What Is the Difference Between Real Moonstone and Fake Moonstone?

Moonstone is a sodium-potassium aluminum silicate mineral in the feldspar family. It is also known as Hecatolite. This stone receives its name from its moon-like shine, giving a visual effect similar to the Moon.

Moonstone commonly occurs in white with a blue hue, giving it the appearance that it radiates light. However, you can also find this stone in gray, yellow, brown, pink, and green varieties.

Opalite is a stone made out of glass and is often confused with Moonstone. This article will dive into how to identify authentic Moonstones and how to tell if your Moonstone is real or fake.

If you want to know how to cleanse Moonstone, read this article.

What Does Real Moonstone Look Like?

Moonstones are opaque and cannot be seen through, but they do let the light shine through faintly when held up toward a light source. This stone is a bad conductor of heat and usually remains cold to the touch, taking a long time to heat up and store heat. 

When held under a microscope, Moonstone does not have any bubbles under the surface. When magnified, manufactured Moonstones will have many round bubbles under the surface, created during the manufacturing process.

Moonstone is known for adularescence, an optical illusion that causes a blue tint or shine on the surface of a crystal. When held under a light, it will emit a blue hue. Moonstone ranks 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.

Most authentic Moonstones originate from India and Sri Lanka. Many reputable vendors can provide references tracing their gems’ origins. It is best to purchase from these vendors to avoid buying fake ones or gemstones mined in unethical conditions.

Types of Moonstone

Colorless Moonstone

Colorless Moonstones are considered the most valuable variety. The more colorless it is, the more valuable it is. The most sought-after colorless Moonstones usually originate from Myanmar, and this stone is almost mined out, making it extremely rare to find. 

Rainbow Moonstone

Carrying a Rainbow Moonstone with you is like carrying a rainbow. This stone is a white variety of Labradorite and has labradorescence, a type of shine Labradorite crystals emit. Look for black inclusions if you want to know how to tell if your Rainbow Moonstone is real. Rainbow Moonstone often contains Black Tourmaline inclusions, which are not found in other Moonstone varieties.

Black Moonstone

Black Moonstone is a variety of Moonstone recently discovered in Madagascar. If you want to know how to tell if Black Moonstone is real, hold it under a light source. When held under a light source, it flashes silver and green hues. Black Moonstone is a darker variety of Moonstone that occurs with black and brown base tones. This stone contains all the healing properties of Moonstone but can also protect you from harm and evil.

True White Moonstone

True White Moonstone is the most valuable and rarest variety of Moonstone. This stone contains almost no impurities, which is evident when you glance at it and see its clear white tones. When held under a light source, it does not emit a blue hue but has a white, pearl-like shine.

How to Tell if Moonstone is Real?

The Touch Test

Hold the gemstone in your palm for 5 minutes. If it heats up, it is likely a fake. If it remains cold, it is an authentic Moonstone.

The Jeweler’s Loupe Test

Hold your gemstone under a 10x jeweler’s loupe and observe its surface. If there are many round bubbles noticeable, it is likely a fake. However, if the surface is smooth, it is an authentic Moonstone.

The Scratch Test

Moonstones are soft and rank 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale but are still harder than glass, which ranks 5.5 on the Mohs scale. Run a steel nail down your stone; if it scratches, it is likely glass or Opalite. If it is not damaged, it is a Moonstone.

How to Spot Fake Moonstone

What does fake Moonstone look like? Faux Moonstones emit many hues and colors when held under a light source. To spot a phony Moonstone, hold the stone under a light. If it casts a blue tint, it is authentic. However, it is likely a fake if it emits many different colors.

Authentic Moonstones rank 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and are usually harder than glass counterfeits. When performing a scratch test, objects with a hardness between 5.5 and 6 Mohs will scratch a fake Moonstone but leave an authentic Moonstone undamaged.

Opalite is primarily manufactured in Asia. Therefore, if your stone originates from Asia, it might be a synthetic Moonstone, as authentic Moonstones are not found naturally in Asia.

Real Moonstone vs Fake Moonstone 

Conclusion

Moonstone is a popular crystal and is one of the best gemstones to give to a young female connecting with her femininity and emotions. For this reason, many women love wearing Moonstones, but this rise in demand and popularity has resulted in many fakes being on the market.

Always perform the touch, jeweler’s loupe, and scratch test if you are unsure if your Moonstone is genuine, and always ensure you purchase ethically sourced crystals from honest and trustworthy vendors to avoid being deceived.