Our first pick
Top Plaza clear quartz cluster, about 1.85 to 3.5 inches
about $18
A small natural cluster with real crystal points.
See it on AmazonQuartz · SiO₂ · 7
Clear quartz
Clear quartz, or rock crystal, is colourless quartz, the most common mineral at the earth's surface after feldspar. It grows as six-sided prisms ending in a point, from finger-sized points to crystals taller than a person. Pliny the Elder thought it was ice frozen so hard it could never melt. It is also one of the most-grown lab crystals in the world: billions of tiny slices of lab-grown quartz keep time in quartz watches and electronics. Cheap "crystal" is often glass.
From the ground to your hand
The same stone at four moments. Tap a photo of a listing to see it on Amazon.
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01 In the ground (step 1 of 4)
A cluster of clear quartz crystals from the Oisans region of the French Alps.
Real specimen. Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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02 Rough (step 2 of 4)
A 1.5 lb natural clear quartz cluster, as sold for display.
Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon
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03 Cut (step 3 of 4)
A polished clear quartz wand: points are often ground and polished for display.
Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon
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04 Set (step 4 of 4)
A faceted clear quartz trilliant set in a sterling silver necklace.
Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon
- Mineral
- Quartz (silicon dioxide), colourless
- Crystal shape
- Six-sided prisms with pointed tips
- Hardness
- 7, fine for daily wear
- Grown in labs?
- Yes, in huge amounts for electronics and watches
- Main sources
- Brazil, Arkansas, the Alps, Madagascar; Herkimer, New York for double-pointed crystals
Natural quartz vs lab-grown quartz and glass
| Natural rock crystal | Lab-grown quartz | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Quartz grown in the earth | Quartz grown in hot water under pressure in steel vessels |
| Inside | Usually some veils, cracks, wisps or cloudy bases | Very clean |
| Shape | Natural faces, often a rough or attached base | Polished, or sold as clear slices and blocks |
| Feel | Cold, stays cool | Cold |
| Price | Low; large clear crystals and clusters cost more | Low |
Natural quartz points usually show small flaws, veils or a cloudy base and have crisp natural faces. Polished "wands" can be quartz or glass: glass warms quickly in the hand, can show round bubbles, and moulded glass points have rounded edges. Quartz stays cold and scratches glass.
Treatments. Clear quartz is rarely treated, though some is coated with a thin film to make "aura" or rainbow crystals, and some is dyed in bright colours. Quartz is hard (7) and tough, so it suits everyday jewellery. Clean with warm soapy water. All gem treatments explained.
Where natural clear quartz comes from
Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
List of every place on the map (4)
- Clear quartz: Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, USA. Famous clear quartz clusters; quartz is the Arkansas state mineral.
- Clear quartz: Minas Gerais, Brazil. The largest source of clear quartz crystals, from points to giants.
- Clear quartz: Swiss and French Alps, Switzerland. Alpine clefts where crystal hunters have collected rock crystal for centuries.
- Clear quartz: Herkimer County, New York, USA. Very clear double-pointed quartz, sold as Herkimer diamonds.
How it is cut
Lab clear quartz is mostly machine-cut in calibrated sizes, which is why a cut lab stone costs little more than its rough. Fine mined stones are often native-cut to keep weight, then recut by precision cutters. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.
What to buy
Checked in stock on October 10, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.
Also good
AMOYSTONE natural clear quartz cluster, 1.5 lb
about $27
A bigger display cluster for the shelf.
See it on AmazonAlso good
Aerides Designs clear quartz trilliant necklace, sterling silver
about $50
Faceted rock crystal in sterling, sparkly and hard enough for everyday wear.
See it on AmazonYour kit for clear quartz
Five tools that let you check what you bought (a loupe, a UV torch, locking tweezers, a gem box and a pocket scale), plus a turntable that spins your stone under the light the way jewellers show one. The full collector's kit.
LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeunder $20
LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $10
HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10
StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9
ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $15
MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40In short
Clear quartz grows over millions of years in the earth, or in hours to months in a lab. Both are real clear quartz; the mined stone is rare and priced for rarity, the lab stone is priced for the cost of growing it. Buy lab to wear and enjoy, check the listing names the mineral, and test it when it arrives.
See our first pick: Top Plaza clear quartz cluster, about 1.85 to 3.5 inchesFrequently Asked Questions
Is clear quartz grown in labs?
Yes, more than almost any gem. Lab-grown (cultured) quartz is grown in hot, high-pressure water in steel vessels and sliced into the tiny tuning-fork crystals that keep time in quartz watches, phones and computers.
How can I tell quartz from glass?
Quartz stays cold in the hand, is harder than glass and usually has small natural flaws. Glass warms quickly, can show round bubbles, and moulded glass points have soft, rounded edges.
What are Herkimer diamonds?
Not diamonds: very clear, double-pointed quartz crystals from Herkimer County, New York, that form in cavities in rock rather than attached to a base.
Photo credits
- rock-crystal-cluster.webp: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- rock-crystal-points.webp: Parent Géry, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Product photos: Amazon listings, via the Amazon Product Advertising (Creators) API.
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