How to spot a fake Moldavite Crystal

The internet is rife with people selling sought-after goods, from handbags to perfume, all which claim to be legitimate, but in reality are as real as the Earth is square. Unfortunately, crystals are not exempt from this movement and buyers looking to expand their collection often fall victim to scammers selling fake stones. Due to its growing popularity over the last twenty years, Czech-native tektite, Moldavite has plenty of doppelgangers all over the world. Its beautiful forest green or olive-green colouring and powers of transformation makes it high in demand with collectors and more casual crystal experimenters alike – not to mention those who purely want to utilise its beauty for jewellery.

Sellers on websites such as eBay and Etsy are often found to be selling Moldavite produced and dispatched from the likes of China, Hong Kong, India and Thailand, where the ‘crystal’ is being manufactured out of glass and sold to unsuspecting buyers. Crystal-lovers all over the world are also reporting on the high numbers of fakes that they’ve found on their travels, from exotic jewellery stores in Asia to market stalls in Europe. Not all fake sellers are scammers though and a lot of crystal sellers that believe their stock to be genuine are falling victim to a dishonest supplier. Luckily, there are ways to decipher whether the Moldavite you have your eye on is real, before you part with any money. Here are some important questions to ask yourself before you make the leap.

What does fake Moldavite look like?

The standard of Moldavite fakes range from really bad to impressively good. Real Moldavite has a unique rough surface texture, with bubbles and swirls within the crystal. Each piece will be uniquely shaped and will most likely look weathered in a way that only Mother Nature could achieve. A bad fake will often be smooth like glass, with a wet-look surface and a bubble-free centre.

Ask to see a selection of the Moldavite being sold by the same seller – if each piece is an identical or similar shape, size and is bigger than your average large piece of real Moldavite, it is probably fake. Below is an extremely large Moldavite FAKE which should ring alarm bells as the largest moldavite ever found is in the 250-gram range and most you will find on the market are no more than 50 grams, anything larger than this is usually very rare and snapped up fast by die-hard collectors.

A good fake, on the other hand will be a little trickier to spot. Fake sellers have recently started changing the moulds that they use to set their glass in to be jagged, which creates a realistic crystal surface. In true dedication to the cause, some are moulded and then coated in an erosive substance to give a more naturally rough effect. The bubbles within, however, are much harder to replicate and will more often than not give the game away, so invest in a magnifying glass for when you need to investigate further.

How much should genuine Moldavite cost?

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you search across the internet you will see some variance in prices, some sellers mark the product up higher in order to fool you into a false sense of security – this is just one of many tricks the scammer uses to fool the unsuspecting collector. If you are buying from another country, make sure you do the math on the exchange rate and work out whether the price you’re paying sounds about right or not – and always make sure you use a secure payment gateway such as paypal for that extra insurance.

Where is genuine Moldavite from?

Genuine Moldavite derives from the Czech Republic and is believed to have a 14.8 million year history, which deserves to be respected. Therefore, treat anyone who says that their stock come from elsewhere in the world with extreme caution. Due to its incredible properties and high levels of energy, fake sellers will attempt to capitalise on Moldavite’s greatness by attaching its name to other materials. ‘African Moldavite’ is a common imposter, which is nothing more than glorified sea glass, sellers will claim it carries the same powers as genuine Czech Moldavite. Needless to say, this is not the case.

What can I do if I’m not sure?

The short answer is to not purchase any Moldavite which you have doubts about. You may end up paying for a counterfeit and will not reap and of the spiritual rewards of owning this high energy crystal. If, however, you have your eye on a particular piece of Moldavite and are worried that you are just being over cautious, get a second, third and fourth opinion. There are experts online who you can contact with a link to the Moldavite you are looking to purchase, who will be able to advise whether they believe it to be real. If you hear back that it seems to be fake, any reputable expert will be able to suggest some great alternative Moldavite sources, which they know to be credible.

Purchasing a new crystal for your collection should be a fun process, as you dream of all the fulfilling benefits you’ll be welcoming into your life. The best thing you can do to ensure a successful, genuine purchase is to educate yourself, question the seller and keep an eye out for any red flags. Remember; you can’t put a price on piece of mind.

Read our updated blog on Ethically sourced Moldavite

Summary

To summarise here are the top tips on how to spot a fake moldavite;

• If the specimen appears wet or too shiny, that is a good sign it may be fake.
• Look closer…Moldavite has many air bubbles as well “wires” which are Lechatelierite. These can be seen with a magnifying glass. If your faceted stone or specimen is flawless, (no inclusions), this is another big sign that it could be fake.
• Very large specimens are questionable as it is rare to find a piece over 50 grams or 3-4 inches.
• As true Moldavite is getting more and more rare, pieces are going up in price. If a price looks too good to be true, it very well may be. – Remember to look at everything and not just price.
• Colour…. Moldavite should be an olive green. It should not be apple green. The brighter green you usually see on real moldavites is only achieved when a light is shined through it.

Have a look at our 100% genuine moldavite and shop with confidence.

 If you want more information where Moldavites are mined please visit our 

Moldavite Deposit Sites & Locations Blog

https://crystalnation.co.uk/blogs/crystal-healing/moldavite-deposit-sites-locations