The 5 Most Commonly Faked Crystals and What to Look Out For!
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The 5 most commonly faked mineral and crystals and what to know before buying!
The crystal industry is a multi-billion dollar a year industry. People around the world are interested in collecting a variety of crystals due to their beauty, beliefs around metaphysical properties, and for use in jewelry production, to name just a few.
The demand has caused an great increase of many fakes on the market. If you know what to look for then you can avoid being scammed. Here is a list of the 5 most commonly faked crystals out there and how you can tell the difference.
1. Turquoise
Turquoise is a highly desirable material. It is often used in jewelry production. It is known for its intense sky blue or blue-green coloring. Real turquoise is rare, so the majority of turquoise sold on the market is actually fake. Often, howlite is dyed blue to mimic the color of true turquoise. However, turquoise is harder than howlite, so a scratch test can reveal if you have a fake. If you apply nail polish remover (acetone) to the stone, blue dye on your cotton swab will reveal that you have a piece of dyed howlite. Real turquoise is heavy for its size and has a more muted hue ( richly saturated colors indicate fakes). Natural turquoise is embedded in matrix, so if you see a piece that seems to have no matrix whatsoever, it is most likely a fake piece. And the old adage applies, if the price is too good to be true, it usually is! Overseas sellers at gem shows will often sell dyed howlite or resins as being “turquoise”, but if the price seems like a steal, run! Its a guaranteed fake.
2. Citrine
Citrine is the name applied to quartz when it appears to have a yellowish hue. Natural citrine is produced in the earth due to heat when certain elements are present in the crystal structure. Natural citrine is not that common, so much of what is advertised as “citrine” is actually heat treated amethyst. You can tell the difference easily by the color. If the crystal you are looking at has a color gradient, going from white or clear near the base and deepening or intensifying in color as it goes to the tip of the crystal, then you have a fake citrine. The crystal itself may be real, but the coloring is not natural. Crystals that are an intense yellow, a rich orange, or a burnt amber color are all fake citrine. If the crystals seem to have been part of a geode, it has undergone heat treatment as natural citrine does not form as geodes.
3. Quartz
Believe it or not, quartz are sometimes faked. Clear quartz and rose quartz are pretty abundant on the earth, yet because they are highly desired within the metaphysical community, overseas sellers can manufacture them cheaper and make a larger profit margin. Often they will appear as beads in jewelry or components in beauty tools like facial rollers. Glass is often substituted for clear quartz and rose quartz is duped with resin materials. A close inspection can clarify if you are looking at a natural substance or one that was manufactured. Look for bubbles that often appear in glass. Resin will feel lighter for the size of the object you’re holding. Also, resin will feel warmer to the touch as it quickly effected by body heat. If you already bought something an aren’t sure if your piece is true quartz or not, set a lighter or match to it—if it melts, you’ve unfortunately been fooled.
4. Malachite
If you’ve seen polished malachite tumbles or slabs, you can appreciate why this material is highly sought after. Yet, its a quite commonly faked mineral. The fakes usually appear as cabochons, beads or tumbled stones. Natural malachite has undulating patterns that curve and swirl on the stone. You’ll see variation in the green hues from rich jungle greens to lighter minty greens. Faked stones will often have parallel black and green banding. Look closely and you’ll see that the lines appear too perfect or appear to have subtle brush strokes, indicating it was painted on. Because fake malachite is made from a resin, it will feel lighter and warmer to the touch. If you scratch the surface of the stone, you will see the white resin underneath. Honest vendors who sell this material will tell you that its manufactured, as the cheaper price makes it more affordable for people who want to use small pieces as cabochons in jewelry.
5. Moldavite
In the metaphysical community, moldavite is a highly sought-after material due to the belief that it posses great healing power. Moldavite is a molten glass that resulted from the impact of a meteorite which melted surrounding rock and soil. Moldavites are easily and often faked. Colored glass that is pressed into a mold can result in a very convincing dupe. And being that moldavite is essential a glass material, bubbles within the stone are common. Yet, bubbles also appear in the glass fakes, so that alone cannot be an indicator of genuine material. Generally, true moldavite will appear as a more olive green color instead of a bright green. Look for irregular shapes and patterning which is a indication of a naturally formed stone and not manufactured glass. Due to its rarity, moldivite is quite expensive. It would be wise to do extensive research before purchasing to familiarize yourself with what true moldavite looks like. It would also be helpful to research the professional reputation of a seller before buying. And keep in mind, although many sellers will try to prove the authenticity of their moldavite with a certificate, these certificates are easily faked and do not guarantee you are buying the real thing.