Do you want to know if your moonstone is fake? You may not know it, but one of the most frequently faked or imitated precious gems is moonstone; That is why this post has been created with the aim of learning how to identify a real moonstone and avoiding bad surprises.
The real moonstone and its characteristics
It is important that you first remember the most important characteristics and properties that a real moonstone has. Keep in mind that moonstone is a mineral that belongs to the feldspar group and is characterized by its adularescence, that is, it reflects light just as the moon does in water and in the clouds in the sky.
To identify a real moonstone, consider the following:
- ore type : Moonstone is a mineral from the feldspar group, being specifically an orthoclase. Here it must be emphasized that it is not a quartz mineral.
- the adularescence : Light in moonstone travels just below the surface or faces of the gem. This optical phenomenon is known as adularescence and is like looking at the moon in the water or through the clouds.
- It has internal layers of albite : The moonstone is an orthoclase mineral that has layers of albite inside, these layers are the cause of its beauty.
- Its Mohs hardness : Moonstone is a mineral that is moderately resistant to wear as it has a hardness on the Mohs scale of 6 to 6.5.
- Colors : Moonstone appears in many colors; white, blue, grey, green, yellow, orange, rainbow, Colorless. Please note that the blue moonstone is the most beautiful and valued by people, and it will be the most imitated in the gemstone market.
What is fake moonstone?
Now that you know the most important characteristics to identify a real moonstone, then you should know about the fake moonstone, which in the jewelry market is known as opaline stone.
The fake moonstone or opaline it is a mixture of glass, plastic, some metals and plastic resins. Basically it is an artificial or synthetic stone, that is, created by the human being in such a way that it appears to imitate real moonstone.
The opaline stone Nowadays it is very popular not only because it looks very similar to real moonstone, but also because it is often used to imitate opal. In addition, opaline creates beautiful jewelery that is also very economical.
Tips to know if you have a fake or real moonstone
Now you know that opaline stone is the artificial material used as fake moonstone. Next, we will give some tips so that you can identify an original moonstone and do not get bad surprises when you buy it.
| Characteristic | Real Moonstone | Fake Moonstone (Opaline) |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Orthoclase, Albite (KAlSi3O8) | Glass, plastics, resins, metals |
| Mineral | Yes it is a precious mineral and gem | It is not a mineral, it is a synthetic material |
| Mohs hardness | 6 to 6.5 (medium wear resistant) | 4 to 4.5 (little wear resistant) |
| weight or density | 2.58 gr/cm3 (heavier) | 2.2 gr/cm3 (light) |
| Color | White, bluish, transparent | White, bluish, transparent |
| Price | $20 to $700 | less than 5 dollars |
With the help of the table you will notice the following:
- In general, an original moonstone is more resistant to wear and tear than a fake.
- Likewise, a real moonstone will be heavier than a fake.
- With the help of a magnifying glass, you should recognize that a true moonstone will be a feldspar mineral, while a fake moonstone will be a mixture of glass with resins, plastics, and some metals.
- A differentiating factor is the price. Currently, an original transparent bluish moonstone can sell for over $700 if it is part of jewelry. While the fake or opaline moonstone is less than 5 dollars.