By Pooja Dwivedi, Crystal Lady of India · crystal healer · Updated 27 October 2026
Short answer: A real crystal usually feels cool and heavy, has small natural marks or uneven colour, and has no round air bubbles. Glass and plastic look too perfect, warm up fast and feel light. Dyed stones show colour collecting in cracks. When a rare stone is priced like a cheap one, it is usually not what it claims to be.
8 ways to check if a crystal is real
- Temperature test: real stone feels cool in your hand and warms slowly. Glass warms faster; plastic feels warm from the start.
- Weight test: real crystals feel heavier than they look. Plastic and resin feel light.
- Bubble test: hold it to the light. Tiny perfectly round bubbles mean glass. Natural stone has cloudy patches, lines or feathers instead.
- Colour test: natural colour is a little uneven. Perfectly identical beads in a bright shade are often dyed.
- Crack test: look into cracks and drill holes. Dye collects there in darker lines.
- Cotton test: rub a damp cotton ball on a bead. If colour comes off, it is dyed.
- Scratch test: quartz scratches glass, but glass does not scratch quartz. Only do this on a hidden spot.
- Price and seller test: ask where the stone is from, whether it is treated, and whether a lab certificate is available.
How to spot fake versions of popular crystals
| Crystal | Common fake | How to tell |
|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | Purple glass or dyed quartz | Real shows colour zones and white patches; glass is even and may have bubbles |
| Rose quartz | Pink glass, dyed quartz | Real is soft milky pink and slightly cloudy; glass is see-through and bright |
| Citrine | Heat-treated amethyst | Natural citrine is pale yellow-champagne; deep orange with white bases is usually heated |
| Pyrite | Painted metal or resin | Real is very heavy, cold and leaves a greenish-black streak |
| Tiger eye | Cat's-eye glass | Real shimmer moves in bands and shows natural brown variation; glass shine looks too regular |
| Turquoise | Dyed howlite | Dyed howlite shows white under the surface at chips and holes |
Is a fake crystal harmful?
Glass and dyed stones are not dangerous to wear, but in crystal healing they do not carry a natural stone's energy, and you pay a natural-stone price for them.
How we make sure our crystals are real
Innerhealingswithpooja does not sell glass or fashion crystals. Every piece is checked, cleansed and energized by Pooja Ma'am before dispatch, and every buyer gets lifelong guidance. Read why prices differ in why are crystals so expensive.
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About the author: Pooja Dwivedi, the Crystal Lady of India, is a spiritual healer and Vedic astrologer who personally checks and energizes every crystal sold at Innerhealingswithpooja. Book a session with Pooja
Crystals support spiritual well-being and are not a substitute for medical care.
