Moldavite is an extremely popular rock in both the science community and the fashion community. These rocks were formed millions of years ago when a meteor crashed into the area that is now Southern Germany and fused to the ground and other rocks due to the extreme heat and force from the impact.
The science community loves these rocks because of their connection to the past and also because of their connection to space. A lot can be learned from these rocks and it makes for a cool collectible item if you are passionate about space. On the other hand, people who are passionate about fashion and jewelry often love to get a hold of these rocks due to their rarity and beauty. They can be turned into a great ornamental piece that you can wear.
Because of the high demand and extremely low supply of these rocks, they can sell for extremely high prices. Whenever a situation like this occurs, there are also bound to be fakes and imitations that pop up. How would you feel if you ended up spending a lot of money on something that turned out to be fake? Here are some expert tips for spotting a fake Moldavite crystal.
1. Lack of Gas Bubbles
When Moldavite is formed, the extreme pressure and heat crystallize the surrounding area almost instantly. Any gasses in the area that were caught in the process were enshrined forever in the Moldavite that was formed. Therefore, if you have a genuine Moldavite crystal in your hands, it should have gas bubbles.
If it does not, you are probably looking at a fake as the large majority of these crystals have them. If you are unsure about how these bubbles will present themselves, you can visit this site for more information regarding it. Scammers are becoming experts at manufacturing these fakes as well.
People have gotten their hands on real Moldavite and have made molds of it, allowing them to create an almost perfect replica of the Moldavite. Everything from the shape of the stone and the color is exactly what you would expect. What is the one thing missing with these replicas? There are no bubbles within them. People are unable to create the same style of gas bubbles that appears normally in Moldavite stones.
If you are unsure about what you are looking at, ask if you can view it under a microscope. When doing this, you will easily be able to determine if the stone is Moldavite or a fake. If your seller is reluctant to let you get a good up-close look at it, they might be hiding some information that they do not want you to know about. If there are no gas bubbles, you are most definitely looking at a fake.
2. Size and Price
If you have found a piece of Moldavite that is selling for a low amount of money given the size of it, you are probably looking at a fake. Whenever you are looking at Moldavite, you should use your best judgment to determine if what you are seeing is real. As the stone is quite rare, you can expect people to be selling it for a high price. If what you are seeing seems to be too good of a deal, then it most likely is.
However, most sellers will be aware of this and will try to hide their fake Moldavite within the price range of others, making it seem more realistic. This is where you will have to do a little more detective work in order to save money and prove that it is fake.
3. A Wet and Shiny Look
Jewels and gems that have been refined will have a wet and shiny look that is often like glass. This is due to the gem being processed and cut in the lab to look its absolute best. Moldavite on the other hand should not be like this in any manner. It is often coarse and cloudy in color and does not resemble glass at all.
One of the things that makes Moldavite so alluring is that it is normally sold in its natural form. If someone has done something to alter this in any way, this should raise question marks. They are either in possession of something that was manufactured in a lab, or they do not know anything about the product that is on their hands. In either situation, you should not be giving them your business and instead of looking elsewhere to find an authentic Moldavite stone.
4. Location
While you can find Moldavite anywhere in the world, for the most part, the only Moldavite you will find will come from the Czech Republic region. If you are finding a seller who is offering to bring you Moldavite from any other area, you are most likely looking at a fake. Sellers who are authentic will make it a point to offer the location and any other details surrounding that.
5. No Certificate of Authenticity
Whenever you are dealing with an expensive object that someone might question its validity, it has to come with a certificate. All authentic Moldavite sales come with a certificate proving that what you have is a real stone that has come from the Czech Republic. This should be included in your sale and once again, the seller should mention this to you. If they are refusing to offer you a certificate and are instead saying to just believe them, there is definitely something wrong there. If you are unable to get a certificate of authenticity with the Moldavite, you are most likely looking at a fake stone.
Unfortunately, even in a market like this, there will be people looking to cash in on fakes and get rich. If you truly are interested in Moldavite stone and jewelry, ensure that you are doing the research beforehand so you can truly understand the stone and what it should look like. With replicas being almost perfect representations of the stone, you will have to be an expert in it to be able to spot the difference. What has drawn you towards a Moldavite stone?
