How to distinguish an amethyst from a fake

Natural amethyst is famous not only for its amazing beauty, but also for its special magical properties that can reveal all the best qualities in its owner and become a powerful amulet against enemies, gossips and ill-wishers. That is why it is so important to know how to distinguish a real stone from a synthetic one.

How to fake

Amethyst is a valuable variety of quartz. The most basic fake are stones grown artificially in laboratories. It is a mistake to believe that this is a fake, since a synthetic gem has the same properties as a natural one. The only difference is that one mineral was grown by nature, and the other by chemists.

In addition, among the fakes you can find beautiful stones that are made from:

• glass;
• plastic;
• cheap natural stones that have less value.

How to distinguish natural from synthetics

Currently, it is very common to find natural amethyst in free sale. However, synthetic stones are also widely used in jewelry. Therefore, before you make a purchase, make sure that you have a gem of natural origin:

1. Natural minerals are always cold. If you try to heat it in the palm of your hand, then at first it will remain cool, as it has low thermal conductivity. Artificial will immediately become warm, even if it already has a frame.
2. Pay attention to color. In natural quartz, it is uneven and slightly cloudy. Artificially grown specimens are bright, completely transparent and shiny.
3. Amethyst is a hard mineral. If you run it on the glass, it will leave marks in the form of scratches. If you doubt the authenticity, run a knife over it. The natural one will remain unchanged, and a trace will appear on the artificial one.
4. When translucent with ultraviolet light, the natural mineral will immediately become transparent, and synthetics only in certain areas.
   
   
   
   
5. Try submerging the stone in water. In a real gem, you will immediately notice blurred borders. In the artificial, the clarity of the edges will be preserved.
6. Any natural amethyst is not pure and completely transparent. It always has some inclusions - small inclusions, air bubbles, small scratches. All of them are formed as the crystal grows. Stones grown in artificial conditions are always crystal clear.

If you doubt the authenticity of an amethyst, it is best to contact a professional. Thanks to special tests and analyzes, you can find out what is in front of you - a genuine mineral or a fake.