Buzz
If you feel that one of the crystals in your collection isn't performing as well as expected and suspect it's fake, how can you be sure? There are several signs to look out for to determine its authenticity, ranging from features at the stone store to how it feels when held in your hand. That's why we've put together a helpful guide on how to spot fake stones, along with information about synthetic stones and heat-treated crystals. If you're ready to test your collection, keep reading below!
Key Insights
- Be cautious of sellers with little knowledge, deals that sound too good to be true, and stones that appear too vibrant, flawless, and transparent.
- Natural stones feel cool to the touch, have imperfections, are difficult to scratch, and are typically heavier than fake stones.
- Synthetic and heat-treated stones aren't considered 100% fake and are still used for therapy, meditation, or expressing desires.
Steps
Signs of Fake Stones
The stone feels unusually light when you pick it up. Natural stones contain metals and inclusions that form during the geological process, making them heavier. Fake stones, on the other hand, are usually made of glass. In some cases, a natural stone can be as heavy as a fake one twice its size.
The stone feels too warm when you touch it. Real stones don't retain heat for long and will feel cool to the touch. Pick up the stone and assess its temperature—if it's real, it will feel cooler than your hand, even cooler than room temperature. If the stone feels warm or is at room temperature, it's likely not genuine.
The stone's color is unnaturally bright compared to others. Many natural stones are bright, but they tend to have a more opaque or subdued hue than artificially dyed stones. If your stone looks exceptionally bright or saturated (such as neon yellow or pink), it’s likely dyed to look more appealing.
- Look for cracks or fractures on the stone’s surface. If you notice darker streaks, it indicates the dye has settled in those cracks.
The stone contains tiny air bubbles inside. When natural crystals form underground, they may have cracks, scratches, or small inclusions, but they never contain air bubbles. Air bubbles are a telltale sign that the stone might be glass, cut to resemble a real crystal.
- Air bubbles can be hard to spot at first—hold the stone close to your eyes or use a magnifying glass to see deeper inside.
The stone appears unnaturally clear, perfect, and glass-like. Truly transparent natural crystals are extremely rare, especially colored gemstones such as emeralds or topaz, which is why they are so expensive and highly prized. Most natural stones feature internal fractures or hydrothermal veins, or imperfections along the edges. Always check for these features when shopping, even when viewing online photos. If none are present, your “stone” may just be glass.
- Glass imitation stones usually have sharp, precise cuts and a perfect polish (natural stones rarely have such flawless cuts).
- Hold the suspected fake stone over text. A real crystal will distort the text in various directions, while glass will only magnify it.
- Compare the price with the clarity of the stone. If you find a large, flawless emerald priced under a few hundred dollars, it is likely a synthetic stone.
The stone is fragile and prone to scratches. Many of the most common therapeutic crystals are fairly hard, usually ranking at least 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. Natural stones are not easily damaged by drops or scratches, while glass only rates a 5.5 on the Mohs scale. If you suspect your crystal is fake, check its hardness and try scratching it on a flat glass surface. If it’s real, it will leave a mark on the glass.
- This test is ineffective for softer stones like selenite or fluorite, which score below 5 on the Mohs scale.
- Another test involves dropping the stone. Hard stones like quartz (7 on the Mohs scale) won’t break, while glass will shatter or chip.
The stone will smoke, emit a burnt smell, or melt when exposed to fire. If you suspect your stone is fake, hold it over a lighter for about 10-20 seconds. If it’s plastic, it will begin to melt or distort. Real stones do change with heat, but not at the relatively low temperature of a lighter.
- This test works for plastic imitation stones but not for glass crystals.
- You can probably only perform this test on stones you’ve purchased (salespeople aren’t going to burn their products in-store!).
- Plastic stones are also lighter than real stones and more prone to scratches.
The stone has a strange, silly name or a fruit-inspired name. Some real crystals have elegant names, but many with too quirky or descriptive names are likely marketing tactics for fake stones. For instance, a fake rose quartz might just be a piece of dyed glass sold as Rosey Quartz, or strawberry quartz (a real but rare stone) could be a dyed imitation to make it look more vibrant.
- If a stone has an odd name and appears suspiciously clear, sparkling, and perfect, it’s probably fake.
The price of the stone is far too low for high-quality gems. If you find a stone priced so low it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t real (especially when purchasing online). Check the price, size, and quality standards for the stone at multiple retailers to get a sense of its market value. A low price doesn’t automatically mean it’s fake, but you should look for other signs to confirm its authenticity.
The seller appears to be uninformed about their crystals. A knowledgeable buyer will have questions that a reputable seller should be able to answer clearly and in detail. If you visit a crystal shop and the seller only provides vague or unhelpful responses, it could indicate that they’re not selling real stones. When shopping online, read reviews to assess the seller’s credibility. Fake products are a major warning sign!
- Take note of the variety of gemstones in the store. If the shop has a large quantity of a rare stone, it’s likely that at least some of them are fake.
- Real stones radiate a distinct energy that can be felt. Trust your instincts if the store doesn’t seem to offer genuine stones.
Are heat-treated crystals considered fake?
Heat treatment enhances the beauty of natural stones and doesn’t make them fake. Many popular healing stones such as citrine and aquamarine are heat-treated to improve their color. Heat is a natural part of the crystal formation process deep within the earth, and without a skilled expert and a microscope, it’s impossible to determine whether a stone was treated before or after it was mined.
- Heat-treated stones vibrate almost identically to natural stones from the earth, making them effectively usable by healing professionals.
- The results of natural heat treatment deep underground and lab-based heat treatment are nearly identical.
- Even professional gemstone dealers label crystals and gems as “may have been heat-treated” because it’s incredibly difficult to confirm!
How are synthetic stones different from natural stones?
Synthetic crystals share the same chemical composition as natural stones but have weaker energy. Synthetic stones are created in labs and replicate real stones so closely that they are hard to distinguish – they are often clearer and lack the intricate geometric structures that are found in nature. As a result, synthetic crystals only possess one-third of the energy of naturally-formed stones.
- Synthetic stones are a great choice for jewelry, offering beauty, ethical sourcing, and affordability.
- Research the average price of the stone you want to buy. If the price seems unusually low, it could be a synthetic crystal.
- Natural crystals gain their energy from a rare and unique combination of chemicals, heat, pressure, and other natural factors found deep within the earth.
The Most Common Fake Stones
Quartz, amethyst, moldavite, and turquoise are the most frequently faked stones. These stones are highly sought after and popular, which means dishonest sellers may profit by using dyed glass or synthetic plastic stones. Be extra cautious when shopping for these stones:
- Moldavite is especially popular on TikTok and can be hard to identify as real since it's a natural type of glass. Other types of glass, such as obsidian, can also be easily faked.
- Any kind of quartz stone can be faked to look very similar, particularly clear quartz or rose quartz. Fake quartz is often made from glass.
- Dyed glass is often used to mimic amethyst, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.
- Lapis lazuli, citrine, turquoise, carnelian, agate, and jade (both pink and purple varieties) are often faked by dyeing lesser quality stones to look like higher-end ones.
- Other commonly faked stones include malachite, fluorite, larimar, and peridot.
Advice
- Fake stones can't harm you, so feel free to use them. Just keep in mind they don't have the healing properties, dream manifestation qualities, or meditative effects you might expect!
- Be cautious about what you hear regarding crystal stones on social media. Many influencers don't fully understand how to use stones or their properties, unlike reputable retailers and professional healers.
- Some stones, like obsidian, are naturally occurring glass, but many fake stones on the market are actually dyed glass made to look like the real deal.
