Crystals are tangible remnants of Earth’s longstanding memory in solid form. Both energetically and aesthetically valuable, their clarity greatly affects both appearance and energy; higher-grade pieces channel energy more cleanly.

Choose natural, untreated color crystals without major cracks or fractures and ask trustworthy sellers for certificates of origin.

Clarity

Clarity in terms of crystal evaluation refers to how light passes through a stone, making an assessment possible. While clarity can often serve as an identifying characteristic when selecting gemstones for purchase, its significance can depend on what mineral it comes from; quartz specimens with clear and translucent properties are considered of high quality.

Color and luster are important indicators of crystal quality. Look for vibrant, uniform hues (such as those seen in an amethyst or silky-looking selenite) instead of those with zones, fade marks or bleach spots which indicate potential faults in manufacturing.

As an easy way to assess crystal quality, hold one in both hands and notice how they feel. A higher-grade piece will feel more grounded and supportive while lower quality stones may seem disorienting or chaotic; this phenomenon is known as energetic amplification and may manifest as changes in flow or purpose.

Color

Color is another essential indicator of crystal quality, with vibrant, natural hues being most prized over faded or dull tones. Consistency and evenness should also be prioritized; Ametrine, for instance, is an unusual form of transparent quartz which combines amethyst’s violet tones with citrine’s orange-to-yellow hues into one crystal – such as Ametrine!

Real crystals should feature a vibrant, glassy luster. This means that light is reflecting off their surfaces rather than being absorbed. Some minerals have specific lusters such as the metallic sheen of pyrite or silky appearance of selenite.

Luster

Luster of crystals refers to their ability to reflect light. To maximize this quality, expert cutting should be employed, creating symmetrical shapes with consistent faceting and facet depths. Inclusions also add value, such as in rutilated quartz.

Shiny surfaces can be difficult to determine accurately in gemological materials; additionally, a single mineral may feature various levels of luster.

When purchasing crystals for healing or decoration purposes, select those of highest-quality at your budget. Avoid crystals with major flaws like cracks and chips as these may affect their energetic strength and could potentially interfere with energy flow.

Form

Crystals possess unique geometric forms. While these shapes allow us to identify certain minerals, they don’t add value directly. Crystalline forms may even become degraded through constitutional supercooling; where differences between two similar molecular orientations become insignificant over time and cause twinned and statically disordered crystals.

High-quality crystals boast symmetrical shapes and uniform faceting to maximize brilliance and visual appeal, while poor-quality pieces often feature rough edges or uneven surfaces, which reflect light less efficiently, diminishing their aesthetic qualities and impacting its brilliance.

Avoid crystals with unrealistic or altered hues (source). Also, look out for any that are advertised with extravagant names or unique features – these may be telltale signs that they could be fakes! Reputable sellers should offer certification of their crystals as well as answers about their provenance and treatment.

Size

Typically speaking, larger crystals tend to be more valuable. But size alone shouldn’t be used as the sole criterion in determining quality – instead a high-quality crystal should feature pleasing shapes and structures as well as sharp terminations (points where growth has stopped) with clear faces.

Rough and natural mineral pieces are priced according to factors including rarity, size and quality. Typically, more rare or higher quality pieces will carry higher prices.

Reputable sellers offer crystals with high levels of transparency regarding quality and grade; they should also offer warranties; otherwise it’s wise to avoid their products.