Have you ever noticed that some crystals are smooth and shiny, while others look a bit more raw and rugged?
It’s one of the first things people spot when they start getting into crystals. The difference is pretty obvious: tumbled stones feel polished and perfect in your hand, while rough crystals keep their raw, untouched beauty.
But what’s the real difference between the two? And does it actually matter when it comes to energy or healing?
In this blog, we help clear things up. From how they’re made to what they're used for, we’ll break it all down so you can choose the right type for you (or just simply understand and appreciate the both!).
What are Rough Crystals?
Rough crystals are pretty much what they say on the tin - rough and raw, just as they were found in the earth.
Put simply, when a crystal is “rough,” it means the stone hasn’t been altered or polished in a lab. They haven’t been cut, shaped, or tumbled, so they maintain their original texture, edges, and formation.
The beauty of rough crystals lies in their purity, as very few hands touch them between the earth and you. They come either as individual pieces or in natural crystal clusters, and can vary widely in size, from tiny, gravel-like fragments to larger, raw formations.
Shop our wide range of rough crystals at Dylan’s Den, including the rough rose quartz, the rough dream amethyst and the rough clear quartz.
Rough crystals can appear as individual points, clusters, or jagged chunks, and vary widely in size and formation.
What are Tumbled Crystals?
Now that we've explored rough crystals, let’s turn our attention to their polished counterparts.
Tumbled crystals are natural stones that have been polished in a rock tumbler to create a smooth, shiny finish. This process rounds off any rough edges and enhances the stone’s natural color and patterns, giving it a glossy, refined appearance. Think of the tumbling process as a crystal makeover.
What’s Involved in the Crystal Tumbling Process?
In short, the crystal tumbling process involves placing rough stones into a rock tumbler, a rotating barrel that smooths and polishes them over time.
The process typically takes a number of weeks (around 28 days) and happens in multiple stages, each using finer grits of abrasive material to gradually remove rough edges and bring out the crystal’s natural shine.
The steps look a little like:
1. First off, the crystals go through a coarse grind of silicon carbide to soften the rough edges.
2. After the coarse grind has removed sharp edges and begun shaping the crystal, medium grinding uses a finer abrasive grit, usually silicon carbide, to continue that process more gently.
3. Fine Grinding is the third stage in the crystal tumbling process and acts as the pre-polishing phase, where the stones begin to take on a noticeably smoother and more refined surface.
4. Polishing is the final and most rewarding stage of the crystal tumbling process, because after weeks of shaping and smoothing, the stones are now ready to be buffed to a glossy, mirror-like finish using a fine polishing compound, commonly aluminum oxide or cerium oxide.
Shop our collection of authentic crystal tumblestones, including the amazonite tumblestone, lazuli tumblestone and the bloodstone tumblestone.
The best candidates for tumbling are hard, non-fractured stones like Quartz (e.g., amethyst, rose quartz, clear quartz), Agate, Jasper and Aventurine.
How to Tell if a Tumbled Crystal Is Real
With the polished, glossy finish of tumbled crystals, it can sometimes be hard to tell whether you're holding a genuine stone or a synthetic imitation. This is why it’s important to know some of the key things to look out for.
For example, real crystals often have small inclusions, color variations, or internal fractures. If a stone looks too perfect, it might be dyed, man-made, or glass.
You should also do the temperature test. Genuine crystals tend to feel cool to the touch, even at room temperature, and warm up slowly in your hand. Fakes like plastic or resin will usually feel warmer right away.
Natural crystals also typically feel heavier and denser than plastic or resin counterparts. If a stone feels unusually light for its size, it may not be real.
Do Tumbled Crystals Still Work?
Because tumbled crystals have been polished and smoothed through the tumbling process, some people wonder if they still hold the same energy and effectiveness as raw, uncut stones.
While tumbled crystals aren’t raw, their natural structure and energetic properties are known to remain intact. The tumbling simply enhances their appearance and makes them easier to handle without diminishing their power.
Rough or Tumbled: Which is Right for Me?
Now you know the ins and outs of both types, you might be thinking, “Are rough or tumbled crystals better?” or “Which type is right for me?”. Well, there really is no right answer to this question. It’s down to you to decide which crystal is best suited to your needs.
Rough crystals offer a raw, natural energy and are great if you’re drawn to an earthy, authentic feel. Their jagged edges and natural formations may not look as ‘pretty’ or ‘perfect’ as tumbled crystals, but this can make them powerful tools for grounding and deep energy work.
Tumbled crystals, on the other hand, are smooth, polished, and easy to carry or hold. They’re the ideal option if you want a crystal that’s comfortable to use on the go, whether that’s for meditation or healing, and their polished surface also makes them ideal for display or jewelry.
And there we have it! We hope you enjoyed this guide and have a better understanding of the difference between rough and tumbled crystals.
Shop our wide range of crystals here, including crystal jewellery, crystal eggs and crystal tumblestones. Or, come visit our shops in Aberystwyth, Monmouth, Hereford and Tregaron to see all our crystals up close. We’d love to meet you and help you find some ‘hidden gems’!
For more insights or tips from our experts, head over to our crystal blog, including articles like ‘How to choose the best crystal jewellery for you’ and ‘All about Rhodonite’. And if you’d like to speak with a member of our knowledgeable team, please contact us via our enquiry form.