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June 4, 2026 Lisa Satin

Fake vs Real Lapis Lazuli

woman looking through diamond loupe at a lapis lazuli sphere

Is your Lapis Lazuli real or a fake being passed off as the real deal? Is it actually Sodalite or dyed Howlite? Is it another stone altogether? Let's learn to pick out real Lapis Lazuli crystals for your collection.

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How can you tell if your Lapis Lazuli is real?

The best way to know if your Lapis Lazuli is real is to buy from a reputable seller who knows what they are selling you.

Because Lapis Lazuli is a coveted stone, especially in its rich blue color, vendors are passing off fakes as the real thing. They could be dyed, synthesized, or other stones pressed together to look like the real thing. 

If you do not have access to a reputable seller, here are some tips to follow to tell if your Lapis Lazuli is real: 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli is a 5-6 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. It can be scratched by materials harder than a 6, such as Quartz and steel. It can't be scratched by materials softer than a 5, such as Fluorite or Rhodochrosite. But, depending on the Calcite content, it could have "soft spots."

  • Real Lapis Lazuli will never have air bubbles. Air bubbles are an indication of glass. Use a magnifying jeweler's loupe to help you see into the stone.

  • Real Lapis Lazuli will have inclusions. Notice your stone's mineral inclusions, veins, craters, dips, and imperfections. Real Lapis Lazuli usually has swirls of White Calcite. You may not find these in a fake, which is prone to look more uniform. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli is not magnetic. If your stone is attracted to a magnet, it is probably not the real thing. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli will always have a light blue streak. Despite its outwardly colors appearance, Real Lapis Lazuli will always have a light blue powder in the crystal streak test. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli will not leak color. Testing with acetone should not remove any color from the stone. Howlite, Sodalite, Calcite, or Glass are often dyed and passed off as Lapis Lazuli. 

dyed lapis beads and natural lapis tumbled stone

  • Real Lapis Lazuli has a specific gravity of 2.7-2.9. Here is a video on how to measure your stone's density at home. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli will react with hydrochloric acid. It will smell like rotten eggs from the sulfur released from the Lazurite and fizz if it contains Calcite. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli may fluoresce under UV light. While the Lazurite in the stone will not glow, the Sodalite, Scapolite, Calcite, and Diopside inclusions may emit fluorescence. If it does not include any of these reactive inclusions, it will not glow. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli has a refractive index range of 1.5 to 1.67. This test requires a refractometer. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli does not show dichroism or pleochroism. It refracts light equally in all directions, so it won't have the multi-colored effect seen in pleochroic stones. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli will always be blue. It may be different variations of blue, but it will have some shade of blue. 

  • Real Lapis Lazuli is relatively expensive. If it is real Lapis Lazuli, it will be priced higher than most other blue gemstones and definitely more than fakes!

  • Real Lapis Lazuli is always opaque. Imitations like glass may be translucent. 

Some of these tests are destructive, so only conduct them on pieces you aren't worried about.

None of these tests is conclusive in itself. If you are still unsure, you can send your Lapis Lazuli to a certified gemological laboratory for testing. You can also find additional tips in the Crystal Identification Help.

How do I tell the difference between Sodalite and Lapis Lazuli?

Sodalite is a single crystal that can be an inclusion within Real Lapis Lazuli. To tell the difference between the two: 

  • Sodalite rarely has Pyrite inclusions, which is almost always found in Lapis Lazuli. 

  • Sodalite can be translucent, whereas Lapis Lazuli is always opaque. 

  • Sodalite has a white streak, and Lapis Lazuli has a light blue streak. 

  • Sodalite is usually lighter in weight than Lapis Lazuli. 

  • Sodalite is more affordable than Lapis Lazuli on the gemstone market. 

Shop Sodalite Stones to pair with your Lapis Lazuli. 

Is there Synthetic Lapis Lazuli?

Yes, there are synthetic Lapis Lazuli stones. The most common are Gilson Lapis, which lacks Calcite found in Real Lapis Lazuli, and Synthetic Ultramarine, which is mostly used as an artist pigment to simulate the blue of Real Lapis Lazuli. 

Synthetic Lapis Lazuli can be found in small beads to large rough material for homes. 

Is there pressed Lapis Lazuli?

Pressed Lapis Lazuli is common in the gemstone market. Pressed Lapis Lazuli refers to natural pieces of Lapis Lazuli pressed into other materials like resin for stability. There is nothing wrong with pressed Lapis Lazuli if you know what you are buying, but if the vendor passes it off as a naturally forming stone, buyer beware. 

To tell Real Lapis Lazuli from pressed or synthetics, you should see natural, opaque blue colors vs bright uniform blues, random Pyrite and Calcite rather than perfectly uniform inclusions, and feel a cold stone rather than a warm plastic. 

Shop Real Lapis Lazuli Stones

The power of real Lapis Lazuli can never be replaced by fakes. Go ahead, try it for yourself. Here are real gemstones from the Satin Crystals' Lapis Collection to add to your treasures.

Lapis Lazuli Continued

Have you worked with Lapis Lazuli crystals? We'd love to hear about your experiences. Post them below.

Filed in: lapis, real vs fake stones
Next article Artistry In Knots: 9 Macrame Necklace Crystal Catchers

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