How to Tell if You’re Buying the Real Deal

You’ve typed “crystal shop near me” into your browser and now you’re standing in front of shelves glittering with everything from chunky Amethyst clusters to suspiciously perfect-looking spheres. The vibes are strong... but are the crystals legit?

When it comes to buying crystals in person, knowing what to look for can save you from wasting your money on dyed stones, glass fakes, or mass-produced fluff masquerading as metaphysical magic. Here’s how to spot a real-deal crystal shop and make sure what you’re bringing home is the good stuff.

1. Ask About Sourcing (and See How They React)

A good crystal shop should be transparent about where their stones come from. If the staff can tell you a crystal is from Brazil, Madagascar, or India... great. Bonus points if they know the mine or method of extraction.

🚩 Red Flag: Vague answers like "we get them from a supplier" or "somewhere overseas."

✨ Green Flag: Detailed sourcing info, emphasis on ethical mining, or direct relationships with miners and wholesalers.

2. Examine the Labels (and Look for Honesty)

A trustworthy crystal shop doesn’t try to trick you. Labels should tell you what you’re buying, even if it’s heat-treated, aura-coated, or dyed.

It’s totally fine to sell enhanced stones... we love a bit of sparkle! But transparency is everything.

🚩 Red Flag: Stones sold as Citrine that are clearly heat-treated Amethyst, without disclosure.

✨ Green Flag: Labels that mention treatments, origins, or metaphysical properties with clarity.

3. Use Your Senses (and Your Intuition)

Touch the stones. Notice how they feel. Real crystals are cool to the touch, often have natural imperfections, and carry a certain weight and texture.

• Glass fakes may feel too smooth or too warm.
• Dyed stones might show colour saturation in cracks or pores.
• True Quartz often has veils, inclusions, or rainbows... not flawless clarity like glass.

When in doubt, trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

4. Watch Out for Too-Good-To-Be-True Prices

Yes, we love a deal. But if you find a "Malachite" tower the size of your forearm for $15? Run.

Some stones are expensive for a reason... they’re rare, hard to mine, or take time to polish. A real crystal shop will price their pieces fairly based on quality, size, and rarity.

🚩 Red Flag: Uniform, mass-produced carvings sold at suspiciously low prices.

✨ Green Flag: A mix of price points with transparency around why one piece costs more than another.

5. Ask Questions—And Expect Real Answers

Want to know if that flashy Aura Quartz is treated? Curious why some Rose Quartz is paler than others? Ask!

The staff should:

• Know their stuff (or be willing to find out)
• Welcome questions without being dismissive
• Be open about crystal treatments and how they affect energy

You deserve to know what you’re buying, no matter your experience level.

6. Feel the Vibe of the Space

Energetically speaking, a good crystal shop feels right. It should be clean, welcoming, and grounded. Crystals hold energy, and you can absolutely sense when a shop respects the stones it sells.

✨ Green Flag: A shop that smudges regularly, keeps displays tidy, and plays chill tunes (or witchy bops).

🚩 Red Flag: Dusty, cluttered chaos with no attention to vibe, care, or customer energy.

7. Beware of Overblown Claims

Crystals are amazing tools; but they’re not magic pills. Be wary of shops or staff who claim a stone will definitely cure your anxiety, fix your ex, and land you a million dollars.

✨ Green Flag: Honest guidance that empowers your energy, intuition, and intentions.

Our Final Thoughts: Trust Your Energy + Do Your Homework

Not every crystal shop is going to pass the vibe check, and that’s okay. The key is being empowered with knowledge. When you know what to look for, you can spot the difference between mass-market and truly magical.

So next time you Google "crystal shop near me," take your time. Trust your intuition, ask your questions, and find the places that honour the stones as much as you do.

P.S. If you're in SE QLD, come see us at Unearthed Crystals in Yamanto. We're the real deal—glitter, grounding, and guidance included.