To tell if your clear quartz is real or fake, try to scratch a piece of glass. The real clear quartz will scratch the glass. The fake clear quartz will not scratch the glass. You may hardly spot any difference between clear quartz crystals and plain glass at first sight.
While these elements’ fundamental composition and internal structures are nowhere close, it will be extremely difficult for a layperson to assess the molecular difference between them.
Also, the market is infested with fake crystals which are created to look like real crystals minus the healing qualities derived from Mother Earth. In such a scenario, it is important to understand how to tell if clear quartz is real or fake.
There are several steps and tests that can help you assess the quality of your clear quartz so that you get only the natural versions of these crystals. Clear quartz is developed in varied temperatures and rock types.
Owing to the abundant availability of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, you can find them in every nook and corner of the world. The best of these minerals are found in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, the USA, etc.
It is one of the most favored crystals due to its amplifying nature, which magnifies the positivity and energy quotient of other crystals and gems.
How to Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake?
As clear quartz is found in abundance, it is also the most common form of mined silicon oxide across the globe.
Therefore, most electronic goods and equipment, from television circuits to cell phones to watches, contain quartz owing to its piezoelectric features.
As with all kinds of quartz, clear quartz is found across several lapidary usages.
These include faceting, bead manufacturing, cabochon cutting, healing practices, and even decorative carving.
The wide array of online crystal retails, along with a rise in the healing communities based on crystal meditation, has led to the business of imitation of natural crystals.
There are other tests of how to tell if clear quartz is real or fake besides visual inspection.
While clear quartz is found in abundance, the availability of fake ones is quite alarming.
This may instigate you to think about why there are so many fake crystals on the market.
The primary reason is that clear quartz that does not contain any form of inclusion is extremely rare.
On the flip side, the demand for this quartz is also very high.
As a result, this is how you may come across plain glass posing to be this beautiful quartz.
The most commonly available opponent of clear quartz is glass.
To understand whether you have opted for a glass or quartz, you need to analyze the traits of these two elements.
Glass mostly comes with circular bubbles, while quartz will be clear (hence the name).
Also, since quartz is harder than glass, it will scratch the latter.
You can also take the gem tester to test thermal conductivity.
You will see that a fake one will only insulate while the quartz conducts.
1. To Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake, Check for Inclusions
Looking for inclusions is the first step to deciphering whether you have landed the real clear quartz or not.
The inclusions are random and do not appear in a uniform shape.
They contribute to the uniqueness of the element and make one stand out from the other.
As per mineralogy, inclusion refers to any element trapped within a natural mineral at the time of formation.
But when it comes to gemology, this inclusion can be a trait enclosed within or moving to the core from the periphery.
A crystal inclusion forms naturally as several inorganic and organic materials come in close contact with it.
And thus, there is no limit to these inclusions.
Since clear quartz has room for a clear view, they are estimated to contain maximum inclusion.
Clear quartz can also have tourmaline inclusions through the process of tourmalination.
Further, it can have a minute granule of sand or dirt which also falls under the inclusion category.
On the other hand, glass is formed by cooling a liquid where the atoms are arranged in neat order.
There is no presence of an internal cleavage plane where fissures can develop.
2. To Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake, Check if There Are Bubbles
Checking for the presence of bubbles is a reliable way how to tell if clear quartz is real or fake.
In some cases, fake minerals or glasses are blown in several ways to add powdered inclusions while smelting.
When distinguishing between fake and real clear quartz, you should look for tiny, static air bubbles.
- Structures similar to needles are caused within the crystals owing to hydrogen bubbles’ growth.
- Water may also react with the hydrogen present within for forming carbon bubbles; the structure thus appears punctured. A tiny part gets broken off to expose the vacuum lying within.
- Water inclusions can form in various shapes based on the lattice of the clear quartz.
- Some may be shaped like warts, spines, or even a microsphere within the crystal. All of these can happen with those minerals present within the quartz.
You can find water bubbles trapped inside the real quartz as well.
And as the crystal grows, the bubble may also develop.
In some instances, these bubbles may also move.
This means that the mere presence of bubbles within the crystal does not nullify its originality.
3. To Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake, Observe How Clear Quartz Interacts with Light
Observing how the clear quartz interacts with light can tell whether it’s real or fake.
As clear quartz is made from silicates, they show a comparatively higher refractive index than other fake elements like glass.
For conducting this test, you will require your crystal and a sheet containing printed text.
You will just have to hold your crystal over the text and try to read through it.
If you notice that the letters seem distorted in several directions, you can rest assured that the clear quartz is real.
On the other hand, if you see that the lettering has become magnified, then it is undoubtedly glass or some other element.
4. To Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake, Conduct the Drop, Burn, and Scratch Test
As clear quartz develops over several million years, the chemical bond of this crystal is extremely strong.
Thus, you can conduct a Mohs hardness test to check the hardness level.
While glass has a ranking of 5.5 on this scale, the same is as high as 7 for clear quartz.
This implies that your quartz crystal will successfully scratch any piece of glass.
If you are unsure how to tell if clear quartz is real or fake, you may try inspecting the unknown element by scratching any glass object.
If it can scratch away the glass easily, it is quartz crystal.
But if you cannot scratch away the glass easily, then it is probably the same as a piece of glass.
Moreover, since clear quartz is extremely hard, it will not break into pieces if you drop them.
But other fake elements, including glass, may break off entirely or internally in case it is highly dense.
These fake elements will also give way to scratches more easily.
There is also a burning test that can discern between real and fake crystals.
Whole a real clear crystal will not burn; those that are created to imitate these crystals may burn off with a pungent odor.
5. To Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake, Check if the Crystal is Cold
Observing if the clear quartz is cold when you touch it is a sure way to decide how to tell if clear quartz is real or fake.
Also, if your clear quartz is heavier than a glass or plastic of similar size, you can rest assured that your crystal is of very high quality.
Moreover, it will cool as it comes in contact with your body.
On the other hand, manufactured crystals may feel warmer or at room temperature.
While glass will also be cool to touch, it will not be able to keep its temperature for long and give way to warmth.
6. To Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake, Check Chink Sound of the Crystal
The sound your crystal makes can tell whether it is real or fake.
As a rule of thumb, clear quartz is much less resonant than glass.
If you tap the glass and clear quartz together, you will observe that the glass will make a higher chink sound.
The density of the clear quartz allows it to make a low-pitch sound and vibration, which can be felt all over the crystal.
This is why real clear quartz is a far better carrier of energies in sharp contrast to glass.
7. To Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake, Observe the Finish
Observing the luster or the way your clear quartz responds to whole reflecting light is important in deciding whether it is real or fake.
It also helps differentiate this crystal from one of its close lookalikes, Calcite.
Calcite has an immensely waxy luster.
This means that when you hold it before light, the stone seems to have a wax or grease layer on the surface.
But if you compare this with clear quartz, it will be very transparent and slightly on the duller side.
To Summarize: How to Tell if Clear Quartz is Real or Fake
Real clear quartz is far costlier than the fake ones and forms lovely clusters of well-shaped crystals.
This natural mineral is made of silicon oxide and is colorless.
Sometimes, these crystals come with tints of other mineral impurities.
And thus, we get other vibrant hues of quartz like citrine, rose quartz, and amethyst, among others.
Spotting fake crystals can be easy when you learn about them.
After conducting your research and tests, you can determine whether your purchase is worth it.
For this, you should prepare all your senses.
To ensure that it is a natural offering, you must place yourself in a position aligned with the earthly elements.
Regardless of the limited scope of application, these tests can assure you about the quality and authenticity of your possession.