Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass that has been used for centuries in various forms such as weapons, tools, and jewelry. Obsidian is a precious and rare material found in limited quantities around the world.
The price of obsidian varies according to its quality, rarity, and market demand. The cost can range from inexpensive pieces available at gift stores to high-grade specimens that are priced between thousands of dollars up to millions.
In this article we will discuss the factors that affect the price of obsidian and different types of obsidians available in the market.
Factors Affecting the Price
The following factors affect the cost of obsidian:
1. Rarity: Obsidian is not found everywhere; it’s only present near volcanic activity or on lava flows where rapid cooling occurs. Therefore, it makes it scarce which increases its value.
2. Quality: The quality depends on various criteria such as clarity (how transparent), color (the richer/natural-looking shades are more valuable), texture (presence or absence of bubbles within), carat weight (mass/concentration).
3. Size/Shape: Larger-sized gemstones tend to be rarer than smaller ones, increasing their brand value & thereby raising the price by several folds.
4. Location: Where/how much was it excavated from pre-determines outlay costs along with transportation expenses also added thereafter based on distance covered from retrieval point till retail outlets .
Types of Obsidians Available
Here are some popular types & noted examples for each :
1) Mahogany Obsidian – This variety comes in deep reddish-brown hues with lighter-colored spottings throughout resembling wood grain patterns & examples include Aguawave #6 Mexican Mahogany 16mm Beads (& others)
2) Snowflake Obsidian – This variant has black traces over a white base that looks akin snowflakes similar i.e round-shaped dots gathered together closely like branchlets protruding out of a tree trunk. Examples include Snowflake Obsidian Tumbled Stone (#1) & others
3) Rainbow Obsidian – This renders an iridescent shine i.e yellow,pink,green hues on its surface&has been used in jewelry-making for centuries due to distinctive appearances; some examples are Rainbow Silver Sheen Obsidian(Aqua Aura Quartz 925 Sterling Silver Ring), Black/Golden obsidian arrowhead pendants
4) Blue Obsidian – It is found almost exclusively in the Dominican Republic with fewer specimens being discovered elsewhere. Known for its electric blue luster and translucence, it is commonly used to create jewelry pieces of varying shapes and sizes. One well-known example would be Blue-Gray Zentangle Doodle Pentacle Pendant.
5) Apache Tears – A dark black-brown variant.Most commonly found in western United States giving it that Native American feel.Their Use has Horrific Tale Attached As per Tribal legends With Members Believing Each Tear Is The Result Of Their Ancestor’s Deaths During War Time .For instance, you can look up small-sized raw pebbles or obtain them polished as cabochons from e-commerce platforms like Etsy .
Price Range by Type
The price range depends on different aspects such as rarity, grade, size, shape & quality differences among these varieties discussed above but an approximate cost structure goes like:
Low-end cost: Under $50 /piece- includes many tumbled stones or smaller rough pieces with lesser grades/shape defects like spotted cracks/inclusions along edge surfaces mostly sought after collecting souvenirs/gifts.
Mid-range : Roughly ranges between $50-$500/piece quality-dependent,i.e rare level mahogany obsidians/polished teardrop-shaped dragonflies/$200 bag full bulk rainbow-multicolor tones w/crease-less/smoother textures .
High-end Cost : $1000+/piece category popular: large-sized high-intensity rare ones i.e. Apache Tears (rarity-related), Blue Obsidian Cabochons, & Natural Stream Pebbles without any external damage or surface blemishes/as visible cracks/inclusions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, obsidian is a rare and precious material that can be used for various purposes ranging from tool making to jewelry craftsmanship. The cost of obsidian varies depending on factors such as rarity, quality, size/shape leading to the price being placed in different categories-low,mid,end range.
If you’re interested in purchasing an obsidian piece then do explore trusted marketplaces both online and offline,vetting various options as per budget/preference so you too can reap all its sought-after benefits provided it’s cared-for appropriately!
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass that has been used for centuries in various forms such as weapons, tools, and jewelry. The unique properties of obsidian make it an ideal material for these applications. It is a precious and rare material found in limited quantities around the world.
The price of obsidian varies according to its quality, rarity, and market demand. The cost can range from inexpensive pieces available at gift stores to high-grade specimens that are priced between thousands of dollars up to millions.
The following factors affect the cost of obsidian:
1. Rarity: Obsidian is not found everywhere; it’s only present near volcanic activity or on lava flows where rapid cooling occurs. Therefore, it makes it scarce which increases its value.
2. Quality: The quality depends on various criteria such as clarity (how transparent), color (the richer/natural-looking shades are more valuable), texture (presence or absence of bubbles within), carat weight (mass/concentration).
3. Size/Shape: Larger-sized gemstones tend to be rarer than smaller ones, increasing their brand value & thereby raising the price by several folds.
4. Location: Where/how much was it excavated from pre-determines outlay costs along with transportation expenses also added thereafter based on distance covered from retrieval point till retail outlets .
Here are some popular types & noted examples for each :
1) Mahogany Obsidian – This variety comes in deep reddish-brown hues with lighter-colored spottings throughout resembling wood grain patterns & examples include Aguawave #6 Mexican Mahogany 16mm Beads (& others)
2) Snowflake Obsidian – This variant has black traces over a white base that looks akin snowflakes similar i.e round-shaped dots gathered together closely like branchlets protruding out of a tree trunk. Examples include Snowflake Obsidian Tumbled Stone (#1) & others
3) Rainbow Obsidian – This renders an iridescent shine i.e yellow,pink,green hues on its surface&has been used in jewelry-making for centuries due to distinctive appearances; some examples are Rainbow Silver Sheen Obsidian(Aqua Aura Quartz 925 Sterling Silver Ring), Black/Golden obsidian arrowhead pendants
4) Blue Obsidian – It is found almost exclusively in the Dominican Republic with fewer specimens being discovered elsewhere. Known for its electric blue luster and translucence, it is commonly used to create jewelry pieces of varying shapes and sizes. One well-known example would be Blue-Gray Zentangle Doodle Pentacle Pendant.
5) Apache Tears – A dark black-brown variant.Most commonly found in western United States giving it that Native American feel.Their Use has Horrific Tale Attached As per Tribal legends With Members Believing Each Tear Is The Result Of Their Ancestor’s Deaths During War Time .For instance, you can look up small-sized raw pebbles or obtain them polished as cabochons from e-commerce platforms like Etsy .
The price range depends on different aspects such as rarity, grade, size, shape & quality differences among these varieties discussed above but an approximate cost structure goes like:
Low-end cost: Under $50 /piece- includes many tumbled stones or smaller rough pieces with lesser grades/shape defects like spotted cracks/inclusions along edge surfaces mostly sought after collecting souvenirs/gifts.
Mid-range : Roughly ranges between $50-$500/piece quality-dependent,i.e rare level mahogany obsidians/polished teardrop-shaped dragonflies/$200 bag full bulk rainbow-multicolor tones w/crease-less/smoother textures .
High-end Cost : $1000+/piece category popular: large-sized high-intensity rare ones i.e. Apache Tears (rarity-related), Blue Obsidian Cabochons, & Natural Stream Pebbles without any external damage or surface blemishes/as visible cracks/inclusions.
In conclusion, obsidian is a rare and precious material that can be used for various purposes ranging from tool making to jewelry craftsmanship. The cost of obsidian varies depending on factors such as rarity, quality, size/shape leading to the price being placed in different categories-low,mid,end range.
If you’re interested in purchasing an obsidian piece then do explore trusted marketplaces both online and offline,vetting various options as per budget/preference so you too can reap all its sought-after benefits provided it’s cared-for appropriately!