Crystal Care

Crystal’s should absolutely be kept out of direct sunlight for extended periods of time. The sun will make them fade and lose their luster.

To be clear: there are some of them that can go in sunlight. However, I do not want to give any confusion here. So for the time being, all crystals should really be kept out of sunlight.

There are many crystals that should not be put in water. A quick rinse is ok in some cases, but please be sure that it is not for too long.

I have seen that there is a “rule of thumb” where any crystals under 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, should be kept out of water.

There are two lists below, I am working to verify the validity, for now, please be careful with ALL crystals and make sure to do your due diligence as always.

Crystals NOT Safe in Water

  • Fluorite (especially salt water)

  • Selenite

  • Apophyllite

  • Tangerine Quartz

  • Gypsum

  • Lepidolite

  • Opal (I am checking this, there are forms of Opal that NEED to be kept in water)

  • Azurite

  • Apatite

  • Halite

  • Malachite

  • Turquoise

  • Ulexite

  • Labradorite

  • Celestite

  • Pyrite

  • Hematite

Crystals NOT Safe in Sun

  • Amegreen - The color will fade when in the sun too long. Made up of amethyst and prasiolite (green amethyst)

  • Amethyst - A member of the quartz family. Color will fade in the sun since the color comes from the iron in it.

  • Ametrine - The color will fade when in the sun for too long. Made up of amethyst and citrine.

  • Apatite - The color will fade in the sun.

  • Apophyllite - Can become brittle in the sun and color can fade.

  • Aquamarine - Direct sunlight will fade the blue to white if kept too long.

  • Auralite 23 - Primarily composed of amethyst, so it can fade.

  • Aventurine - A member of the quartz family and can fade in color.

  • Beryl - Can fade and get brittle in the sun.

  • Calcite - Can fade and get brittle in the sun.

  • Celestite - The blue will turn white in the sun, get brittle, and possibly break.

  • Chrysoprase - A member of the quartz family, it’s a green chalcedony, and it can fade or get brittle and crack.

  • Citrine - Since it’s a form of quartz, it will fade to a clear color within 4 hours in the sun

  • Clear Quartz - Can only withstand about 2 hours in the sun. Can get brittle and crack or break.

  • Fluorite - No more than 15 minutes in the sun. Gets very hot.

  • Hiddenite - The color will fade.

  • Kunzite - Will fade to white if kept in the sun too long.

  • Opal - Will lose its color in the sun. But okay in water.

  • Prasiolite - This is a green amethyst, and the color will fade.

  • Rose Quartz - Will fade in color in the sun.

  • Sapphire - Will lose whatever color sapphire it is.

  • Spirit Quartz - Will fade in color and clusters could ignite if in the sun too long.

  • Smoky Quartz - Loses its color to become grey or brown

  • Super Seven - Will fade in color.

  • Topaz - The color will fade when kept in the sun for over 8 hours. A yellow topaz will turn brown and a deeper color topaz will turn maroon.

  • Turquoise - Color can fade in the sun.