The facts
What bowenite actually is
Bowenite is classified as antigorite (serpentine group), with the composition Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄. It crystallises in the monoclinic (compact aggregate) system.
Colour comes from fe²⁺ and Ni giving apple to olive green, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.555–1.570 (spot ~1.56). Specific gravity around 2.58–2.62. Cleavage: not seen in the aggregate. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where bowenite comes from
Bowenite is produced at Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA (type locality), Afghanistan and Xiuyan, China.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How bowenite is treated
Usually untreated, sometimes waxed. The hardest and most compact serpentine, which is exactly why it has been sold as jade for two centuries; it is the state mineral of Rhode Island. Māori tangiwai is a translucent bowenite distinct from true pounamu nephrite.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What bowenite is confused with
In the trade bowenite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Nephrite, Jadeite, Serpentine, Prehnite or Chrysoprase.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.555–1.570 (spot ~1.56) and specific gravity 2.58–2.62 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What bowenite is used for
Demand for bowenite comes from carving and sculpture, decorative objects, jewellery and mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the block, by the piece or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6; cleavage not seen in the aggregate. 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 bowenite costs
As a guide, bowenite trades around $0.50–10/ct.
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 bowenite treated, and how?
Usually untreated, sometimes waxed. The hardest and most compact serpentine, which is exactly why it has been sold as jade for two centuries; it is the state mineral of Rhode Island. Māori tangiwai is a translucent bowenite distinct from true pounamu nephrite.
Where does bowenite come from?
Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA (type locality), Afghanistan and Xiuyan, China. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is bowenite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 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 bowenite cost?
Indicatively $0.50–10/ct. 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 bowenite confused with?
Most often Nephrite, Jadeite, Serpentine, Prehnite and Chrysoprase. A refractive index of 1.555–1.570 (spot ~1.56) and a specific gravity near 2.58–2.62 separate it quickly.
What is bowenite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for bowenite?
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 bowenite