natural inclusiosAnother way to tell if a citrine crystal is fake is by looking at its shape. Glass citrines are often made in molds, making them unnaturally perfect in shape with slightly rounded edges. They can look almost like hard plastic with very little variation in color patterns. There may even be internal cracking that occurred when setting the glass, along with potential gas bubbles.

 Manufacturing Process

1. Material Selection: High-quality silica sand is the primary raw material used to make glass. Colorants, usually metal oxides, are added to achieve the yellow hue.

2. Melting: The raw materials are melted in a furnace at temperatures around 1700 to 2000°C (3100 to 3632°F).

3. Coloring: To mimic the color of citrine, specific metal oxides are added during the melting process. This gives the glass its characteristic yellow color.

4. Molding and Cooling: The molten glass is then shaped into gemstone-like forms using molds. It is then slowly cooled to room temperature to avoid internal stress.

5. Cutting and Polishing: Once cooled, the glass pieces are cut and polished to resemble citrine gemstones.

Why It's Done

Yellow glass is significantly cheaper to produce than sourcing genuine citrine. It offers a visually similar product at a fraction of the cost, making it attractive for budget-conscious consumers.

Identifying Yellow Glass Fakes

1. Refractive Index: Glass has a different refractive index than genuine citrine, which can be tested using gemological equipment.

2. Weight: Glass is generally heavier than quartz, so a faux citrine made from glass will weigh more than a genuine one of the same size.

3. Inclusions: Genuine citrine may have natural inclusions, while glass is usually flawless or may contain bubbles.

4. Price: If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Genuine citrine is more expensive than glass imitations.

Another subtle way to tell the difference is by feeling the temperature of the crystal. When holding a real citrine crystal in one hand and a fake in the other, the genuine crystal feels cooler than the glass, which is absorbing heat from your body.

A more obvious distinction of a fake citrine is remnants of purple from the Amethyst that can be spotted throughout or at the base of the crystal. Once baked, the Amethyst can become a bright, artificial-looking yellow. This varies greatly from the deep tones found in natural citrine.

When it comes to signature features of authentic citrine, you'll notice rich, deep, and vibrant hues of smoky yellow, golds, and even cool-toned browns within a natural citrine cluster. Natural citrine will be slightly more expensive than heat-treated/fake citrine.

Real citrine generally will not have a pure white base. There will be color throughout. It may have smooth fault lines that usually run horizontally. And often no bubbles or infractions will be inside the crystal. In genuine citrine, this happens naturally in the earth over time. In heat-treated citrine, it happens in an oven.

Here is an example of a high-quality raw and natural 53 lb citrine statement piece!

Based on these factors, the value of a real citrine crystal can range from a few dollars for a small, low-quality specimen to several thousand dollars for a large, high-quality specimen from a rare location.

It is also worth noting that certain citrine crystals with specific shapes, patterns or inclusions can be considered more valuable than others. 

It's important to note that you can always ask a gemologist to examine the crystal and give you a more accurate assessment of its value.

At Amethyst Goddess, we understand the importance of sourcing high-quality, authentic crystals. That's why we take great care to inspect and verify each and every one of our crystals. We source the majority of our citrine crystals directly from Brazil, where the majority of genuine citrine crystals are found. Our team of experts carefully inspects each crystal to ensure that it is authentic and of the highest quality. We take pride in providing our customers with only the best crystals, so you can be confident that the citrine crystals you purchase from Amethyst Goddess are genuine and of the highest quality.

. it is important to be aware of the characteristics of a genuine citrine crystal to ensure you are working with an authentic one. By following these tips, you'll be able to spot a fake citrine a mile away.