Well, almost all of us must have noticed some vendors sitting in the streets or alongside the footpath with some shining stones on a red cloth. Funnily, they claim those stones to be real gems! However, this is the story of some big businesses as well. Many online stores sell fake gems in the name of real ones and moonstone is one of such stones.
Unfortunately, many customers unknowingly buy stones like opalite thinking of it as a moonstone. This happens because opalite slightly resembles moonstones and we are not able to spot the differences. So how do we check the authenticity when we are out to buy moonstone (mondstein kaufen)? The answer is here:
There is difference in opalite and moonstone:
Opalite is a variant of glass sold as a cheap alternative to moonstone. And if observed closely, we can immediately spot the differences between an opalite and a moonstone. The first difference is layers. Yes, a moonstone will always have layers in its structure as it is composed of orthoclase and albite staked upon each other. Whereas opalite does not possess layers at it is composed of a homogenous substance. The second difference lies in the appearance of inclusions/aberrations. An opalite has minimal /zero inclusion bodies except for some bubbles, as it is a synthetic substance whereas the moonstone will always have some internal scars (also called centipedes) in it. Sure, there are moonstones that have lesser inclusions but it never has bubbles.
One more thing that separates moonstone from opalite is its glow in different lights. An opalite changes its color or shimmer with a change in the color of background light whereas a moonstone will always have a blue sheen no matter what.
All moonstones are not real moonstones:
Yes! Just like the proverb, “Not everything that shines is gold.” I can say that,” Not all moonstones are real moonstones.” Other stones like the black moonstone, the rainbow moonstone, or the Canadian moonstone are NOT some variants of moonstones, but just possess a similar name. Some stones like hecatolite and labradolite perfectly imitate the moonstone but they are not of much value as compared to a real moonstone. A genuine moonstone has specific transparency, color, and sheen, which an experienced person can easily recognize. So if you are considering buy moonstone (mondstein kaufen), consult a good jeweler to recognize the stone for you or at least choose reputed stores.
