If you are looking for a new gemstone, Moldavite is a beautiful specimen that will introduce calm, ethereal greens to your collection. 

What is Moldavite?

Moldavite is a natural glass that has a unique formation behind it; theories are that it was formed as a result of the heat from an asteroid impact 15 million years ago, after which the hot glass was sent flying across Europe where it is continually mined today. It is technically a Tektite which is a group of impact glasses formed by meteorite impacts. The chemical formula is as follows:

SiO2 (+ Al2O3)
Moldavite has a Mohs hardness between 5.5 and 7Oh, very similar to most other glasses. It can appear translucent or transparent with swirls and bubbles inside that highlight the generally mossy green hue.

Where does it come from?

Moldavite comes from Europe primarily particularly areas along the Rise and Steinem craters. These two craters are thought to have formed 15 million years ago and crashed across Southeastern Germany, breaking into pieces as they approached and displacing pieces across what is now Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

Most of the Moldavite solidified in the air before impact and a significant portion of it fell in the southern areas of the Czech Republic.

Why is it so expensive?

Moldavite is expensive for a handful of reasons. Firstly, the majority of Moldavite exists in sediments from the middle to Upper Miocene age when the craters fell. Much of it remains deeply buried in the Earth and can only be found in a few regions along with the impact of the craters. This necessitates careful and extensive measures to remove it from the ground leading to a high cost.

Secondly, the Moldavite that is found in these areas is usually found in the form of droplets shaped particles that are only a few centimeters in diameter. Given how small they are in their raw and natural form, the process of refining Moldavite as a gemstone and cutting it to be worn in jewelry chips away delicately at an already small piece of Moldavite. Larger pieces are very difficult to come by as a result of this which makes even seemingly small pieces of the gemstone rather expensive.

Unfortunately, because there is a limited supply of Moldavite and there is no likelihood of it naturally forming and showing up on Earth again, the cost of Moldavite has gone up because of this limited supply mixed with a demand from those more spiritually focused on its healing properties. This has resulted in many counterfeiters trying to create more natural-looking surfaces on imitation pieces. 

What determines its price and value?

As is the case with most gemstones, the price and value of Moldavite are contingent upon its color and its size. A gem quality piece of Moldavite is very brittle and has to be used carefully. Most of the time you see it in earrings or on pendants and pins, any piece of jewelry that doesn't regularly face an impact or potential abrasion. The durability of Moldavite is very similar to most man-made glass which means it can't be used safely for things like rings.
A very high-quality section of Moldavite exists in the Czech Republic, at 86.5 carats, but most of the pieces are very small and very delicate. The color is another facet that impacts the price and value. Value, as it relates to color, can sometimes be subjective for different gemstones, in this case, Moldavite is known for its unique qualities and the somewhat extraterrestrial nature of its development leading to the green Shades being much more popular. But in reality, the droplet-shaped particles can be found between green and brown shades. Brown shades are typically less highly valued and less expensive than green shades.

Similarly, there might be sections that are slightly more yellowish rather than green with white streaks in them. It is often transparent or somewhat translucent because it is a type of glass, and the level of clarity found in each piece can impact price and value.

 

What are the healing benefits of Moldavite?

Many people believe that Moldavite came to Earth to help the planet transcend its current state which is why moldavite is heavily used for healing rituals of the earth chakra.

Moldavite is also a good stone used for those who want to amplify the vibrations of their other crystals. There are claims that Moldavite has metaphysical properties such that if you gaze into a more translucent piece of the gemstone while meditating you will find that it is easier to connect with the higher powers in the cosmos and within your higher self.

Similarly, many people believe that Moldavite has a cosmic oversoul of its own because of its origins which means those who have this gemstone will be better able to connect with any ascended masters.

Moldavite is believed to have metaphysical properties that enable you to transcend time. For that reason, many people find the stone useful when they want to engage in a past life or explore the path their soul is taking in any direction of time.

Healers use Moldavite to help remove emotions and clear the aura of any unwanted baggage from a past life.

Finally, Moldavite is believed to heighten a sense of self-awareness and help people who are seeking to uncover emotions or feelings that keep them stuck in unhappy situations in the present. Those individuals will be able to uncover those things that are trapping them in an unhappy present and move forward.

 

How long has Moldavite been around?

Technically moldavite has been around since it landed on the planet roughly fifteen million years ago. However, it was in 1786 that moldavite was actually introduced to the Scientific Community. The term refers to the Moldau River in the modern-day Czech Republic where the first pieces were uncovered. Later, in 1900, another scientist found the gravel-sized pieces and noted that the wrinkles and Pits on the surface we're very similar to the markings you find on meteorites. It's because of this that he proposed they came from a meteor. Isotopic samples of moldavite have confirmed that the composition is very similar to that of meteor specimens we have today. 

Why is Moldavite so popular now?

Moldavite has recently become popular because of its association with the Extra-Terrestrial and its spiritual and metaphysical healing properties. Many people associate Moldavite with transformative powers and the fact that it is only found in one area on Earth means it will eventually run out and there will be no more left to mine.

Moldavite purportedly has many benefits in terms of emotional healing powers and physical healing powers. Those who have started to focus more on their chakras have turned to Moldavite gemstones and jewelry to help them:

• align with their heart chakra and their third eye, 

• improve memory and brain balancing qualities, 

• use as a Talisman that might bring good fortune, 

• wear around the chest of the necklace to help with the heart chakra for love and relationships

How to spot a fake Moldavite?

Imitations or fake Moldavite gemstones became very popular especially in the Czech Republic where the stones exist naturally. Around the second half of the nineteenth century, a type of Czech garnet or river pearls was used. The green bottle glass didn't appear until the 20th century in common jewelry.

However, no matter how long fake Moldavite jewelry has been around, when you want the real deal it's important to know how to spot a fake Moldavite.
In some situations, you might be looking at fake Moldavite or green glass imitation. If you look very carefully at the gemstone, you will see that most Moldavite is transparent or translucent and the mossy appearance it has is often accentuated by internal swirls or bubbles. 

Lechatelierite, a mineraloid without any crystal structure, is not actually a true mineral and it is something that you typically see in situations such as meteorite impacts or lightning strikes. It has a somewhat bubbly shape to it and can be seen in sections of Moldavite where the material shattered and expanded.

This mineraloid does not exist outside of these particular natural occurrences, so fake Moldavites simply won't have them. You might look at a piece of fake Moldavite green glass and see the same types of colors or exterior designs but you won't see the bubbly interior of the lechatelierite.

The key to finding authentic pieces and not well-crafted counterfeits is to look at the texture and the Abundant bubbles that you see but, you can also look for the shiny or somewhat wet appearance, a characteristic of authentic pieces but not fake pieces. Any faceted stones that don't have inclusions or bubbles and look like a clean or flawless piece of glass are very likely to be fake.

Finally, it is up to you to make sure you know where it was mined. If the gemstone was mined anywhere but the Moldau River valley in the modern-day Czech Republic, it is almost 100% a fake invitation. Authentic sellers should be more than capable of providing you with the information as to where your gemstone was mined.

How to safely shop Moldavite online?

When safely shopping online for Moldavite, some of the things you want to be aware of are not only the different grades of Moldavite, or how to spot a fake from an authentic gemstone, but where the Moldavite came from.

When you are shopping for Moldavite online, you need to be aware of the different grades of Moldavite.  

• First, there is high-quality Moldavite which is generally called Museum grade.

• Second, there is medium quality. 

• Third, there is regular Moldavite.

They can be told apart based on their appearance. At the bottom of the rung, the regular grade pieces of Moldavite are typically much darker and heavily saturated. They look very similar to the color of seaweed and the texture of the gemstone is usually more weathered with a lot of pits or marks across it. Regular grade Moldavite is purportedly sections that broke off of a larger piece. 

In the middle of course there is a medium quality that lands directly in the middle in terms of both color and texture.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Museum grade is much more translucent and will cost significantly more. High-quality Moldavite is usually what is reserved for handcrafted jewelry. It has fewer flaws and might be smoother on the outside as well.

More recently, Chinese manufacturers have worked very hard to mimic the weight and natural etching of Moldavite on fake counterparts. 

The refractive index measurements can help you identify good gemstones. The refractive index measurement is the difference between the speed of light in the

Moldavite gemstone and the speed of light in a regular vacuum.
While the best way to tell a fake from the real deal is with some rather complicated machinery, below is a table that can help you look at the characteristics of imitation versus natural Moldavite:

	Moldavite	Chinese Imitations	19th Century Czech Imitations
Color	Light green to brown	Light green	Light green
RI	1.480-1.510	1.520	1.525-1.580
Density	2.35	2.52	N/A
Fluorescence	Inert in UV light	Chalky in short wave UV light	Inert in UV light
Absorption spectrum	Minimum at 550 nm	Maximum at 460 and 640	N/A

 

Does Moldavite change color or deteriorate over time?

It is important that you carefully store your Moldavite because of how delicate it is. A softly lined case with a lid made of polyurethane foam liners can help you protect the gemstones.

Moldavite is considered a gemstone but as mentioned, it does come from the meteor and is technically a type of glass. If you soak the stone in water it will deteriorate and eventually dissolve. It is imperative that you do not put it in water and that you keep it free from impacts, abrasions, or similar things that can exacerbate its deterioration with time.

If you leave it alone, rarely wearing it and properly storing it when not being worn, it is not likely to deteriorate noticeably or change color. However, some say that it will change color slightly based on your mood if you are using it for spiritual purposes.