The facts
What alabaster actually is
The species behind alabaster is gypsum (or calcite alabaster), CaSO₄·2H₂O; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Translucency from fine grain; iron gives the honey tones is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.520–1.530 and a specific gravity of about 2.30–2.33, with perfect cleavage.
Where alabaster comes from
Commercial material comes from Volterra, Italy, Spain, Iran and Egypt.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How alabaster is treated
Waxed and sealed. Water damages it permanently.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What alabaster is confused with
Watch for Calcite alabaster, Marble and Resin — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.520–1.530 and specific gravity 2.30–2.33 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What alabaster is used for
The trades that buy alabaster are lighting, architecture and interiors, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and memorials. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the panel, by the square metre or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 2; cleavage perfect. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What alabaster costs
Expect roughly Blocks $2–20/kg, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is alabaster treated, and how?
Waxed and sealed. Water damages it permanently.
Where does alabaster come from?
Volterra, Italy, Spain, Iran and Egypt. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is alabaster hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does alabaster cost?
Indicatively Blocks $2–20/kg. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is alabaster confused with?
Most often Calcite alabaster, Marble and Resin. A refractive index of 1.520–1.530 and a specific gravity near 2.30–2.33 separate it quickly.
What is alabaster used for besides jewellery?
lighting, architecture and interiors, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and memorials. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for alabaster?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about alabaster