What Type of Crystal or Rock Is This?

The crystal or rock in most crystal bracelets is one of a handful of minerals — quartz, amethyst, citrine, or moonstone — each with measurable physical properties that separate natural stone from glass or dyed imitations. A jeweler's loupe and a basic scratch test will tell you what your crystal bracelet is made of faster than any phone app.

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Last updated: September 12, 2026

By Mara Ellison · Founding Editor, Dusk & Relic Journal

How Do I Narrow Down What My Crystal Bracelet Is?

Hardness and inclusion patterns separate most crystal bracelet stones from each other and from glass. Specific gravity adds a third data point when hardness and inclusions are not enough.

Criterion	Clear quartz bracelet	Citrine bracelet	Moonstone bracelet
Mohs hardness	7	7	—
Specific gravity	2.651	2.651	2.56–2.59
Refractive index	1.544–1.553	1.544–1.553	—
Under a loupe	Color zoning, negative crystals, two- and three-phase inclusions	Yellow to golden; heat-treated citrine may fade with heat	Perfect cleavage in two directions; a floating glow that shifts when rotated

The USGS reports that U.S. net import reliance for gemstones was 99% from 2021 through 2025, with glass, plastics, and other materials frequently substituted for natural stones. If nothing in the table matches, the crystal bracelet may not be stone at all. For crystal bracelets mixing several stone types, identifying each crystal by its physical properties follows the same logic stone by stone.

Does a Scratch Test Work on a Crystal Bracelet?

A scratch test is the fastest field check for any quartz-family crystal bracelet. Clear quartz and citrine both rate Mohs 7 on the hardness scale (International Gem Society), and a Mohs 7 mineral leaves a clean scratch on a glass plate.

Press one bead of the crystal bracelet firmly against a smooth glass edge and drag. A white line on the glass confirms the crystal bracelet is at least quartz-hard. Not every crystal used in bracelets rates that high — a crystal bracelet that fails the scratch test might still be a softer natural stone rather than glass.

What Should I See Inside a Real Crystal Bracelet Under Magnification?

Natural inclusions are the fingerprint of a real crystal bracelet. Clear quartz inclusions include color zoning and negative crystals — internal cavities shaped like the host mineral — along with two- and three-phase inclusions. Hold a clear quartz crystal bracelet under a jeweler's loupe and any of those features point to natural quartz rather than a simulant.

Perfect uniformity is the warning sign. Simulants lack natural growth signatures, and a closer look at whether a crystal bracelet is glass or the real thing starts at the loupe.

I'd reach for a loupe before any scratch test — inclusions give more information in one look than hardness alone, though a scratch test still wins when you need a quick yes-or-no on quartz. A rutilated quartz crystal bracelet like the Golden Thread (10.5 mm, $115) makes identification straightforward: gold rutile needles running through each bead are natural features glass cannot replicate. The Clear Water bracelet (9 mm, $90) sits at the other end — chunky clear quartz nuggets where internal zoning is visible under magnification.

How Do I Tell a Clear Quartz Bracelet from a Citrine Bracelet?

Color is the only reliable separator. Clear quartz and citrine share Mohs 7 and a specific gravity of 2.651 — even their refractive index (1.544–1.553) is identical. A scratch test or density check will not tell a clear quartz bracelet from a citrine bracelet.

The harder question is whether a citrine crystal bracelet is natural or heat-treated. The International Gem Society notes that heat-treated citrine may fade when exposed to heat. If the color holds through years of wear, the citrine crystal bracelet is more likely natural. A breakdown of how to spot heat-treated citrine vs. the natural stone covers additional checks.

For a side-by-side reference, the Sunstruck bracelet (8 mm, $115) pairs citrine and lemon quartz nuggets with clear quartz on one strand — the color gap between the citrine and the clear quartz is visible at a glance.

Does Weight Help Identify a Crystal Bracelet?

Specific gravity — density relative to water — adds a useful data point when two crystal bracelets look similar but feel different in hand. Clear quartz crystal bracelets have a specific gravity of 2.651, and moonstone crystal bracelets sit lower at 2.56–2.59. The difference is small per bead but adds up across a full strand.

Moonstone crystal bracelets carry a structural tell: perfect cleavage in two directions, meaning a moonstone crystal bracelet can split along internal planes if struck hard. A clear quartz crystal bracelet has no directional cleavage and handles daily wear without that risk.

For a weight baseline, a faceted clear quartz crystal bracelet like the First Frost (8 mm, $105) or the Silver Lining (7 mm, $115) gives a known-quartz reference to compare against any mystery crystal bracelet on a kitchen scale.

FAQ

Can a phone app tell me what type of crystal bracelet I have?

Image-recognition apps match photos against a database but cannot measure hardness or specific gravity. A clear quartz crystal bracelet (Mohs 7, SG 2.651) is identified more reliably by a scratch test and a loupe than by image recognition.

Will a scratch test damage my crystal bracelet?

The test presses a bead against a glass plate, not the other way around. If the crystal bracelet is quartz-family (Mohs 7), the bead scratches the glass and stays undamaged.

If my citrine bracelet changes color over time, is the stone fake?

Not fake, but likely heat-treated. Heat-treated citrine may fade when exposed to heat over time. A natural citrine crystal bracelet holds its color more reliably.

Is moonstone more fragile than quartz in a crystal bracelet?

Yes. Moonstone has perfect cleavage in two directions, so a moonstone crystal bracelet can split along internal planes if struck. A clear quartz crystal bracelet has no directional cleavage and is more durable for daily wear.

Can two different stones have identical hardness and density?

Yes. Clear quartz and citrine both rate Mohs 7 and share a specific gravity of 2.651. Even their refractive index matches at 1.544–1.553. Color or a heat-exposure response is the only way to separate a clear quartz crystal bracelet from a citrine crystal bracelet.

How common are glass simulants sold as crystal bracelets?

Common enough that the USGS lists glass and plastics among the materials frequently substituted for natural gemstones. U.S. net import reliance for gemstones was 99% from 2021 through 2025, and most of that supply passes through markets where simulants circulate freely.

What does specific gravity mean when identifying a crystal bracelet?

Specific gravity measures how dense a stone is compared to water. Clear quartz sits at 2.651, moonstone at 2.56–2.59. A crystal bracelet that feels lighter than expected for its bead size may not be the stone the seller claimed.