# How to Spot Real vs Fake Moldavite

> How to tell real Moldavite from fake glass: bubbles, inclusions, color, etching, the density test, price red flags and questions to ask sellers.

- Source: https://moldavitegems.com/real-vs-fake.html
- Publisher: Moldavite Gems (https://moldavitegems.com/)
- Last updated: 2026-10-20
- Cite as: Moldavite Gems. "How to Spot Real vs Fake Moldavite." https://moldavitegems.com/real-vs-fake.html. Updated October 2026.

Fakes are everywhere. Most are green glass, often molded to imitate natural etching. No single test is perfect, so combine several.

## Quick comparison

| Feature | Genuine Moldavite | Typical fake |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Muted bottle, olive or forest green; may vary within a piece | Uniform vivid emerald, lime or "apple green" |
| Bubbles | Irregular, elongated or distorted | Perfectly round, often in neat rows |
| Inclusions | Lechatelierite "worms", swirls | Clean or uniform; seed bubbles only |
| Surface | Natural, varied etching; every piece unique | Repetitive patterns, molded look, seam lines |
| Luster | Slightly matte on etched surfaces | Wet-looking, glossy all over |
| Specific gravity | About 2.32–2.38 | Often 2.45–2.6 for common glass |
| Price | Rarely under $14/g genuine | Under $10/g, often cents per gram |
| Description | Weight in grams and Czech locality stated | "Meteorite", no weight, "AAA+++", bulk carat lots |

## Tests you can do at home

### 1. Backlight inspection

Hold the stone to a strong light or phone torch. Look for swirls, irregular bubbles and thread-like lechatelierite with a 10× loupe.

### 2. Hydrostatic density test

Weigh the stone dry (A), then suspended in water (B). Specific gravity = A ÷ (A − B). Genuine Moldavite is about 2.32–2.38. You need a scale accurate to 0.01 g.

### 3. Texture check

Natural etching is irregular and varies across the stone. Repeated identical "hedgehog" spikes across many listings suggest molds.

### 4. Price and seller check

Compare $/g to our [price bands](https://moldavitegems.com/price.html). Ask where the stone was found; honest sellers answer quickly and specifically.

## Red flags

- Price below about **$10/g**; anything near $1/g is almost certainly glass.
- $0.99-start auctions, multi-piece "chip lots", weights given only in carats.
- Shipping from China or Hong Kong, or listings in bulk kilograms.
- The word "meteorite" (Moldavite is a tektite).
- Printed "certificates" with no traceable lab; a certificate is not proof.
- Sellers who avoid provenance questions.

## What about lab testing?

Gemological labs can confirm Moldavite with refractive index, specific gravity, magnification and chemical analysis. For expensive collector or Besednice pieces, independent testing is worth the cost.

**Rule of thumb:** if it is cheap, bright and perfect, it is probably glass.