The facts
What meteorite actually is
Meteorite is classified as iron–nickel, stony, or stony-iron, with the composition Fe–Ni with troilite and silicates. It crystallises in the cubic (kamacite/taenite) system.
Colour comes from metallic; the Widmanstätten pattern comes from millions of years of slow cooling, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Specific gravity around 3.3–7.9. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where meteorite comes from
Meteorite is produced at Muonionalusta, Sweden, Gibeon, Namibia, Campo del Cielo, Argentina, Sikhote-Alin, Russia and NWA finds, Sahara.
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 meteorite is treated
Etched with acid to reveal the pattern, and stabilised against rust. Lunar and Martian material commands a different order of price.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What meteorite is confused with
In the trade meteorite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Terrestrial slag, Magnetite or Man-made Widmanstätten imitations.
Because the material is opaque, refractive index is no help. Specific gravity around 3.3–7.9, hardness of 4–6, streak and magnification do the work instead.
What meteorite is used for
Demand for meteorite comes from watch dials, mineral collecting, jewellery and automotive interiors, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the disc, by the specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Meteorite is 4–6 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 meteorite costs
As a guide, meteorite trades around $0.50–1,000/g.
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 meteorite treated, and how?
Etched with acid to reveal the pattern, and stabilised against rust. Lunar and Martian material commands a different order of price.
Where does meteorite come from?
Muonionalusta, Sweden, Gibeon, Namibia, Campo del Cielo, Argentina, Sikhote-Alin, Russia and NWA finds, Sahara. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is meteorite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4–6 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 meteorite cost?
Indicatively $0.50–1,000/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 meteorite confused with?
Most often Terrestrial slag, Magnetite and Man-made Widmanstätten imitations. Since the material is opaque, separation relies on specific gravity near 3.3–7.9, hardness and magnification.
What is meteorite used for besides jewellery?
watch dials, mineral collecting and automotive interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for meteorite?
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 meteorite