How to Avoid Counterfeit Crystals and Source the Real Deal
We’ve all been tempted by a designer knockoff – a faux Fendi bag, a bogus Chanel belt, sunglasses in the style of Dolce & Gabbana. While we can debate the ethics of these fakes, they present no danger to your physical or spiritual wellbeing. The same cannot be said of ersatz crystals.
For skeptics, crystals are merely décor. But for ethereally attuned folx, they are an integral part of our spiritual practice and metaphysical journey. At Sage & Salt, we take our crystal sourcing seriously.
When crystals are part of your self-care, energy work, or healing path, they must be imbued with the energy and power necessary for those tasks. Using genuine crystals ensures you’re channeling the right vibrational frequencies to achieve your aims. Using phony crystals throws everything out of whack, since you don’t know what kind of energy you’re getting.
There are additional, more practical costs to impostor crystals and stones. The first is economic: You are literally being cheated if you purchase a fake under the assumption that it is legitimate. Even a “good deal” is not a good deal if it’s something you didn’t intend to buy. Secondly, fakes are often dyed and mixed with other substances that may cause adverse physical reactions like itching and skin sensitivity when handled by humans.
Sometimes crystals are authentic, but they have been sourced in unscrupulous ways. This causes them to carry the toxic energy of their provenance. We believe no object that is meant to bring you good vibes can be born/created/mined in conditions that harm the earth or humans. All of our sources for crystals are vetted for both positive, earth-friendly mining practices and human conditions. We hand-select our stones instead of buying in large lots. This human element makes all the difference, and the energy of our products speaks for itself.
Whether you’re just getting started on your crystal journey or are a seasoned stone hound in need of a refresher course on sourcing, this checklist will help you make informed choices.
1) Learn about your favorite crystals and stones.
Put on your scientist hat and do some research on your favorite crystals and stones. Learn about their growth structures and chemical compounds. When you know what real citrine looks like, you’ll be better equipped to sniff out phonies. A general rule of thumb is that raw, rough stones are good because you can see their structure. Polished and tumbled stones are more difficult to vet.
2) Get to know Mohs.
Geologists use the Mohs hardness scale to evaluate rocks, and so should you. Each mineral has a number on the scale, and those with higher numbers can scratch those with lower numbers, but not the reverse. For example, your fingernail is lower on the Mohs scale than a piece of turquoise, so it cannot scratch a piece of real turquoise. This test is a great way to vet crystals and stones, but you should always ask a seller/retailer before you perform it, lest you cause damage.
3) Research your seller.
You wouldn’t hire someone for a job without checking their references, right? Apply the same scrutiny to your crystal retailers. Reputable sellers should have a good reputation in the crystal community and a history of ethical sourcing and selling. A sterling seller will be happy to answer your questions about individual pieces, sourcing, etc. If they are defensive or cagey, run – they’re likely hiding something. Sellers should purchase – ideally directly – from humane mining operations. (email us anytime at info@sageandsalt.com)
4) Take a geography lesson.
Familiarize yourself with the mining regions of the world and which stones are likely to come from where. Amethyst from Brazil? Checks out. Citrine from Antarctica? Not so much.
5) Brush up on nomenclature.
If a crystal has a name that sounds fruity or florid, that’s a good indication it’s a fake. Legitimate sellers identify crystals and stones by simple, widely recognized names – they don’t tart them up with an adjective soup. Pineapple mojito quartz? Probably a bottle blonde.
6) Keep an eye on color.
Mother Nature works with a stunning color palette, but her pieces are naturally vivid, not artificially so. If you come across neon stones, rainbow agates, super vibrant amethysts, or hyperpigmented colors, you’re probably looking at a dye job. Lab-grown crystals and total fakes are often dyed to aid their imitation. These dyes can rub off and even be harmful to your skin. These crystals can be used for aesthetic purposes, but should not be used for spiritual aims.
7) Look for imperfections.
Just like us, crystals are imperfectly perfect. Authentic stones have variation, disparate textures, jagged/raw edges, and other quirks that give them character. If a piece looks too uniform or perfect, it’s probably bogus. Glass is an easy fake to spot, since it’s usually homogeneous. Glass “quartz” will often be dotted with tiny air bubbles, whereas real quartz will not. Exception: enhydro crystals, which are real crystals with larger, irregularly shaped bubbles with water in them. You can spot an enhydro by looking for water movement in the big bubbles.
8) Maintain a suspect list.
Healthy suspicion will serve you well in your crystal curation. Some crystals and stones, like citrine and turquoise, are so rare that you can bet on most you encounter being faux. (Tip: Real citrine is uniform in color, usually a smoky yellow/green, like chartreuse; faux citrines are often amethysts heated until they change color to a saturated yellow/orange hue with a white base.) Some things are always fake (opalite, cat’s eye, and goldstone are usually made of glass and do not form naturally) and some are usually fake (malachite, rubies; most “turquoise” is dyed howlite, magnesite, or bits of real turquoise reconstituted with resins and dyes). Pick up your stone and feel its weight. Fakes are usually surprisingly light. Real stones have a bit more heft.
9) Be willing to pay for quality.
If you want the real thing, you have to pay the real price. Shockingly low prices indicate fraud. The old cliché holds true: If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
10) Close your eyes and feel.
Synthetic, lab-grown crystals skip the thousands (even millions!) of years of growth and energy soaking that real crystals enjoy. Their chemical compounds are the same, but their energies could not be more different. An authentic crystal will make you feel connected to the earth and raise your vibrational frequency. It’s the difference between receiving a gift from the earth and a cold facsimile constructed by humans. The spiritual power of the real deal is unrivaled.
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