The facts
What maw-sit-sit actually is
The species behind maw-sit-sit is kosmochlor-bearing rock, NaCrSi₂O₆ with jadeite, amphibole, chromite; it forms in the aggregate rock (monoclinic phases) system.
Chromium in kosmochlor giving vivid green against a black chromite-rich matrix 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 1.52–1.74 (spot, variable by phase) and a specific gravity of about 2.45–3.15, with not applicable (aggregate) cleavage.
Where maw-sit-sit comes from
Commercial material comes from Namshamaw (Maw-sit-sit), Kachin State, Myanmar.
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
How maw-sit-sit is treated
Untreated in good material; some is wax-impregnated. A rock, not a mineral species, from a single small locality — the wildly variable RI and SG readings reflect the mixture of phases and are not a defect of the test.
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 maw-sit-sit is confused with
Watch for Jadeite, Chrome chalcedony, Verdite and Dyed serpentine — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.52–1.74 (spot, variable by phase) and specific gravity 2.45–3.15 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What maw-sit-sit is used for
The trades that buy maw-sit-sit are jewellery, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. 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 carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6–7; cleavage not applicable (aggregate). That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What maw-sit-sit costs
Expect roughly $2–100/ct, 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 maw-sit-sit treated, and how?
Untreated in good material; some is wax-impregnated. A rock, not a mineral species, from a single small locality — the wildly variable RI and SG readings reflect the mixture of phases and are not a defect of the test.
Where does maw-sit-sit come from?
Namshamaw (Maw-sit-sit), Kachin State, Myanmar. That is the only commercial source.
Is maw-sit-sit hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6–7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does maw-sit-sit cost?
Indicatively $2–100/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 maw-sit-sit confused with?
Most often Jadeite, Chrome chalcedony, Verdite and Dyed serpentine. A refractive index of 1.52–1.74 (spot, variable by phase) and a specific gravity near 2.45–3.15 separate it quickly.
What is maw-sit-sit 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 maw-sit-sit?
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 maw-sit-sit