What should I check first at home?
Start with touch: genuine stone stays cool in your hand longer than glass, and plastic feels light. Then use a loupe to look for round gas bubbles and any mold seam at the drill hole - both point to man-made material. Finally, scan the strand for natural variation in hue, transparency, and inclusions; cookie-cutter sameness suggests glass.
These checks won't identify species, but they'll separate stone from glass fast. When in doubt, compare with known-good strands and trusted references from trade groups and gemology sources.
What should I see under a loupe?
Natural beads often show inclusions, color zoning, crystal textures, or cleavage traces, depending on the species. Glass typically shows round gas bubbles, flow lines, and sometimes a mold seam near the drill hole. These loupe clues are classic tells and are emphasized by gemology references on glass simulants.
- Natural: inclusions, growth textures, subtle color zoning, or cleavage traces.
- Glass/plastic: round bubbles, flow lines, mold seams at holes, and smoother wear; stone chips more crisply.
Why does temperature and heft matter?
Stone has higher thermal mass, so it starts cool and stays cool longer than glass; plastic tends to feel near room temperature and noticeably light in the hand. As you hold it, glass usually warms quickly, while stone remains cool. Compare similar strands for a fair read.
How much variation should real beads have?
Expect some bead-to-bead differences in natural material: hue shifts, inclusions, or effects like labradorescence appearing at different angles. Uniform, cartoon-bright color and identical transparency across every bead often point to glass.
Use species cues: medium to dark purple with flashes is a strong amethyst sign (amethyst guide). Labradorite should show blue or multicolor flash at angles (labradorite guide). Rose quartz is always softly hazy, not crystal-clear (rose quartz guide).
Can I do a scratch test without ruining beads?
Hardness helps separate look-alikes, but scratching finished beads is risky. Amethyst and rose quartz are Mohs 7; labradorite is 6 to 6.5; turquoise is 5 to 6. Purple fluorite, a known amethyst look-alike, is Mohs 4 and can be scratched by a steel pin per our amethyst notes.
If you must test, use a chip or a sacrificial end bead, and keep marks at the stringing hole where they won't show. Never drag across a polished face.
Does the price and seller info tell me anything?
Price should make sense for the stone, bead size, and strand length. A way-below-market offer for the stated material and size is a caution sign. Ask for the exact length; standard cutter strands run about 13 to 16 inches, and that affects bead count and price.