Interest in crystals and gemstones has grown steadily and there are now many more places to purchase crystals than in previous years, especially on the Internet.  When buying your crystals it is best if you can see and hold them first so you can sense whether they are an appropriate purchase.  However it is not always possible and if you are purchasing from an image on the Internet, you want to be sure you are getting value for money and a bona fide crystal. The following is a list of things to consider when making your purchase, compiled as a result of some of my own mistakes and gaffes!   

What size is it? An image on the Internet may be misleading in that you could pay a lot of money for a very small stone (of course it may be a fair price if it is one of the more rare crystals).  Check out if the description lists its size, or the image shows the stone alongside a ruler or an item to give you an idea of its actual size.   

Are You Getting the Item Pictured? Ensure when purchasing on the Internet that the item pictured is the actual item you will be receiving. It may be one of many for sale and the item pictured just a sample.   

Is it genuine? A prime example of something not being what you think are stones masquerading as something else.  In the days when I was still naïve regarding crystals I purchased what I thought was a really good bargain – a largish piece of turquoise for £1!  As I became more knowledgeable, I found out it was a piece of howlite dyed blue!  Needless to say a lesson well learnt.  Today dyed howlite and agates are generally advertised as such, but there may still be the less informed or less scrupulous vendor out there who is selling them as something else.  

Natural or Man-made? There are a number of stones available in the shops which, whilst they are pretty to look at, are in fact man-made.  Examples of these are:

This content was written by Helen Jane Meyrick. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Helen Jane Meyrick