Crystals have become increasingly popular in recent years for their purported healing and mystical properties. However, with the rise in demand comes an increase in fake or artificial crystals being sold as authentic. As a beginner exploring the world of crystals, how can you be sure that what you’re buying is the real deal?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about spotting fake crystals and identifying genuine ones. You’ll learn about the properties and characteristics of popular crystals, tests and techniques you can use to authenticate crystals, and red flags to watch out for when shopping.
An Introduction to Natural, Synthetic, and Simulant Crystals
Before going into how to tell real crystals from fakes, it’s important to understand the different categories that exist:
- Natural crystals form completely in nature without any human intervention. They are extracted straight from the earth.
- Synthetic crystals have the same chemical and physical properties as natural crystals but are created in a lab.
- Simulants merely imitate the look of a crystal but have different chemical compositions. They are artificial.
Natural crystals are the most valued since they fully formed over millions of years in the earth’s crust. Synthetic crystals are also real and have the same metaphysical properties but can be produced quicker and more cheaply. Simulants are imposters that lack the energetic qualities of real crystals.
When shopping for crystals, natural and synthetic are acceptable while simulants are fakes. Now let’s go over the distinguishing characteristics.
Indicators That a Crystal Is Genuine
Perfect Specimens Are Rare in Nature
Natural crystals form imperfectly, often with rough spots, markings, or asymmetric shapes. While they can occasionally grow smoothly, perfect crystals are abnormal.
Beware of vendors selling immaculate crystals at cheap prices. These have likely been altered or molded to have unnatural flawlessness.
Subtle Variations in Color
The color of genuine crystals will not be perfectly uniform. Natural stones exhibit subtle variations, gradients, or color concentrations due to their organic formation.
Synthetic crystals also show some minor differences in color. But simulants made of glass or plastic will typically appear more monotone.
Cloudiness and Inclusions
Most natural crystals will include bits of other minerals, liquids, or gases trapped inside as they form. These solid, liquid, or gaseous impurities are called inclusions. Their presence proves the crystal grew naturally underground.
Cloudy areas, noticeable cracks, carbon deposits, water bubbles, and foreign mineral inclusions all point to a genuine crystal specimen.
Physical Tests to Detect Fake Crystals
In addition to examining visual clues, you can perform tangible tests to determine authenticity. Here are some of the most common ones.
The Fog Test
Hold the crystal against your mouth and breathe lightly onto it. If it fogs up, that indicates the stone is real and absorbs the condensation. Plastics and glass won’t fog up.
The Newspaper Test
Place the crystal on top of the newsprint. If the words under the stone appear distorted or magnified, it is a real crystal. Fakes will not have this magnification effect.
The Float Test
Submerge the crystal in water. Real crystals are denser than fake ones, so they will sink. Synthetic crystals also sink while simulants float.
The Scratch Test
Try scraping the crystal against ceramic or glass. Natural and synthetic crystals have a hardness of 7+ on the Mohs scale so they will scratch the surface. Fakes made of plastic or glass will not scratch but be scratched instead.
The Heat Test
Hold a heated needle against an inconspicuous spot. Real crystals do not melt or release toxic fumes when exposed to heat. Plastics will shrivel, burn, or release a chemical odor.
Never heat treat, bleach, stabilize, irradiate, or enhance a crystal artificially to alter its appearance! Doing so weakens the natural energetic properties that make crystals spiritually valuable.
Red Flags: Signs That a Crystal Is Fake
Here are some dead giveaways that a crystal is not genuine:
- Odd bubble-like shapes, perfect spheres, cubes, or exotic clusters. These formations are extremely rare in nature.
- Bright neon or vivid multi-colors. Natural crystals have muted tones.
- Glittery, iridescent sheen. This effect is artificial.
- No visible flaws, inclusions, or growth lines. Natural crystals are imperfect.
- “Too good to be true” low prices for rare crystals.
- The seller claims the stone is exclusive to a certain mine. Most mines produce common crystals.
- Crystals that are abnormally large or tiny. Extremes in size only occur occasionally.
How to Identify Common Fakes and Simulants
Now that you know what to look for generally, let’s break down the unique properties and fakes of popular crystal varieties:
Quartz
What’s Real: Natural quartz can be identified by its six-sided prism termination points and grainy inclusions. It also exhibits some cloudiness. Varieties include amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz, etc.
What’s Fake: Glass and plastic fakes are mass-produced in factories to have perfect clarity and shape. The price is a giveaway too.
Amethyst
What’s Real: True amethyst ranges from pale lavender to deep purple. It often forms in clusters or geodes with gray/white quartz attached. Inclusions are visible under light.
What’s Fake: Fake amethyst is vivid royal purple with no inclusions or growth lines. No other mineral attachments.
Turquoise
What’s Real: Natural turquoise has a waxy texture with veining or spiderweb matrix patterns. The color varies from sky blue to greenish robin’s egg blue.
What’s Fake: Fake turquoise is perfectly uniform in color with a smooth polished appearance. The price will be cheap.
Jade
What’s Real: Genuine jade is cold, smooth, and heavy. It forms in nephrite and jadeite varieties in several translucent colors, most commonly green.
What’s Fake: Fake jade is plastic, glass, or assembled stone that lacks the rich color of real jadeite. It’s also lighter weight.
And so on…
Other tips for common crystals
Safeguard Your Collection Against Fakes
Now that you know what to watch for, here are some tips to keep your crystal collection genuine:
- Only buy from trusted retailers that provide authenticity guarantees. Avoid flea markets.
- Research a crystal’s properties before purchasing so you know what to expect.
- Inspect thoroughly under light for imperfections, inclusions, bubbles, etc.
- Ask if the crystal is natural, synthetic, or simulant before you buy it.
- Avoid “too good to be true” bargains on rare or large crystals.
- Scrutinize for evidence of dyeing, heat treatment, or other enhancements.
- Get a second opinion from other collectors if you’re unsure.
- Keep quality reference books on crystal properties handy for double-checking.
In Summary…
It’s normal to be unsure about crystal authenticity when you’re first building a collection. Arm yourself with the tests, tips, and visual cues provided above to make informed choices.
Being able to confidently determine if a crystal is real ultimately takes research and handling many specimens over time. Get in the habit of thoroughly examining crystals under magnification and light before purchasing.
If you buy from reliable sources, use appropriate authentication techniques, and trust your judgment, you’ll be able to spot genuine crystals from the fakes. Just go slowly amassing quality pieces rather than building a big collection fast.
Hopefully, this beginner’s guide will give you clarity and confidence going forward in the crystal collecting hobby! Let the treasures you acquire resonate with pure cosmic energy.
Related resources: The Illustrated Guide to Crystals by Judy Hall, The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall, The Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if a crystal is real or fake?
There are several ways to determine if a crystal is genuine or an artificial simulant. Examine it closely under magnification for imperfections like inclusions, fractures, and irregularities. Real crystals will show subtle variations in color and will fog up when you breathe on them. They also scratch glass, sink in water, and do not melt under heat.
What should you look for in a real amethyst crystal?
True amethyst has a transparent purple hue that ranges from pale lavender to vivid royal purple, often with gray or white quartz attached. Under light, tiny mineral inclusions and cracks are visible internally, which indicates natural formation. The color is rarely uniform.
How can you identify a fake turquoise stone?
Fake turquoise lacks the inherent veining or spiderweb matrix pattern of real turquoise. The color is usually too uniform and vivid, ranging from sky blue to a perfect robin’s egg blue. Authentic turquoise has a slightly waxy texture and appears greener due to mineral impurities.
What are some giveaways that a crystal seller is untrustworthy?
Warning signs of an untrustworthy seller include perfectly shaped crystals, very low prices for rare stones, claims that a crystal is exclusive to a certain region, and neon bright colors unnatural for that mineral. They may also promise mystical powers or sell certificates of authenticity documents.
Where is the best place to buy genuine crystals?
The safest places to buy real crystals are reputable online retailers that provide return policies and authenticity guarantees. Some top recommended vendors are Crystal Vaults and Gem Rock Auctions. Also, visit gem shows to buy from expert mineral dealers. Avoid buying crystals cheaply on auction sites.