializing in crystals for verification.
How Do I know If My Amethyst Is Real?
Once you’ve settled on a particular retailer, the next step is examining the crystals themselves. Amethyst stands out as a beloved choice for crystal enthusiasts and healers, making it crucial to ensure that your Amethyst is genuine and not a fake. Here are some targeted tips for verifying the authenticity of an Amethyst crystal.
An Authentic Amethyst’s Purple Isn’t Perfect
As you select a specific Amethyst for purchase, it’s important to inspect the crystal for imperfections in its purple hue. These imperfections indicate its natural origin from Mother Nature rather than being artificially created.
Genuine Amethysts exhibit variations in color across the entire crystal, lacking uniform shading. These differences result from the natural chemical processes occurring throughout an Amethyst’s lifespan, evolving over centuries.
In contrast, lab-made or counterfeit Amethysts often lack these nuanced details, appearing overly perfect. They lack color zoning, where hues seamlessly blend and distribute evenly throughout the item, presenting a singular brightness and hue.
An authentic Amethyst crystal doesn’t display a consistent shade of purple or brightness. Instead, it showcases fluctuations throughout its body, creating a nuanced and varied appearance.
Crystal Clarity Check: Examining Amethyst
When examining an Amethyst for authenticity, inspect its internal structure for air bubbles or foreign items. Authentic Amethysts typically lack these, as they aren’t part of the natural crystal formation. Synthetic or imitation crystals often exhibit these imperfections. Differentiate these imperfections from color variations discussed earlier.
Testing Physical Properties of Amethyst
To verify authenticity, perform scientific measurements on your Amethyst. Measure its Specific Gravity using a beaker, scale, and water. Follow these steps:
- Weigh the beaker and note the weight.
- Weigh the Amethyst separately and record its weight.
- Partially fill the beaker with water and note the weight.
- Submerge the Amethyst in the water and record the new water level.
- Calculate the difference in water levels to determine displaced water.
- Subtract the original beaker weight from the water weight after displacement.
- Calculate the Amethyst’s Specific Gravity by dividing its weight by the displaced water weight. (This should be around 2.65 for authentic Amethyst.)
Measure the MOHS hardness, which should be 7, indicating its hardness against scratching by items below this scale, such as a fingernail or a steel knife.
Origin Confirmation of Amethysts
When purchasing Amethyst, inquire about its source. Common origins include Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Seek further information if the location isn’t mentioned to confirm authenticity.
Authenticity Verification for Clear Quartz and Rose Quartz
Both Clear Quartz and Rose Quartz possess indicators of authenticity. Inspect for imperfections in their textures, as genuine quartz typically contains natural irregularities, while synthetic versions may appear too flawless.
Test their MOHS hardness (7) using tools like a fingernail or steel knife; authentic quartz won’t scratch. Verify their Specific Gravity (2.65) using a measurement method similar to the one for Amethyst.
Confirm the origins of Clear or Rose Quartz by asking the retailer for information about their collection sources, which commonly include Russia, Madagascar, the US, and Brazil.
Identifying Authentic Turquoise
Turquoise is commonly counterfeited, often replaced with dyed Howlite. Look for subtle color variations in Turquoise, while dyed Howlite tends to have a uniform color. Examine the black webbing pattern; in dyed Howlite, this pattern might be less distinct due to the dyeing process.
To further check authenticity, apply acetone to a small area; if the color comes off, it’s likely dyed Howlite, not Turquoise. Confirm the authenticity of Turquoise by checking its color variations and black webbing patterns, as well as performing the acetone test to reveal any dye used on the stone.
These methods can assist in discerning between authentic and synthetic crystals when making purchases.
Check The MOHS Hardness And Specific Gravity Of Turquoise
Similar to Amethyst and Quartz mentioned earlier, employing identical physical assessments can help distinguish between authentic Turquoise and Howlite.
Authentic Turquoise typically registers a MOHS hardness of 4.5 – 6, while Howlite measures 3.5 on the MOHS scale. Despite their closely aligned hardness levels, this information serves as a general guide for testing.
If your item displays scratches from sources that shouldn’t harm Turquoise, it’s worth considering the possibility that it might be Howlite.
Another distinguishing factor is the Specific Gravity: Turquoise boasts a Specific Gravity of 2.7, whereas Howlite measures around 2.62. Employing the Specific Gravity testing method detailed earlier can help place your item within this range. Keep in mind that there may be slight variations among pieces, so this test may not definitively identify the stone.
However, when used alongside other measurements and observations, it can contribute to a more comprehensive assessment of your item.
Know Where Turquoise Comes From
When purchasing Turquoise, it’s advisable to inquire about its source region from the retailer.
Reputable merchants usually maintain strong connections with their suppliers and readily provide this information. Regions such as Southwest USA, Mexico, Chile, Iran, China, Tibet, and Egypt are known for their Turquoise quarries and typically signify trustworthy origins.
Absence of these specific regions from your retailer’s response doesn’t necessarily indicate the sale of fake Turquoise. However, it’s prudent to request additional details to ensure the authenticity of the stone and confirm it’s not dyed Howlite.
Do Dyed Crystals Still Work
Discovering that our crystals aren’t as authentic as we initially believed can be disappointing. But does the revelation that they’ve been dyed render them worthless? The answer largely hinges on personal perspectives.
Consider Howlite, often dyed to mimic genuine Turquoise. This dye can be removed, restoring the crystal to its original Howlite form. However, the decision to use it post-transformation is subjective.
For some, reverting an impostor crystal to its natural state signifies a meaningful transformation. Conversely, others might permanently lose their spiritual connection, perceiving it solely as a deceitful purchase.
Should you opt to continue using a dyed crystal, it’s acceptable. Yet, be mindful of potential interactions between the dye and your skin, such as rubbing off or fading—a concern absent in natural crystals.
Identifying the underlying crystal type becomes essential when a crystal has been dyed. This knowledge ensures proper utilization of its inherent qualities during use.
However, some individuals derive value and benefits from a crystal irrespective of its chemical makeup. If your crystal brings substantial value despite doubts about its authenticity, continuing its use without testing may be preferable to maintain its healing influence.
Introducing new information about a crystal’s nature might alter your perception and potentially hinder its healing powers. Trust in the positive effects it has brought you rather than risking disruption by probing its authenticity.
How To Tell If A Crystal Ball Is Real
Crystal Balls come in various materials like glass, blown glass, lead crystal, and reconstituted clear quartz.
Among these, reconstituted clear Quartz stands out as the preferred choice for professional diviners due to its distinctive features that signify its authenticity.
Authentic clear Quartz crystal balls won’t appear entirely clear when you peer into them. Instead, they’ll display slight waves, lines, or cracks—imperfections that are essential for divination purposes.
However, be cautious of bubbles trapped inside the ball, as they are indicative of fake crystals.
Another distinguishing trait of genuine clear Quartz is the absence of trace impurities commonly found in artificial materials like lead or glass.
Sensing the energy of a crystal ball while holding it in your hand is another way to ascertain its value in your practice. Trusting your own intuition can help determine whether the crystal ball aligns with your needs and preferences.
