Aura quartz has vibrant, unnatural colors that make them very appealing. In person you may also sometimes see that the coating has rubbed off in areas which is a giveaway that the crystal has been altered. Aura quartz comes in just about every color and is easily identified by its iridescent shine. While these crystals are altered, they still have healing properties and are well loved by crystal collectors. These crystals typically start with a base crystal that is genuine, then they are heated in combination with metals to give it a colorful, metallic shine that bonds to the surface of the stone. Lemon quartz is a very bright, lemony color and is usually opaque, low quality quartz.Īnother well known and loved treated crystal on the market is aura quartz, or titanium aura quartz. Lemon quartz is another name for this artificially colored quartz. It is also very glassy looking, and will be much cheaper than natural citrine. This variety of fake citrine looks too yellow, almost yellow-green, when compared to the color of genuine citrine. This artificial citrine is unfortunately very common on the market and many people don't know to look out for it. Some fake citrine is also clear quartz, sometimes lab grown or reconstituted, that has been heated to turn an unnatural yellow color. Heated amethyst is much more affordable than natural citrine. The biggest way to tell the difference is the color and the price. On rare occasions natural citrine does form clusters, but they look very different from heated amethyst clusters. However it is important to distinguish between heated amethyst and genuine citrine when buying or selling these stones! Heated amethyst is more orange than natural citrine and is often found in clusters or points that have a white base. I do agree that heated citrine does have a place in the crystal world, especially since natural citrine is uncommon and can be very expensive. Many people still love heated citrine and argue that it does have the same healing properties as the natural. Possibly the most common occurrence of heated crystals is the heating of amethyst to create artificial citrine. These alterations can be heating to enhance color, or adding a coating on top to add a little extra pizzazz. Crystals in this category are widely accepted and loved by many in the crystal community because they are still a genuine stone as the base. Heated and treated crystals are natural pieces that have been altered by humans in some way. Let's take a look at some of the most common fakes on the market from each category. So what should you be looking out for when crystal shopping? I categorize fake crystals into four categories: heated & treated, dyed, man-made, and mislabeled. Even an experienced buyer or seller can sometimes be fooled by fakes. With the proper knowledge, you will be able to spot fake and altered crystals much more easily. If you do realize you have some fake pieces in your collection or you feel drawn to some of these crystals regardless, don't worry! There's nothing wrong with enjoying fake or treated pieces, as long as you know that they are artificial and you aren't getting tricked into buying something that you didn't expect. I know I have, and I still have treated and man made crystals today! It's all part of the journey.Īs a crystal shopper, it's inevitable that you'll run into man-made, treated, dyed, and mislabeled crystals eventually. Most crystal collectors have made mistakes early on in their collection. Don't let the fear of fakes stop you from diving into the crystal world! And don't feel ashamed or embarrassed if you accidentally have bought or even sold fake or treated crystals. But it's not true, most crystal varieties are not as easily faked as people believe. Sometimes people fear that all crystals that come from China are fake. Sometimes it can seem that everything is so easily faked that you can never be sure you're getting the real deal. The good news is that the majority of crystals on the market from crystal shops and small businesses are genuine, and avoiding the fakes is not as difficult as it may seem. When you are first beginning your crystal journey, it can be intimidating trying to tell fakes from genuine pieces when there is such a variety of crystals out there! It is always good to be educated and do your research when you are first getting into buying and selling crystals. This article is regularly updated to have the most accurate information and to keep up with new fakes hitting the market.
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