The facts
What narwhal Ivory actually is
Narwhal Ivory is classified as marine mammal tooth (Monodon monoceros), with the composition Hydroxyapatite with collagen. It crystallises in the amorphous organic system.
Colour comes from creamy white to pale grey; darkens and yellows with age and oxidation, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.53–1.54. Specific gravity around 1.80–1.95. Cleavage: none; splits along the spiral grain. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where narwhal Ivory comes from
Narwhal Ivory is produced at Baffin Bay, Nunavut, Canada, North-west Greenland and Svalbard, Norway.
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 narwhal Ivory is treated
Untreated, and legally restricted: the narwhal is CITES Appendix II and trade is banned or heavily controlled in the EU, the USA and elsewhere. Historic tusks were sold in mediaeval Europe as unicorn horn. Distinguished from other ivories by the left-hand spiral and the hollow pulp cavity. Do not buy without watertight provenance and permits.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What narwhal Ivory is confused with
In the trade narwhal Ivory is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Elephant ivory, Walrus ivory, Sperm whale ivory or Bone.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.53–1.54 and specific gravity 1.80–1.95 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What narwhal Ivory is used for
Demand for narwhal Ivory comes from mineral collecting and carving and sculpture, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 2–2.5; cleavage none; splits along the spiral grain. 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 narwhal Ivory costs
As a guide, narwhal Ivory trades around Legally documented antique pieces 1,000–20,000 USD; new trade is generally unlawful.
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 narwhal Ivory treated, and how?
Untreated, and legally restricted: the narwhal is CITES Appendix II and trade is banned or heavily controlled in the EU, the USA and elsewhere. Historic tusks were sold in mediaeval Europe as unicorn horn. Distinguished from other ivories by the left-hand spiral and the hollow pulp cavity. Do not buy without watertight provenance and permits.
Where does narwhal Ivory come from?
Baffin Bay, Nunavut, Canada, North-west Greenland and Svalbard, Norway. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is narwhal 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 narwhal Ivory cost?
Indicatively Legally documented antique pieces 1,000–20,000 USD; new trade is generally unlawful. 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 narwhal Ivory confused with?
Most often Elephant ivory, Walrus ivory, Sperm whale ivory and Bone. A refractive index of 1.53–1.54 and a specific gravity near 1.80–1.95 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for narwhal 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 narwhal ivory