The facts
What bone actually is
The species behind bone is skeletal tissue, chiefly bovine, camel and buffalo, used as an ivory substitute, Hydroxyapatite approx. 65%, collagen approx. 25%, water; it forms in the amorphous / porous system.
Unpigmented; the diagnostic feature is the Haversian canal system, seen as dark pits and streaks under 10x - ivory has none 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 1.54 and a specific gravity of about 1.70-2.00, with none cleavage.
Where bone comes from
Commercial material comes from India (Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh carving centres), Indonesia (Bali carving trade), Kenya and Tanzania (curio trade) and China.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How bone is treated
Routinely bleached, dyed, tea-stained to fake age, and resin-filled to disguise porosity. Sold as ivory constantly in tourist markets - the Haversian canals settle it in seconds under magnification. No CITES for domestic livestock bone, but carved 'bone' from Asia is occasionally seized where the species is protected, and camel bone from certain sources raises no issue while 'antique bone' sometimes turns out to be ivory. Buffalo bone is the standard mala bead material.
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 bone is confused with
Watch for Ivory (the constant misrepresentation), Antler and horn and Plastic and resin castings — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.54 and specific gravity 1.70-2.00 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What bone is used for
The trades that buy bone are carving and sculpture, jewellery and decorative objects. 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 block, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Bone is 2.5 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
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 bone costs
Expect roughly $1-20 per carved bead or small piece; large carvings $30-500, 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 bone treated, and how?
Routinely bleached, dyed, tea-stained to fake age, and resin-filled to disguise porosity. Sold as ivory constantly in tourist markets - the Haversian canals settle it in seconds under magnification. No CITES for domestic livestock bone, but carved 'bone' from Asia is occasionally seized where the species is protected, and camel bone from certain sources raises no issue while 'antique bone' sometimes turns out to be ivory. Buffalo bone is the standard mala bead material.
Where does bone come from?
India (Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh carving centres), Indonesia (Bali carving trade), Kenya and Tanzania (curio trade) and China. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is bone hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5 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 bone cost?
Indicatively $1-20 per carved bead or small piece; large carvings $30-500. 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 bone confused with?
Most often Ivory (the constant misrepresentation), Antler and horn and Plastic and resin castings. A refractive index of 1.54 and a specific gravity near 1.70-2.00 separate it quickly.
What is bone used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for bone?
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 bone