What counts as a polished crystal?

Towers, spheres, freeforms, hearts, and other finished display shapes. Polishing brings out the color, pattern, and internal structure of the material. The rough still has to be good to begin with. The polish is what lets the light in, not what makes the stone worth having.

Does polishing hide flaws in a crystal?

It can, which is why grade matters more on a polished piece, not less. A good polish will make mediocre material look better than it is. We grade the material before it is finished, and the product page tells you what you are actually getting.

Are polished crystals treated or coated?

Some polished material on the wider market is dyed, heat-treated, coated, or stabilized. Those are not dealbreakers when they are disclosed, and they are a problem when they are not. Any treatment on a piece we sell is named on its product page.

How do I care for a polished crystal?

Keep it out of prolonged direct sunlight. Amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, and smoky quartz can all fade with long UV exposure. Dust with a soft dry cloth. Softer minerals scratch against harder ones, so give display pieces a little space rather than stacking them together.