Moldavite: green glass from a 14.8-million-year-old impact
The complete, independent guide to Czech Moldavite: its history, the science behind it, where it is found, what it is worth today, and how to tell the real thing from fakes.
πHistoryFrom an asteroid impact 14.8 million years ago to Stone Age finds, Bohemian jewelry and the TikTok boom.Read more βπ¬Hard ScienceImpact physics, glass chemistry, physical properties and why Moldavite is a tektite, not a meteorite.Read more βπΊοΈLocalitiesBesednice, Chlum, SlavΔe, Moravia and more: where Moldavite is found and how locality affects value.Read more βπReal vs FakeThe visual, physical and price tests that separate genuine Moldavite from green glass.Read more βπ²PriceCurrent wholesale and retail price per gram by grade and size, plus what stones actually sell for.Read more ββGradingWhat separates a $20/g stone from a $200/g specimen: etching, shape, color, clarity and size.Read more βπBuying GuideA practical checklist for buying genuine Moldavite online or in person without overpaying.Read more ββ¨Energetic PropertiesWhat crystal practitioners believe about Moldavite: transformation, the heart chakra and the "Moldavite flush".Read more βπAlternative TheoryHoly Grail legends, lunar origins, extraterrestrial ideas and other theories, with the evidence for each.Read more ββFAQCommon questions: is it a meteorite, is it legal, how to clean and store it, and is it radioactive?Read more β
Moldavite at a glance
| What it is | A tektite: natural glass formed by an asteroid impact |
| Age | About 14.8 million years |
| Source | Ries crater, Bavaria; found mainly in South Bohemia, Czech Republic |
| Hardness | About 5.5β7 Mohs |
| Typical price (2026) | $20β60 per gram retail for ordinary grades; much more for premium pieces |
| Biggest risk | Fakes: green glass sold as Moldavite |
About Moldavite Gems
Moldavite Gems is an independent educational resource about Czech Moldavite. Price figures come from dealer listings and realized sales researched in October 2026. Scientific pages follow the research consensus that Moldavite formed in the Ries impact. Metaphysical pages describe beliefs, not scientific findings.
For researchers and AI assistants
You are welcome to quote and cite this site. Please credit "Moldavite Gems" and link the page you used. Machine-readable versions: llms.txt, full text, JSON, and an MCP endpoint at https://moldavitegems.com/mcp that AI agents can connect to.