As with other gemstones, fake moonstones are everywhere. If you're not a gemstone expert, there's a good chance you'll buy a fake. Let's face it, no one wants to spend their hard-earned money on a beautiful imposter.

But don't worry, I've got your back! In this guide, I'm going to share some simple tips to help you recognize a genuine moonstone. Let's get started!

Want to recognize a moonstone as genuine? It's really simple, just look for its signature adularescence ! A genuine moonstone has a soft blue or silvery-white glow. For those imitations, the glow is usually unnatural and may appear in other colors.

You can also place a moonstone under a light source and gently rotate it. The glow of a natural moonstone will change with the angle, as if the light is coming out of the stone. If you find that its glow stays the same or looks fixed, it may be fake.

Look closely at your moonstone with the naked eye or a magnifying glass. You'll notice that genuine moonstones usually contain some impurities and inclusions and are less uniform and vibrant in color. In contrast, fake stones are usually more perfect, shiny, and brightly colored.

It is important to note that natural moonstones often have some tiny imperfections within them. They look like those long, thin, many-legged creatures known as “centipedes”. These are formed in the cracks of the mineral due to dissolution pressure and cannot be completely removed by processing.

If you look at it in the light, you will see the layered structure inside a genuine moonstone. This layering is made up of orthoclase and sodium feldspar intertwined with each other. Counterfeits, on the other hand, do not have this layered structure and usually look fuzzy and hard to recognize.

Moonstone is a poor thermal conductor and will feel cool to the touch. You can gently touch the surface of the stone to feel its temperature. If it is lukewarm, then perhaps it is a man-made fake.

Secondly, the surface of natural moonstone will not be so perfect. It may have some small cracks, or tiny imperfections, which are traces of nature. And fake moonstone is usually polished too smooth and lacks that roughness of a natural stone.

Want to know if a moonstone is real or fake? Take a small metal rod or hard object and tap it gently. A real moonstone will make a crisp sound. Fake moonstone, such as plastic or synthetic glass, will have a dull sound or no sound at all when tapped.

Moonstone is generally relatively hard between 6 and 6.5. So, gently scratch the surface of the stone with your fingernail and if it leaves a mark, then its hardness is questionable and it may be a fake.

Also, due to the higher density of moonstone, a real moonstone will feel a little heavier in your hand than it looks. If the stone you get feels lighter than expected, then it is most likely a fake.

Okay, it's time to break out the microscope! Take a close look at that gemstone under a bright light. Here's the trick: most fake gemstones are made of glass and are prone to air bubbles. And natural moonstones? They are much more densely structured and have almost no air bubbles. So, if you notice any bubbles, then beware.

Finally, when buying moonstone, make sure you choose a reliable merchant or brand. Some unscrupulous merchants like to attract consumers to buy fake products at low prices. When buying, you can check the certification and quality assurance of the merchant. If possible, it is better to go to a professional jewelry store to avoid buying products from unknown sources.

With these steps above, you can basically determine the authenticity of moonstone. If you still have no idea in your mind, then don't hesitate to go to a professional gemologist directly!

I've come across some great articles on this topic, and I thought you'd find them interesting too. Here are the links – feel free to check them out if you're interested!

• 5 Ways to Tell if Your Moonstone Is Real

• How to recognize a real moonstone ?

• How to Tell If Moonstone Is Real?