Crystal charging and cleansing are spiritual practices rather than scientifically established physical processes. Retailers can comfortably describe how customers traditionally use the plates, but should present energy-cleansing or charging effects as beliefs rather than measurable properties.

Use a soft, dry cloth or brush for routine dusting. Avoid soaking, harsh household cleaners and abrasive products; if moisture is genuinely needed for a mark, use as little as possible and dry the plate promptly.

They can. Gypsum has a Mohs hardness of only around 2, so many gemstones and metal jewellery components are considerably harder and may scratch the plate if dragged across it. Encourage customers to place items down gently rather than slide them over the surface.

They can be stored flat, but direct stacking is best avoided where possible because selenite is soft and has pronounced cleavage. If space requires stacking, place a soft, clean separator between each plate and avoid putting heavy pieces on top of smaller ones.

Use some care with them. Larger designs can be relatively heavy — for example, an 18cm plate is around 1.3kg — while gypsum itself is soft and can cleave if struck or dropped. Stable shelving and supervised handling will reduce chips, scratches and breakages.