Sell crystals online, each specimen shown as it really is

1. 01

   Photograph each specimen as it is

   Daylight, a plain background, several angles and a coin or ruler for scale, without filters that boost the color. For labradorite and other stones with flash, show it from the angle where it appears.

2. 02

   Give the facts collectors want

   Mineral name, locality (country, and region or mine when known), size, weight, and whether it’s natural or treated. Collectors and decorators both buy on these details.

3. 03

   Disclose treatments and lab-made stones

   Much citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst, agate is often dyed, aura quartz is coated, and some turquoise is reconstituted. Say so on the page; honest labels keep buyers and cut returns.

4. 04

   Write about meaning carefully

   If you mention traditions or symbolism, present them as folklore and keep to what the stone is. Avoid health or wellbeing claims of any kind.

5. 05

   Say what you know about sourcing

   More buyers ask where stones come from and how they were mined. Share what your suppliers can confirm, and don’t call stones ethically sourced without evidence.

6. 06

   Pack points and clusters for the trip

   Wrap each piece on its own, protect points with a cap or extra padding, and double-box anything heavy. Weigh packed parcels before you set your shipping rates.

• No health claims

  Don’t say a crystal heals, cures or protects anyone. Regulators such as the FTC in the US and the ASA in the UK act on unproven health claims, and Stripe restricts products sold with them too.

• Minerals that need care

  Some minerals, such as malachite and galena, contain metals that make their dust harmful, and selenite is damaged by water. Don’t suggest crystal water or wearing stones on the skin, and add care notes.

General information to help you get started, not legal advice. Rules differ by country, state and product, so check the ones that apply to you.