Maya Ellison
With crystal scams on the rise, it is important to know how to tell quartz from plastic or glass. Real quartz is less expensive than manufactured quartz and has imperfections, is cool to the touch, and can scratch glass. It is denser and heavier than fake crystals and will glow under a blacklight. Rose quartz, for example, ranges from light to dark pink in colour and is mined in North America, Madagascar, and Brazil. It has a melting point of 3000° F (1650° C) and is harder than glass.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Naturally occurring quartz has irregular striations and colour distribution. It can be light to dark pink, cloudy or milky, and not transparent. |
| Surface | The surface of quartz should be streaked with white and show naturally occurring irregularities. |
| Weight | Real gemstones are denser and heavier than fake crystals. |
| Reaction to light | Real quartz glows under ultraviolet (UV) light. |
| Reaction to heat | Real quartz won't melt or distort over a flame. Real rose quartz has a melting point of 3000° F (1650° C). |
| Imperfections | Real quartz has imperfections, whereas fake quartz is too perfect. |
| Bubbles | Small, round bubbles indicate a fake. |
| Scratches glass | Real quartz is harder than glass and can scratch it. |
| Cool to the touch | Real quartz is cool to the touch. |
| Origin | Most rose quartz is mined in North America, Madagascar, and Brazil. |
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What You'll Learn
- Examine for imperfections, coolness to the touch, and ability to scratch glass
- Hold the crystal under a blacklight and look for a fluorescent glow
- Check the colour—natural quartz has irregular colour distribution
- Look for air bubbles—small, round bubbles indicate fake glass quartz
- Hold a lighter to the crystal—real quartz has a melting point of 3000° F (1650° C)
Examine for imperfections, coolness to the touch, and ability to scratch glass
When examining quartz for authenticity, there are several key indicators to look out for. Firstly, genuine quartz often contains natural imperfections, such as fractures or bubbles, known as inclusions. These imperfections are a result of something getting trapped inside the mineral as it grows. In contrast, fake quartz, made of glass or plastic, often appears flawless and excessively clear. To identify these imperfections, one may need to use a microscope as some inclusions are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
Another distinguishing factor is the temperature of the quartz. Real quartz is known for its coolness to the touch, even in a warm room. This is because quartz does not retain heat well and has its own energy and temperature. Conversely, fake quartz made of glass or plastic tends to warm up quickly to the temperature of its surroundings. Therefore, if the quartz feels cool to the touch, it is likely authentic.
Lastly, the ability to scratch glass is a definitive test of real quartz. Quartz crystals are significantly harder than glass, ranking higher on the Mohs scale of hardness. As a result, quartz can easily scratch glass without being scratched itself. To perform this test, gently scratch a piece of common glass, such as a glass bottle, with the quartz. If the glass is scratched, the specimen is likely authentic quartz. However, caution must be exercised as this test can damage the specimen, affecting its appeal and value.
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Hold the crystal under a blacklight and look for a fluorescent glow
To tell quartz from plastic, one method is to hold the crystal under a black light and look for a fluorescent glow. Blacklights emit highly energetic ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the human eye.
Quartz is a fluorescent rock, meaning it will naturally glow under ultraviolet light. The electrons in quartz will react to UV light, giving off a fluorescent glow. If there is no glow, the crystal is likely fake. However, it is important to note that not all quartz will fluoresce under UV light. The fluorescence of quartz depends on its impurities, which vary depending on its location. For example, quartz from New Mexico may fluoresce yellow, orange, or pink under UV light due to hydrocarbon inclusions, while quartz from other locations may not fluoresce at all.
In contrast, plastic is often characterised by its ability to glow under black light. Plastic water bottles, for instance, usually glow blue or violet under UV light. Therefore, if a crystal fluoresces under a black light, it is important to consider other characteristics to determine whether it is quartz or plastic.
Other methods to determine whether a crystal is real quartz include examining its imperfections, temperature, and ability to scratch glass. Real quartz may have inclusions that make the inside of the crystal appear scratched or foggy, while fake glass quartz may appear perfect. Additionally, clear quartz is naturally cool to the touch, whereas fake crystals made of glass will have the same temperature as their environment. Finally, real quartz is harder than glass and should be able to scratch it, leaving a mark.
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Check the colour—natural quartz has irregular colour distribution
Colour is an important indicator of whether quartz is real or fake. Natural quartz has an irregular colour distribution and comes in a variety of hues. The colour of naturally occurring quartz is streaked with white and has irregularities on its surface. These streaks and irregularities can be observed using a magnifying glass. On the other hand, fake quartz made of plastic or glass tends to have an even colour distribution and a smoother surface with fewer striations or streaks.
The colour of quartz can also indicate its quality. Quartz that is completely intact is considered more valuable. However, a piece of naturally occurring quartz with an unusual colour is still worth more and is of higher quality than a smooth piece of manufactured plastic or glass designed to imitate quartz. For example, rose quartz, a common type of quartz, ranges from light to dark pink in colour. Most small pieces of rose quartz are a very soft pink, sometimes almost white, while larger pieces can be medium to dark pink. If rose quartz is transparent and vivid pink, it is likely fake, as manufacturers often use dyes that result in shiny, vibrant colours. Cloudy or milky rose quartz, on the other hand, gets its hazy appearance from inclusions of other minerals and materials, making it less transparent or even opaque.
In addition to colour, there are other ways to distinguish real quartz from fake quartz made of plastic or glass. Real quartz is typically less expensive than manufactured quartz because it does not require processing beyond mining. Quartz is widely distributed in nature and can be found in various locations worldwide, including Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Russia, and Scotland. It is also denser and heavier than fake crystals made of plastic or glass. Real quartz has imperfections, is cool to the touch, and can scratch glass. It will not melt or distort over a flame and will naturally glow under ultraviolet (UV) light.
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Look for air bubbles—small, round bubbles indicate fake glass quartz
While buying crystals online can be a gamble, there are some easy ways to tell if your crystal is real or fake. One way to do this is to look for air bubbles—small, round bubbles indicate fake glass quartz.
Glass is formed very differently from quartz, which is formed naturally in the earth. The quick cooling process used to make glass often results in tiny air bubbles in fake crystals, whereas quartz never has air bubbles. These air bubbles are small and remain in one place, whereas gas bubbles from a natural inclusion are larger and can move inside the crystal. Manufactured air bubbles are often perfectly spherical and tiny, while gas bubble inclusions are rarely perfectly round. These bubbles will look like tiny spheres that do not move around.
However, it is important to note that not all glass has bubbles. Bubbles can be easily removed during the modern glass-making process, so everyday items such as windows, jewellery, and bottles may not have bubbles.
If you are unsure whether your crystal is real quartz or fake glass, there are other tests you can perform. One is the scratch test, where you try to scratch a piece of glass with your crystal. If it is genuine quartz, it will scratch the glass. Another test is the burn test, where you hold a lighter up to the crystal and see if it burns. Real quartz will not melt or distort over a flame, whereas fake glass or plastic quartz has a lower melting point and will distort and liquify.
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Hold a lighter to the crystal—real quartz has a melting point of 3000° F (1650° C)
One of the ways to determine whether a crystal is real quartz or plastic is to hold a lighter to it. Real quartz has a melting point of 3000° F (1650° C), so if the crystal starts to melt, distort, or burn, it is likely made of plastic or glass. Fake crystals made of glass or plastic have a lower melting point and will distort and liquify.
However, it is important to note that this test may not always be conclusive, as some fake crystals are made by melting and moulding quartz, resulting in a product that is still quartz but has lost its crystalline structure and, therefore, its properties. Additionally, this test may not be suitable for polished quartz, as a sharp edge is needed to perform a scratch test, which is another way to determine the authenticity of quartz.
Other ways to test the authenticity of quartz include checking for imperfections, as real quartz has natural imperfections, and performing a hardness test by scratching the crystal on a piece of glass. Real quartz can scratch glass and is rated at 7 on the Mohs scale, while glass has an average hardness of 5.5. Furthermore, real quartz will glow under ultraviolet (UV) light due to the electrons in the quartz reacting to the UV light.
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