How to Tell If Crystals Are Real or Fake: A Complete Guide
Shopping for crystals online can feel overwhelming, with so many imitations, heat-treated stones, and glass lookalikes on the market, how do you know if you’re investing in the real thing?
At Crystals.com, every piece is hand-selected from origin and photographed individually, so you know exactly what you’re receiving. Unlike mass-market sellers, we don’t dye, alter, or mislabel stones. Here’s your definitive guide to spotting fake vs real crystals, so you can shop with confidence.
Why Authentic Crystals Matter
Real crystals carry the natural structure, energy, and history of the Earth. Treated or fake stones may look pretty but often lack durability, vibrational energy, and authenticity. Collectors, healers, and interior designers all agree — the value is in authenticity and origin.
Shop our Authentic Crystal Collection, sourced directly from Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, and beyond.
Common Signs of Fake or Treated Crystals
1. Color That Looks “Too Perfect”
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Dyed quartz or glass often has an unnaturally bright or uniform color.
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Real crystals usually show natural gradients, inclusions, and subtle imperfections.
Example: Real Amethyst shows soft violet layers, while dyed quartz can look neon purple.
SHOP GENUINE AMETHYST CRYSTAL HERE
2. Air Bubbles or Plastic Shine
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Glass imitations often have tiny round air bubbles visible inside.
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The surface may look shiny and plastic-like rather than mineral-textured.
Check real Quartz — it will be cool to the touch, with inclusions or veils, not bubbles.
3. Heat-Treated Crystals
Some stones are real quartz but artificially altered:
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Citrine — often heat-treated amethyst (bright orange, not natural golden).
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Aura Quartz — quartz bonded with metal vapor to produce rainbow sheen.
At Crystals.com, we only carry Natural Citrine, never heat-treated amethyst.
Heat Treated
Smoky Quartz
One of the most faked varieties, Smoky Quartz should display natural gradients of brown to gray rather than a flat, dyed color. Authentic pieces feel cool and heavy, with subtle transparency, while fakes often appear overly dark or uniformly tinted glass.
Malachite – Frequently faked with glass or plastic.
→ Add: “Authentic Malachite has concentric banding with depth and texture. Fake versions are painted or printed patterns that look flat or repetitive.”
Turquoise
One of the most imitated stones on the market, Turquoise is often faked with dyed howlite or resin. Authentic Turquoise has natural veining (matrix patterns), subtle color variations from sky blue to greenish tones, and feels cool and solid in the hand. Fake versions tend to look overly uniform in color, with surface dye that can rub off.
4. Price That’s Too Good to Be True
If a seller is offering large geodes or flawless points for suspiciously low prices, it’s a red flag. True museum-quality crystals are rare and priced accordingly.
Explore our One-of-a-Kind Collection to see the difference in quality and sourcing.
How to Test Crystals at Home
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Hardness Test: Real quartz (Mohs 7) can scratch glass; glass cannot scratch quartz.
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Temperature Test: Crystals feel cool to the touch; fakes often warm quickly in your hand.
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Visual Inspection: Look for natural inclusions, fractures, and zoning — perfection usually means imitation.
Learn more about mineral properties at GIA Gem Encyclopedia.
Why Buy from Crystals.com?
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Founder-led sourcing from family-run mines.
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Individual photography — you see the exact piece you’ll own.
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No dyes, no fillers, no fake stones.
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Curated collections for Protection, Love, Manifestation, and Home Décor.
We believe in slow luxury, crystals as art, not commodities.
FAQs: Real vs Fake Crystals
How can you tell if a crystal is real?
Look for natural color zoning, inclusions, and texture. Real crystals are cool to the touch and never perfectly uniform.
What crystals are most often faked?
Amethyst, citrine, turquoise, malachite, and quartz are the most commonly dyed, heated, or imitated.
Where can I buy real crystals online?
The safest option is Crystals.com, every crystal is hand-selected, photographed individually, and sourced directly from origin.
Are heat-treated crystals fake?
Technically not "fake" but they are altered versions of natural stones. While some sellers market them as “natural,” at Crystals.com we only sell genuine, untreated stones.
The crystal world is full of imitations, but when you shop with knowledge and care, you’ll always find the authentic energy you’re looking for.
Explore our curated Authentic Crystals Collection and bring home pieces that are natural, powerful, and truly one-of-a-kind.
