Celestite is a crystal with the power to increase concentration during meditation and prayers. It can heal your spirit and give meaning to your life.
You can only get these benefits when you know how to tell if Celestite is real or fake. You can avoid counterfeit celestite crystals in the market with this knowledge.
Can the same methods for testing the authenticity of jade be applied to celestite?
When it comes to telling real or fake jade, the methods for testing its authenticity may not be directly transferable to celestite.
Jade is often tested using hardness and density measurements, while celestite may require different methods, such as spectroscopy or X-ray diffraction, to determine its genuineness.
How to Tell if Celestite is Real or Fake?
You can tell if celestite is real or fake by scraping its dust into a gas flame and observing the color of the flame. It is barite if its flame is pale green, and celestite if its flame is red.
Celestite is a blue gemstone made of a single mineral.
It has sulfur and strontium in one molecule.
You can also call it Strontium Sulfate, which has the chemical formula SrSO4.
You need to determine Celestite’s grading level to get a better idea about the crystal’s market value.
Experts call the parameters to estimate the value as the 4C.
You can start with the crystal cut to estimate its value.
Color, clarity, and carat value also affect the price of the Celestite crystals.
1. Observe Carefully the Cut of Celestite
You may not find Celestite in different cuts in the market.
Most of these crystals are in raw form. It is better to gain information about the types of Celestite cuts in the market to avoid scams.
Celestite crystals are fragile as they break from different locations during cutting.
Many gem cutters do not cut the raw Celestite crystals as they only round the edges to enhance the crystal’s style.
You can find them in the shape of rectangular facets with steps of crystals.
You can also see this type of step cutting in the Emeralds.
Step cut allows the crystals to show the peak of their shine and shimmer.
The color of the Celestite can also affect its market price.
2. Observe Carefully the Color of Celestite
You can find Celestite in different colors in the market.
Blue-colored Celestites are the most valued ones because of their rarity and high demand.
Golden yellow, orange, green, pink, brown, and red celestite crystals are also available in the market.
You should not see any color in the pure Celestite because SrSO4 does not have any color.
The color of the crystal is due to metal and mineral impurities.
You may also find these crystals in rainbow colors when different metals trap inside the Celestite to make color zones.
You may see an increase in the crystal’s value when there is color zoning.
It is not the case with Celestite crystals.
Color zoning reduces the market value of Celestite crystals.
3. Observe Carefully the Clarity of Celestite
You will not see more inclusions in the Celestite without the magnifying glass.
A high level of clarity can also enhance the gemstone’s value as jewelers increase their use in jewelry.
You may see some speckles of water or salt inside the Celestite crystals.
Some of these crystals can show a high level of clarity, as you can see through the crystal.
You can place the Celestite crystal on the magazine to see the letters beneath it.
Letters may appear as smudges through some Celestite crystals.
They may also appear clear in a few.
4. Weigh Carefully the Carat of Celestite
Due to high chances of breakage during the cutting process, you may not find Celestite crystals with a high carat value.
You will find most crystals with a weight of fewer than 10 carats in the market.
Some stones can have more weight.
You may find some rare crystals of 30 carats at the shops selling high-quality gemstones.
As large Celestite gemstones are rare, you will not find them at a lower price.
Larger gems also have more room for inclusions.
You may have to pay a higher price if you can find a large Celestite gem piece without inclusions.
5. Celestite Treatments
You may not find synthetic Celestite crystals in the market because the cost of production is higher than mining the crystals.
Sellers do not alter the appearance of the Celestite with colored polish as people also buy them in colorless form.
Some crystals can have color fade after some time.
It is due to sunlight exposure or heat.
You can use irradiation to restore the crystal’s color.
You can put some radiation on the Celestite crystals to restore their color.
It is good to know that crystals that undergo the process of irradiation are not harmful to humans.
Irradiation gives permanent color to the crystals.
6. Perform the Flame Test to Check for Barite
Barium sulfate and Strontium sulfate can have similar colors and crystal structures.
You will not find a difference in the physical feature’s identification.
The flame test can help you distinguish between these crystals.
You can take some dust from the crystal by scrapping its surface and putting it on top of the flame.
Celestite will give a red color to the flame.
Barium salt gives green color.
It is due to the different atomic structures of Barium and Strontium.
Blue Calcite and Blue Celestite Have Similar Appearance
Some online suppliers are scamming people by giving them blue calcite instead of Celestite.
Top suppliers provide counterfeit crystals to the suppliers on the lower side of the supply chain.
Some may not know they are selling Calcite instead of Celestite.
Blue calcite is perfect for some people due to its mesmerizing color and physical properties.
It will not give the same healing benefits as the Celestite.
Calcite is better to cleanse your body with positive energy.
Celestite will help you increase focus in prayers.
You cannot use both for the same healing benefits.
Hardness of minerals
Celestite is a crystal with a lower hardness score.
You can identify the Celestite crystals using the scratch test.
Celestite has a hardness score of 3 to 3.5 on the Moh hardness scale.
All the materials with a high hardness score can scratch the Celestite surface.
Glass has a hardness score of 5 on the Moh hardness scale.
You can scratch the Celestite crystals with glass.
Steel knives also have a higher hardness score.
You can scratch the crystal with a steel knife.
It is better to ask the seller about the scratch test as some may not allow you to do it.
A scratch can lower the market value of the Celestite crystals.
Color and shape
You cannot identify the Blue Celestite and Calcite with the shape and color tests.
They have a similar shade of blue in the deeper layers of the crystal.
Celestite and Calcite also have a similar crystal structure.
You can use the flame test instead of finding shape and color differences.
Celestite weight
You can take crystals of Celestite and Calcite of equal size to check their weight.
Celestite is heavier than calcite because it has 1.5 times more weight in the same size.
You can keep these crystals on your palm to estimate their weight.
Celestite will feel heavier than the equal size of Calcite.
It is an excellent test to distinguish between these crystals when you do not want to make a scratch on the crystal’s surface.
Celestite chemical composition
There are many differences in the chemical structures of calcite and Celestites.
Calcite is made from calcium and can show an amorphous structure.
Celestite consists of a single mineral. It has a chemical formula, SrSO4.
You can distinguish between these crystals with different chemical tests.
Many chemical reagents will change color in the presence of calcium carbonate.
To Summarize: How to Tell if Celestite is Real or Fake
There are many ways to find the authenticity of the Celestite crystals.
You can do tests to check the crystal’s authenticity.
You can also estimate the market value of the Celestite by determining some factors.
- Cut, color, shape, and size can affect the market value of Celestite crystals.
- Crystals of more than 10-carat weight and blue color are in high demand.
- High-quality Celestite crystals can have decent clarity.
- It is safe to restore Celestite color with irradiation treatment.
- The flame test can distinguish between Barium sulfate and Strontium Sulfate.
- Celestite crystals have a lower hardness score as it is easy to scratch their surface.