Is my Moldavite fake?

[Updated Sunday 16th August 2026]

The crystal industry is a big business right now, with Moldavite being cited as a favoured specimen. As much as we love our crystals, Moldavite cannot truly be referred to as one, but we will get to that in a moment.

The very nature of this glassy treasure is that it is difficult to tell the real from the fake. Below, we have researched some of the best ways to tell real and fake moldavite apart. In the meantime, let’s top up our moldavite knowledge and work from there.

This genuine piece of moldavite came from the Czech Republic, Fox brought it over in 2020.

What is Moldavite?

Let’s start with the basics. Moldavite is a tektite, technically, which means it is a glass that has not been made by a person. A great example of another tektite is Libyan Desert Glass, or Obsidian, since both are naturally occurring without human interference.

It is thought that this unique tektite was created in earth’s crust about 15 million years ago when asteroids hit the earth. The asteroids hit specific regions of Europe, though they were predominantly refined to the Czech Republic. Rather than being a mineral which is made by earth, moldavite is the glass which formed during the impact of those asteroids.

The Recent Interest in Moldavite (Circa 2021)

Moldavite became popular in recent years when the Tik Tok community got hold of it. The metaphysical properties are said to be chaotic and can lead to major changes in life. Ironically, this is a similar description of what obsidian will do for you, using the same system. Tektites, it seems, are chaotic.

The Crystal of Chaos

In the metaphysical sense, wearing moldavite is the same as pulling the tower card in tarot. Now I know tarot better than I know crystals, and the tower card represents the clearing out of old, useless ways of thinking to make way for a more universally aligned state of being.

What Does Wearing Moldavite Do?

Picture a river coming through your life and washing away everything that no longer serves you. Sounds good, right? But once your ten year relationship, old job, and friend circle are completely gutted from the ground up, you start to see the implications.

Tektites are chaotic. Throw yourself into the chaos or don't wear the moldavite.

Spotting Real Vs Fake Moldavite

Unfortunately, manufacturers cottoned onto this rare gem many years ago. As long ago as the 1800s, humans have been faceting moldavite into sparkling gems for wearing. This was immediately the subject of imitation by callous gem traders, who would facet gems out of bottle green glass. Chinese manufacturers quickly developed a glass the same brown/green colour as genuine moldavite and started making it in moulds.

Since the recent boom in moldavite popularity, we have experienced a huge boom in those that are faking it. Let’s talk a little about how to spot fake moldavite. We don’t sell it here at The Stone Circle, but we don’t want you to get ripped off buying it elsewhere.

How do you Spot Fake Moldavite?

Moldavite is found in only one area of the world, and this is the first clue for those seeking to identify it. So, if your moldavite came from anywhere other than this region, it’s just not real. Moldavite occurs in the Czech Republic, in south eastern Germany, and in Austria.

Secondly: real moldavite is incredibly expensive because it is incredibly rare. It is also finite. At some point, we will have brought it all out of the ground and there will be no more.

The best place to buy it is in one of the towns where it is found, since they have better access to real stuff than fake stuff.

If you are buying moldavite online there is a huge chance it will be fake.

If it is faceted, it is difficult to tell. Moldavite should have bubbles in it. Geology.com warn that anything heavier than 2 carats in a faceted gem may be fake, and that those pieces with no bubbles are likely fake, too.

They also further refer readers to this article in the Gemmological Institute of America which can help you identify moldavite further, if you are still stuck.

Where can I Buy Genuine Mineral Samples?

You can buy genuine Scottish mineral samples from our store. Popular specimens include Scottish Agates and Scottish Amethyst, although we think the Smoky Quartz is the bomb.

Newly Launched…

While we have you here, we have a newly launched tumbling crystal mix which is 100% Scottish crystals ready for you to tumble at home. It’s the ideal gift for the lapidary artist in your life.