Is This Rare, Mystical Crystal Actually Cursed? We Asked The Experts

Just FYI, moldavite is on the pricier side compared to other crystals on the market today, and that’s because it’s both rare and popular, according to Van Doren. And thanks to this rarity, fakes are all too common. Fake moldavite is simply green glass that has been shaped to mimic moldavite’s distinctive texture, she explains.

Leavy notes it’s always a good idea to do your research before buying a crystal, both on how to spot fakes, as well as where you’re purchasing it from. “If a moldavite piece is very glassy or shiny looking, where it almost looks kind of wet on the surface, then it’s likely a fake,” she adds.

The best way to ensure moldavite is real is to purchase from a seller you trust, Van Doren notes, and it’s worth it to get the real stuff—even if it’s more expensive.

And as far as sustainability goes, Leavy says many of the concerns with other crystals regarding sustainability don’t apply here because finding moldavite doesn’t involve strip mining, and it is mostly extracted near the Earth’s surface.

Of course, you always want to look into worker conditions (and especially child labor), but Leavy says moldavite is “less of a concern given where it’s from […] and how it is collected.”