The facts
What meerschaum actually is
Meerschaum is classified as sepiolite, with the composition Mg₄Si₆O₁₅(OH)₂·6H₂O. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Refractive index 1.52–1.53. Specific gravity around 0.98–1.28. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where meerschaum comes from
Meerschaum is produced at Eskişehir, Turkey — the classic source, Tanzania and Kenya.
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 meerschaum is treated
Waxed. Pressed meerschaum from offcuts is a different product.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What meerschaum is confused with
In the trade meerschaum is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Pressed meerschaum, Plaster or Plastic.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.52–1.53 and specific gravity 0.98–1.28 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What meerschaum is used for
Demand for meerschaum comes from pipes, carving and sculpture and decorative objects, 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 or by the piece.
Durability and care
Meerschaum is 2–2.5 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 meerschaum costs
As a guide, meerschaum trades around $5–60/block.
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 meerschaum treated, and how?
Waxed. Pressed meerschaum from offcuts is a different product.
Where does meerschaum come from?
Eskişehir, Turkey — the classic source, Tanzania and Kenya. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is meerschaum 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 meerschaum cost?
Indicatively $5–60/block. 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 meerschaum confused with?
Most often Pressed meerschaum, Plaster and Plastic. A refractive index of 1.52–1.53 and a specific gravity near 0.98–1.28 separate it quickly.
What is meerschaum used for besides jewellery?
pipes, carving and sculpture and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for meerschaum?
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 meerschaum