Bismuth Crystal

My bismuth crystal is gorgeous! It looks very much like the picture, I was stunned at the vibrant colors and the characteristic shape of it. I have wanted a bismuth crystal for years and have had up close shots of them as my desktop wallpaper or cell phone background for years, and I am glad to own one now. This would be a unique gift for any science-loving individual you may know. It would also be a fascinating thing for a child to bring into school for a presentation or show and tell.I did not have any problems or concerns with my crystal's shipping or appearance. My bismuth crystal arrived intact, and was packed very cautiously: wrapped in tissue paper, then placed in a cardboard protective frame, then placed in a box completely stuffed with newspaper shreds which absorbed any impact or blows the shipping box might have sustained in transit. I was very pleased with the time and attention given to safely packaging my product, someone clearly spent quite a bit of time and did it by hand.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, my crystal got here in one piece no problems. It was very well packaged and while just a bit smaller than anticipated, it is still a very beautiful crystal. Mine is sitting on a small mirror in one of my lit curio cabinets. While it can be viewed from any angle, it is also possible to look at it through a magnifying glass to reveal even more intricacies. It's almost fractal in nature and the closer you look, the more detail there is.I may just have to buy a couple more because.

the crystals that i received were excellent. i just collect cool minerals and rocks here and there, and i found the quality of these crystals to be quite good. there is a clear presence of bismuth oxide, which gives the crystals the great color. the crystals that i ordered look great on display. each crystal is about an inch and a half to two inches in length. i found no major flaws in the crystals that i received. each comes in a taped and padded display box, to prevent damage. a great deal if you're a collector or someone who just loves minerals and rocks. they look great under a good light source.

The good - The crystal was a nice size, and the entire range of colors of oxide were present. The formation of the colors was very nice, and that isn't always an easy thing to accomplish The crystal came in a nice little gift box, which is definitely nice enough to reuse for a future gift-giving adventure.The bad - Upon closer inspection, I noticed several hairline fractures in the crystal formation. Additionally, most of the crystal formations were warped and bent. The formations were large for a crystal of this size, but the warping really took away from the product.The ugly - In two areas on opposite ends of the crystal, bits of slag/bismuth oxide were present. In a proper environment, this should never happen. It really makes the product come off as unprofessional.The verdict - It's very possible the crystal I received was a fluke, bismuth crystals are not the easiest things to make. This particular crystal is going to be melted down with the rest of my bismuth and reformed, hopefully it'll become a more aesthetically pleasing crystal in it's next iteration.Final note - I've ordered another crystal from this seller, and I'm hopeful that the next one will be better. I'll update this review once that crystal has come in and I have a chance to look it over.------------------------------EDIT: My new crystal came in, and I've had a chance to thoroughly look over it. Although more visually pleasing, this one has exactly the same problems as my first one.The fractures this time are quite visible to the unaided eye, and you can very clearly see the stress lines from when the crystal was broken off from the rest of the formation. There is still slag/bismuth oxide present on this crystal, but not nearly as evident as the previous crystal.The final verdict - If you're looking for a crystal for a reasonable price, this is the one to buy. If you're tastes are a bit more exacting, or you want a small display piece, you may want to look elsewhere.The final final note - Due to identical issues with my first crystal, my initial review stands. I have left the original review in it's entirety.

Lowly gave me an existential crisis because this looks more alien-made than something natural. Im 40% sure this was synthetically developed on a high tech extraterrestrial hover ship. This may possibly be a crystal designed to terrorize the human race. Either way, its really cool to look at. Good and shiny. A lil small.

I got it for my boyfriend as a Valentine's day gift - something different and unusual :-) he loves it! it's full of vivid color and the shaping is so interesting. He and I both love it! Plus the company selling it (Educational Innovations) did a marvelous job on packaging & shipping - it arrived safely and ahead of schedule! I was so pleased to see it arrive early! I will definitely order through them again for anything awesome like this :-D

Poor packaging. Cheesy cardbox box w tissue paper was crushed upon arrival. Specimen weight was within quote weight but the 2 inch by 2 inch must be for the box because my bismuth crystal was 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. Dissapointed in size compared to other vendors. Good thing it wasnt a decent piece because it most certainly would have been broken... wont buy again. Ill pay more for a better quality piece with better packaging. Looking through reviews, many have arrived broken... not too smart decision making by the owner/shipping dept. At least invest some in packaging to insure it arrives unbroken! Flimsy envelope and flimsy tiny cardboard box wont protect squat. You lost a business customer by your cheapness.

I am new to Bismuth Crystals I bought this Crystal and a 2 pound Bismuth ingot for my Brother as a Christmas gift.As far as this Crystal I am very pleased with it! It weighs 17 grams has a nice shape and very colorfulI attached 2 photos