The facts
What vegetable ivory actually is
The species behind vegetable ivory is tagua palm endosperm, Cellulose; it forms in the amorphous system.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.54 and a specific gravity of about 1.4–1.5, with none cleavage.
Where vegetable ivory comes from
Commercial material comes from Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How vegetable ivory is treated
Dyed routinely. **We do not trade elephant ivory in any form.**
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 vegetable ivory is confused with
Watch for Elephant ivory, Bone and Plastic — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.54 and specific gravity 1.4–1.5 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What vegetable ivory is used for
The trades that buy vegetable ivory are carving and sculpture, decorative objects and jewellery. 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 piece or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 2–2.5; cleavage none. 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 vegetable ivory costs
Expect roughly $0.10–2/g, 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 vegetable ivory treated, and how?
Dyed routinely. **We do not trade elephant ivory in any form.**
Where does vegetable ivory come from?
Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is vegetable ivory 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 vegetable ivory cost?
Indicatively $0.10–2/g. 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 vegetable ivory confused with?
Most often Elephant ivory, Bone and Plastic. A refractive index of 1.54 and a specific gravity near 1.4–1.5 separate it quickly.
What is vegetable ivory 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 vegetable ivory?
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 vegetable ivory