The facts
What himalayan salt actually is
The species behind himalayan salt is halite, NaCl; it forms in the cubic system.
Iron oxide traces 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 1.544 and a specific gravity of about 2.16, with perfect, three directions cleavage.
Where himalayan salt comes from
Commercial material comes from Khewra, Punjab, Pakistan, Poland (Wieliczka) and Iran.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
Is himalayan salt treated?
None. Dissolves in water.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What himalayan salt is confused with
Watch for Dyed salt and Glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544 and specific gravity 2.16 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What himalayan salt is used for
The trades that buy himalayan salt are lighting, wellness and body care, kitchen and table and architecture and interiors. 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 kilo or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 2–2.5; cleavage perfect, three directions. 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 himalayan salt costs
Expect roughly $1–8/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 himalayan salt treated?
None. Dissolves in water.
Where does himalayan salt come from?
Khewra, Punjab, Pakistan, Poland (Wieliczka) and Iran. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is himalayan salt hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2–2.5 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 himalayan salt cost?
Indicatively $1–8/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 himalayan salt confused with?
Most often Dyed salt and Glass. A refractive index of 1.544 and a specific gravity near 2.16 separate it quickly.
What is himalayan salt used for besides jewellery?
lighting, wellness and body care, kitchen and table and architecture and interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for himalayan salt?
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 himalayan salt