I get many questions about the various crystals I sell on Ebay.  Due to the confusion between "natural" crystals and "man-made" crystals, I thought it best to help Ebay Buyers out with some basic information about types of crystals:

NATURAL QUARTZ CRYSTALS

   Clear Quartz Crystal Cluster

For hundreds of years, natural crystals from the earth have been used for meditation, healing and psychic divination.  Natural quartz crystal such as clear or rose quartz, amethyst, adventurine, and fluorite quartz crystals are mined, then cut and polished into a variety of shapes.  You can find  massage wands, spheres, pyramids, obelisks, eggs, pendant points and similar types of cut and polished natural crystal and stone items available for whatever purpose you desire.  These natural crystals are said to contain energy from deep inside the earth, where they grow.  Quartz crystal also has a small charge of electric energy when pressure is applied (piezo energy), and are used in quartz watches.  This indicates there is a scientific basis behind the spiritual concept of "quartz energy" in the various crystals.

They can also be purchased in their natural, unfinished forms in pieces or clusters (as shown above), and should be rinsed in clean, purified water with sea salt added, clear running water (from a stream or rainwater), or put in direct sun for a few hours, to remove any negative energies when you bring them into your surroundings.  Certain crystals will fade in direct sunlight, so avoid leaving them in direct sun all day.

Natural quartz crystal will generally have slight internal imperfections (called "inclusions"), and these flaws are considered desirable, such as tiny internal cracks (that  produce "rainbows" inside the quartz), or other various inclusions, sometimes called "Fairy Dust" or "Fadden Lines."  There are many specific types of natural crystal shapes or formations (such as Window, Tabby or Twin Crystals).  You can read about the various types (and their healing or spiritual properties) on the Web.

I keep small, shallow bowls of these natural crystals around my home, to create positive energy in my surroundings.  Certain crystals are said to have specific uses or properties, for example:

Rose Quartz - Attracts all forms of love into your life
Clear Quartz - A powerful tool for psychic awareness and divination.
Amethyst Quartz - Good for breaking bad habits, avoiding alochol abuse and general psychic protection
Spirit Quartz - Citrine and Amethyst combined in their natural form, covered in tiny "druzy" crystals for beautiful sparkle

Whether you are a believer in the ancient properties of quartz crystals or not, you can still enjoy the beautiful colors, shapes and textures of these natural crystals, and collect them to display to enjoy around your office or home.  They make great conversation pieces!  Each object is unique and has its own special "energy."  When purchasing natural quartz items, select items that you feel drawn to, or that catch your imagination with a specific shape or color.  These natural crystals are generally harvested from Brazil, Mexico or the USA (specifically Arkansas).

Quartz crystal items are perfect for display, collecting, gifts, Reiki tools, meditation, psychic awareness and divination.  Once you hold a natural quartz crystal, you will see and feel the "magic" within, and enjoy what I like to call crystals...
The Blossoms of the Minerals of the Earth and Nature's Gift of Natural Energy!



MAN MADE CRYSTALS

  Swarovski Lead Crystal Prisms

Man made crystals are manufactured from lead crystal, with Swarovski crystal from Tybol, Austria being the most valued and famous lead crystal in the world.  I only sell Swarovski (pronounced "swore-off-skee") lead crystal prisms on Ebay, because of their optical quality precision cutting and polishing, and their incredible beauty.  They are imported from Europe and the Swarovski family holds the patent to the cutting machine for these amazing prisms since 1895.  Other lead crystal items made in Czechoslovakia or China are quite lovely, but cannot compare to the quality and brilliance of Swarovski full-cut lead crystal.

You may also see crystals on Ebay labeled as "Austrian," or "Czech" crystals, which are nice items, but unless laser-etched by Swarovski with their logo, it is not genuine Swarovski lead crystal.  Swarovski developed a way to "laser etch" a tiny precision logo on each crystal prism (over 20mm in size), near the drilled hole at the top, as shown below: 


The quality of Swarovski crystal is obvious the moment you see and touch them in person.  Photographs cannot show the true brilliance of these incredible keepsakes.  The higher 32% lead content (instead of  24%) of this crystal creates a higher light refraction index from within the crystal, making their brilliant sparkle very close to that of a diamond! 

Besides the amazing beauty of these prisms, when placed in direct sunlight, they create various types of rainbows, even against dark surfaces!

Look at these rainbows coming through my window from 3 small crystal prisms (against a shaded interior wall):


Swarovski prisms come in a variety of shapes, such as almond, octagon, teardrop, snowflake, heart and oval.  Each prism has its own unique style of optically precise cutting of the surface, to create a different number and shape of facets that reflect light for incredible sparkle.  They can be either clear crystal (which makes the very best rainbows), colored crystal (such as pale pink, gold topaz, sapphire blue or purple) which also create astonishing rainbows!  The top-of-the-line Swarovski crystal prisms have a factory applied coating on one side, called "Aurora Borealis" finish.  The Aurora Borealis crystals tend to catch and reflect whatever color they are placed next to, for incredible sparkle!  Swarovski manufactures a variety of sizes, colors and shapes, to suit crystal collectors all over the world, as well as beautiful figurines and jewelry items. 

WHAT ABOUT FENG SHUI CRYSTALS?
Swarovski crystal balls (spheres) are often used in Feng Shui, hung in long hallways or at the tops or bottoms of staircases, to help circulate the flow of "Chi" (the universal life force)  throughout the area.  According to the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui, when the flow of Chi is interrupted or becomes stagnant, it creates an uncomfortable energy in one's surroundings.  Feng Shui practice suggests decorative crystal balls hung over these areas help to circulate the flow of Chi and create positive energy throughout one's home or office.


NEW AGE BELIEFS?
For Buyers or Collectors who are not interested in New Age practices, crystal healing, Feng Shui enhancements or spiritual energy concepts....
these crystal prisms are simply gorgeous hung in a sunny window, to brighten your room with lovely rainbows all year round! 

I sell my Swarovski crystal "Rainbow Makers" gift boxed and ready to hang, embellished with various colored Swarvski crystal beads, high quality jewelry findings, and include a window hanger.  Most fancy gift shops charge 3 times as much for these fantastic prisms.  They make wonderful gifts for weddings, showers and birthdays!

Whatever type of crystal item you chose on Ebay, be it natural quartz crystal, or man made Swarovski crystal prisms, be sure to select your item carefully, especially man-made crystals. 
Ask the Seller if the crystal prism is "laser etched" with the Swarovski logo - before you purchase!


I hope this helps you to understand the difference between the types of crystals you hear so much about.  Feel free to ask me any questions you may have through the Ebay email system, and I will be happy to answer you promptly and to the best of my ability.

Have A Rainbow Day, 

Dawn (Owner)
CRYSTAL RAINBOWS
(Division of Gold Unlimited)