So you found a beautiful purple crystal necklace online… but how do you know if the amethyst is actually real?
There are a few ways you can figure it out.
As with a lot of things, the devil is in the details. You have to inspect the small things like air bubbles, temperature, and irregular shapes to figure out if it’s real.
Amethyst Imitations
Amethyst is one of the most popular crystals, which is one of the reasons why it gets imitated so often — along with cost reasons.
Because of this, it can be very overwhelming for beginners. What is real amethyst supposed to look like? What does fake amethyst look like?
Amethyst is most commonly faked with:
- Glass
- Dyed quartz
- Resin
- Synthetic stones
What Real Amethyst Actually Is
Real amethyst is a purple variety of quartz. This means it’s naturally shiny and glassy-looking, even when raw. That’s one reason glass is used so often as an imitation.
It’s a natural gemstone formed within the earth, and its color comes from iron and natural radiation exposure.
It’s important to remember that this crystal naturally transitions in color from light lavender to deep purple.
Why Amethyst Gets Faked So Often
Amethyst gets faked for many different reasons, one of the biggest being popularity. As mentioned before, amethyst is one of the most sought-after crystals. Because of this, manufacturers can maximize profits by mass-producing imitations.
Affordability is another big factor. Like many crystals, it’s more cost-effective to produce fake versions in a lab or create imitations using glass, resin, plastic, or dyed quartz than it is to mine, cut, and polish natural stone.
How to Tell if Amethyst Is Real
1. Look at the Color
Real amethyst usually has:
- Uneven color zoning
- Lighter and darker areas
- Natural gradients
Fake amethyst often:
- Looks too uniform
- Has one flat purple color
- Appears neon or overly vibrant
Natural amethyst rarely looks perfectly purple.
2. Feel the Weight and Temperature
Real amethyst feels cool initially and usually warms up in your hand after a few seconds. It’s also typically heavier than plastic or resin.
Depending on the size, a real stone may weigh around 3–5 ounces, while plastic or resin imitations can feel almost weightless.
However, if the fake is made of glass, it can also feel cool and somewhat heavy. This test alone isn’t perfect, but it can be a starting point.
3. Check for Air Bubbles
Another thing you can do is inspect the stone for bubbles. Since glass and resin are manmade, air bubbles sometimes form during production.
Bubbles usually indicate glass or resin. Natural quartz does NOT form with perfectly round air bubbles.
Instead, real amethyst may contain inclusions. Inclusions are different from bubbles and can look like tiny lines, wisps, or internal markings.
These inclusions commonly appear in a few forms:
Healing Fissures:
Crystals take millions of years to form, and during that process, internal fractures can partially heal, creating scratch-like patterns within the stone.
Growth Lines:
These lines form as the crystal grows. Fine parallel lines or ridges can show the natural rhythm of the stone’s formation and may appear both internally and on the surface.
4. Look for Natural Imperfections
Real amethyst — and real crystals in general — are imperfect.
They may contain:
- Tiny fractures
- Cloudy areas
- Inclusions
- Uneven transparency
They also don’t all look identical.
If you’re shopping and see a bin of amethyst crystals that all look exactly the same, that can be a strong indicator they aren’t natural.
Fake stones often look TOO perfect. They may have identical color throughout with no variation at all.
5. Be Careful with Extremely Cheap “Amethyst”
Low price alone doesn’t guarantee something is fake, BUT giant “perfect” purple stones selling for almost nothing can be suspicious.
A genuine amethyst stone can range anywhere from around $2 to $50+ depending on size and quality.
Heat-Treated Amethyst vs. Fake Amethyst
Some citrine is actually heat-treated amethyst.
Heat-treated amethyst is interesting because while it IS real amethyst, it’s not naturally formed citrine.
That said, fake crystals aren’t necessarily “bad.” If you like a stone and it turns out to be fake, the fact that you enjoy it is what matters most. It really depends on what you personally care about.
Common Myths About Real Amethyst
Myth:
“Real amethyst is always dark purple.”
Truth:
Natural amethyst comes in MANY shades, ranging from pale lavender to deep purple.
Myth:
“If it has imperfections, it’s fake.”
Truth:
Natural crystals form within the earth, so imperfections are completely normal and often a sign of authenticity.
Myth:
“All fake amethyst is plastic.”
Truth:
Amethyst is commonly imitated using glass, dyed quartz, resin, and plastic.
Buying Amethyst Jewelry Online
Tips:
- Inspect photos carefully
- Check whether the stone type is clearly stated
- Avoid listings with vague wording
- Don’t blindly trust the word “authentic”
Why Handmade Amethyst Jewelry Often Looks More Natural
Handmade jewelry often looks more natural for a few reasons.
Handmade artists usually embrace variation by using one-of-a-kind stones that may not be perfectly shaped or polished. Handmade pieces also tend to have a less mass-produced appearance and more natural color variation.
Overall, handmade jewelry often feels more laid-back and organic, which can make it appear more authentic.
You don’t need to memorize geology or become an expert to figure out whether amethyst is real. Learning just a few signs can go a long way.
If you take one thing away from this post, let it be this:
Natural variation is GOOD.
No two authentic amethysts should look exactly alike.
At Simply Rustic Jewelry, all amethyst jewelry pieces are completely unique while still using real, authentic stones — including crystal pendant necklaces and handmade bracelets.
If you’d like to learn about the authenticity of other stones, click here.