Moldavite For Sale

Moldavite is a tektite that is estimated to be around 15 million years old. This material is a projectile glass formed when terrestrial silicates were super-heated after a meteorite impact, flying into the atmosphere before cooling rapidly and crashing down again. Moldavite often appears as a translucent forest green, though it can occur in lighter shades of olive green and occasionally yellow-green. True moldavite is exceptionally rare, occurring only across central Europe, primarily the Czech Republic and Germany. Because of its rarity, moldavite is often imitated, so finding real, authentic moldavite is difficult.

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Tektites & Impactites

$4 - $795

What Is Moldavite?

A tektite from the world’s third largest strewn field, moldavite is on the rise as one of the coolest materials on the mineral market. People already love space projectiles, but most are dull brown and black colors. Moldavite is a stunning translucent green that captivates collectors not only with its natural beauty but also with its fantastical origin story. Historically, moldavite was known as chrysolite at its discovery in the late 1700s, transitioning to moldavite when it became apparent that it was a tektite. Some still refer to it as Bouteille Stone or vlatvin in the area around which it is found.

While it is naturally formed and contains terrestrial elements (primarily silicon and oxygen), moldavite is classified with mineraloids instead of true minerals. This is due to its amorphous nature and lack of a crystalline structure. Moldavite's chemical composition is SiO2(+Al2O3) and sometimes contains lechatelierite inclusions, which is the purest form of silica glass and a common indicator of glass formation by extraterrestrial impact.

Moldavite will appear in a variety of shades of green, occasionally leaning into a dark black-brown. Most moldavite is a dark forest green, but it can be light olive and almost yellow on the brightest end of the spectrum. Typically moldavite forms in a flattened, rounded shape with ridges that appear to radiate out from the center of the piece. Occasionally they take on oblong, teardrop shapes, though these are less common on the market. Most choose to display moldavite with back lighting. This makes the green translucence glow while darkening the warped faces in a crackled pattern that is aesthetically attractive.

How Does Moldavite Form?

Some 15 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into what is now Germany. This impact was so cataclysmic that the heat melted silicates on the Earth’s surface and launched the molten substrate into the atmosphere. In its journey from ground to atmosphere, the silicates begin to cool rapidly from the air pressure and forces of breaching the atmosphere. What goes up, must go down: the cooler but still extremely hot terrestrial matter re-entered the atmosphere and superheated again while opposing forces shape the silicate. Most of the moldavite ended up in flattened or teardrop shapes as they smacked back down on Earth. Once the moldavite impacted again, the force of impact and subsequent weathering as it cooled heavily textured and pitted the impact glass. Impact, expulsion, and re-entry shapeed moldavite, but it was natural geologic forces and subsurface water flow that created the patterns and textures that set off the impact glass's beautiful green coloring.

Where Is Moldavite Found?

Moldavite, like other tektites, has a home range called a strewn field. The Central European strewn field is where moldavite can be found over 200 kilometers away from the crater(s) that birthed the glass. Moldavite’s spawning pit is believed to be the Nordlinger Ries and Steinheim Impact Craters because their location and age are consistent with the parameters needed to satisfy the tektite classification. These craters are located in southeastern Germany and are believed to be the result of a last minute split of a singular asteroid immediately prior to impact with terra firma. The entirety of the strewn field falls to the northeast of the craters, primarily in the Czech Republic but also in Germany and a small portion of north-central Austria.

There are five named collection zones dated to the middle Miocene, roughly 15 million years ago. The two largest are in the Czech Republic, which are called the South Bohemian and Moravian areas. The Cheb area is also in the Czech Republic, though it has significantly less physical area than the other two. Germany’s Lusatian area is the third largest collection zone in the strewn field. The Austrian area in Austria is geographically located relatively close to the Moravian area. Geologists and gemologists alike estimate that upwards of 90% of moldavite on the market is extracted from the Moravian collection zone.

While there has been a significant amount of moldavite collected, most is fragmentary and small. This is because the processes that create the visually appealing etchings on the moldavite are also responsible for burying and eroding most of the material away. It is also why moldavite collection is limited to miniscule pockets of the once enormous strewn field.

Archaeologists have uncovered moldavite in areas surrounding the Central European strewn field where it is believed that human inhabitants of the regions once traded and sold moldavite, especially to other cultures in the Mediterranean and Turkey. Tektites have long mystified and enamored humans, often found adorning the regalia of royalty and other nobles throughout human history across the world.

What Makes Moldavite Special?

Moldavite is only present in one specific area and will never form the same way again, at least in humanity’s lifetime. Essentially, tektites are the epitome of the "once they're gone, they’re gone" scenario. This alone makes them exceptionally rare, not to mention that they are also really cool in almost every aspect of their existence! The color and etched texture is the biggest draw for those interested in and looking to buy moldavites. Tektites as a class of impactites are quite interesting because of their dual atmospheric entry during formation. Scientifically they offer an interesting look at the effects of numerous heating phases and the effect of atmospheric pressure and velocity on molten silicates.

Jewelry that features moldavite is not only unique, but is quite stunning. It also presents jewelers with an interesting challenge to create settings that not only complement moldavite's wacky shapes and textures but also elevate its beauty. That said, most moldavite is left in its rough form and wrapped in wire to create pendants. This is simply because moldavite can be very fragile and manipulating the glass can crack or shatter it. It can be faceted and set in necklaces and earrings, but this is rather difficult. Additionally, most agree that moldavite is truly at its finest in its natural form. Needless to say, moldavite offers a little something for everyone!

Real Or Fake?

Because of moldavite’s scarcity, it is often faked and therefore it is exceptionally important to make good decisions when purchasing it online. The discerning buyer should educate themselves before buying moldavite. The following is a small list of ways to sniff out false tektites.

Firstly, natural pieces of moldavite are not very big, rarely exceeding 2 inches in length. They also aren’t very heavy. A “hefty” chunk of moldavite weighs around 8 grams. Anything over that size for a reasonable price is probably too good to be true. Because of the difficulty involved in shaping and faceting moldavite, faceted moldavites are very rare on the market and most are fakes or explicitly sold as replications.

One of the biggest determinants of moldavite authenticity is the price. To put it plainly, real moldavite is expensive. Depending on size and quality it often retails for between $50-100/gram and the prices keep going up as less is found. These prices do fluctuate, but if you want authentic moldavite from trusted sellers, this range is the price you are going to pay. Much of the value is influenced by the material's inherent rarity as a tektite and also by the quality of an individual piece. Much like other natural minerals, no two pieces of moldavite are the same. For example, a heavily etched, forest-green piece of moldavite that weighs the same as a smooth, olive-green chunk will almost always sell for a higher price.

A relatively straightforward visual test is to examine the moldavite for the presence of internal bubbles. During the formation process, as the silica loses its crystalline structure, air bubbles become trapped inside of the glass. These bubbles are nearly impossible to imitate when faking moldavite. This is also a good way to differentiate moldavites and other tektites from volcanic glasses and obsidian. Any bubbles present in volcanic glass are extremely small and nearly imperceptible to the naked eye. This is indicative of a slow cooling process in opposition to the quick shock melt experienced by impactites.