How to Use Our Crystal Buying Guides
Compare categories and materials
The guides explain common product types and useful buying questions. They are not reports of purchases or physical laboratory tests. A category comparison cannot certify a particular seller or specimen.
Read the treatment description
Look for an explicit mineral name and disclosure of dyeing, heating, coating, stabilization or manufacture. A trade name or photograph alone cannot establish identity. For a valuable purchase, seek an independent report from a qualified gemological laboratory.
Check what the listing actually includes
Compare dimensions and weight, whether photographs show the exact piece, the number of items, fittings and stands, and any stated origin. Natural specimens vary; a search result may differ substantially from the illustration shown here.
Consider care and handling
Hardness measures scratch resistance, not overall durability or water safety. Cleavage, fractures, inclusions, coatings and metal settings can change care requirements. A soft dry cloth is a conservative starting point when a specimen's identity or treatment is uncertain.
Check current seller information
Read current prices, availability, shipping and return terms on the merchant's page. Customer reviews belong to specific listings. Our guides do not assign laboratory authenticity scores or reproduce unverified customer ratings.