Real vs fake: Labradorite
Genuine labradorite shows labradorescence — a flash that moves as you tilt the stone. Fakes often paint or film a static rainbow.
- Flash that shifts angle and color as you rotate
- Typically blue-green or gold schiller from within
- Feldspar cleavage planes visible on rough pieces
- Natural inclusions without painted glitter
- Rainbow layer that looks painted on the surface
- Flash that does not move with viewing angle
- Glass with glitter or dichroic film
- Suspiciously cheap large slabs with identical pattern
Field tests
- Tilt under a single light — real schiller migrates across facets
- Look at edges for a coating or film peel
- Scratch test on glass is unreliable; rely on optical behavior