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Originally Posted by Likes2Read
I went in search of Nuummite images and descriptions and found that both flecks and flashes are mentioned on multiple sites. Which makes sense, as one of the possible inclusions in Nuummite is Pyrite.
I'm not finding a lot of reports of, or complaints about, fake Nuummite (other than the one crystal skull site referring to it as being an issue). Looking at the prices of the stone, I suspect it's just not expensive enough of a stone to go through the effort of producing fakes on a large scale. By the time the would-be swindler puts in the time and effort to procure ingredients and fabricate a fake stone, they might as well just get the REAL stone wholesale and sell that, for a lot less time and effort.
Moldavite is one to beware of fakes, however. Glass is easily molded into any shape, particularly if the mold is made from a genuine moldavite piece. I would be a bit less concerned that the low-priced, really small pieces are phony (though I would exercise some care across the board). BIG pieces, though, bring in a lot of money, so I could see where the temptation would exist to try and fabricate those.
Let the buyer be alert.
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I agree you would think that low cost stones don't get faked as often, but they certainly do on occasion. I know someone who bought a quartz off of eBay from China and it was glass. With Quartz being so cheap who would of thought someone would fake it? The cheaper stones do get faked but it is much more rare than fakes of things like Moldavite. As far as most fakes go there are two rules. 1. Know everything possible about the stone you are buying, the more expertise you have the less likely you are to get scammed. Know exactly what it looks like, it's variations, and where it originates/is mined. 2. Don't buy anything from China. Personally I am even worried about buying a Chinese Tektite from a company in China. Even though Chinese Tektites are the most abundant and cheapest tektite in the world I am just very careful and don't buy from a company in China. I would say 90 some % of the fakes of crystals, gemstones, and tektites are being made in China. So stick by those two rules and in most cases you can purchase off the internet or even eBay without any issues. The third rule is build a repoire with a proven trusted dealer, this is by far the best way to be sure you are getting what you pay for. In the cases where the dealer doesn't sell what you're looking for try and ask them if they have any recommendations on whom to buy from. Or ask other people who are enthusiasts in the market and know good sources, as others have asked me about Moldavite.
On another note Lukas mailed me pictures of the Moldavite dumbbell he found for me. I am a little curious if it is really from Krasejovka because it doesn't have the frosted look Moldavite from there usually does, but I have seen pieces from there that are lacking the white stuff on it. I asked him if he's 100% sure but I know he wouldn't lie about it, I have found out CzechMoldavite.com (Lukas) is the largest liscenced legal dealer of Moldavite in the Czech Republic, he has connections to the only running commercial mine of Moldavite in Chlum and is 100% liscenced to deal Moldavite. Meaning if he's the largest dealer of Moldavite in the Czech Republic, then he is the largest dealer in the world. Just interesting to find out the guy you have spend thousands of dollars with on Moldavite is the largest dealer in the world. The dumbbell is 26.7 grams and is pretty nice looking, it's a little lop-sided but still would be considered a dumbbell. Dumbbells are pretty much one of the rarest Moldavite formations. When a molten Moldavite rod is spinning before hitting the ground it usually splits into 2 drops. On the rare occasion it spins enough to form 2 big ends and a thin middle and doesn't split into two drops as long as the ground doesn't cause it to deform you have a dumbbell. I have probably seen 4 dumbbells on the Moldavite market and they were all lop-sided or poor quality. I have looked at thousands of pieces of Moldavite at this point, so they are really rare. This one is decent quality, so I bought it as well as a rare apple green colored Moldavite, and a disk shaped piece from Vrabce. Just have to wait the 7-10 business days for shipping now, which is the toughest part of buying from Lukas. But it's well worth it!