How Much Does Obsidian Cost?
Last Updated on October 4, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker
Prized since ancient times for its jet-black volcanic glass texture, obsidian has been fashioned into arrowheads, ceremonial blades, decorative art, and jewelry for thousands of years across many cultures. Today, obsidian remains extremely popular in jewelry-making, for accents in residential and commercial interior design, and among crystal healing enthusiasts. But what factors determine the actual cost of this unique igneous rock?
This guide covers obsidian pricing for both practical use and investment-grade collector pieces.
How Much Does Obsidian Cost?
On average, The cost for obsidian spans between $5 to $30 per pound for basic raw obsidian chunks and shards sufficient for landscaping projects or informal jewelry-making and crafting use.
However, investment-grade expertly polished obsidian gemstones, finely knapped artifacts, and museum-quality antique relics can command prices exceeding $1000 per gram for elite collector specimens.
Obsidian market pricing depends on several primary factors, including the specific obsidian variety, quality grade, source location, whether raw unworked or expertly cut and polished, rarity, current demand trends, and intended end-use application.
Here are current price ranges by quality and product type:
Landscaping Grade Raw Obsidian
- Small shards, gravel, crushed – $2 to $10 per pound
- Low-quality fractured chunks with visible imperfections – $5 to $20 per pound
- Average quality rock shop grade – $10 to $30 per pound
- Decorator Grade A chunks with minimal flaws – $20 to $60 per pound
- Flawless premium pieces suitable for cutting rough – $50 to $200 per pound
Polished and Carved Obsidian Pieces
- Average craft-grade black obsidian tumbled stones – $2 to $10 per ounce
-Polished black obsidian desk specimens or bookends – $20 to $100 per pound
- High clarity optical-quality window grade –$100 to $500 per pound
- Unique one-of-a-kind designer carvings and sculptures – $200 to $1000+ each
- Rare color pattern polished gems like rainbow obsidian – $500 to $2000+ per pound
Obsidian Knives, Jewelry, and Historic Artifacts
- Common arrowheads or simple pendants – $5 to $40 each
- Advanced hand-flaked blade-grade obsidian – $50 to $200 per pound
- Ornate carved obsidian figurines and beads – $100 to $1000 each
- High-end designer jewelry with premium stones – $1000 to $50,000+ per piece
- Museum-worthy ancient artifacts – $10,000 to millions
According to CoinCodex, raw obsidian is typically priced at around $5 per kilogram. In terms of smaller measurements, it is valued at approximately $0.005 per gram, or about $2.27 per pound. The price can fluctuate based on the specific type of obsidian, with rarer varieties like blue or green obsidian often commanding higher prices.
Another source, Rock Seeker, notes that prices for obsidian can vary widely depending on its color and clarity. For example, black obsidian is the most common and typically costs around $0.50 to $2.00 per pound. However, more unique forms such as fire obsidian or rainbow obsidian can range from $3 to $10 per pound, reflecting their rarity and desirability among collectors.
According to an article on The Crystal Council, retail prices for polished obsidian pieces can range from about $10 to $30 for small items, while larger specimens may cost upwards of $100 or more, depending on their size and quality. This pricing reflects the added value of craftsmanship in polished and shaped obsidian products.
A discussion on Crystal Vaults emphasizes that while raw obsidian is relatively inexpensive, its price can increase significantly when crafted into jewelry or decorative items. For instance, pendants made from high-quality obsidian can retail for between $20 and $50.
What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is an igneous rock formed when lava cools rapidly, preventing crystallization. It consists primarily of silica with traces of other minerals. Key characteristics include:
- Jet black or very dark coloration
- Smooth glassy texture when fractured
- Extreme hardness and resistance to scratching
- Ability to form very sharp edges when finely flaked
- Natural purity makes it easy to polish
These unique properties contribute to obsidian’s value as a decorative and functional material.
Types of Obsidian
While typically dark black or brown in baseline coloration, obsidian occurs naturally in dozens of distinct regional varieties, each exhibiting their own unique visual characteristics that can significantly influence perceived value and market pricing:
You might also like our articles about the cost of jade, pyrite, or Amethyst.
Black obsidian – The most abundantly found and affordable variety, commonly used for functional tools, decorative carvings, jewelry beads, and ancient arrowheads. Expect to pay just $5 to $20 per pound for average grade raw material.
Rainbow obsidian – Displays stunning brilliant iridescent multi-colored banding and often a distinctive frosted metallic sheen. Extremely rare and highly desirable, commanding $200 to $500+ per pound for quality polished gemstone slabs or cabs.
Golden sheen obsidian – Exhibits a radiant golden shimmering effect across its dark surface. Found only in very limited geographical regions globally. Valued at $50 to $150 per pound for premium pieces.
Silver sheen obsidian – Similar in appearance to golden sheen but with a distinctive silver coloring. Comparable pricing from $50 to $150 per pound.
Snowflake obsidian – Embedded with white crystalline mineral inclusions naturally resembling delicate snowflakes in appearance. More valuable and sought after than common black obsidian but less prized than extraordinarily scarce rainbow. Typically priced from $50 to $200 per pound.
Mahogany obsidian – Displays rich reddish-brown veining patterns through a darker base color. The dramatic color contrasts make mahogany obsidian ideal for carving highly detailed sculptures and figures. Valued between $20 and $100 per pound.
The far more rarely found varieties like fire obsidian, midnight lace obsidian, apache tears, and rainbow obsidian consistently garner substantially higher premium valuations from collectors, artists, and designers seeking their dramatic visual impact. But abundant inexpensive black obsidian satisfies requirements for the vast majority of functional tool and general jewelry or decor applications.
Quality, Preparation, and Workmanship
Beyond mere variety, the assigned specimen quality grade, state of preparation, and any artisan hand-working or skillful knapping involved also significantly influence obsidian pricing:
- Raw unworked chunks or shards – Available in a wide range of base grades, raw obsidian sold in its natural form typically costs anywhere from just $1 to $20 per pound depending on overall quality and suitability for intended uses. Lower fractured grades may be near worthless while premium chunks command higher pricing.
- Cut, polished, or finely worked – Pieces skillfully enhanced by expert flintknapping, precise faceting, detailed hand carving, or other lapidary arts work can range from just $15 to $200+ per pound based heavily on the labor, craftsmanship, skill, and artistic effort involved in improving each raw stone’s natural characteristics. Significant value generally accrues above basic material costs commensurate with the extent and quality of the human creativity and workmanship invested by experienced artisans and craftspeople. The most elaborate museum-quality objects may involve hundreds of hours of meticulous effort and thus carry prices into the thousands.
- Jewelry-grade rough or cut – Flawless raw obsidian selected specifically by expert gemstone buyers for cutting, faceting, and polishing into fine jewelry components including beads, inlay accents, and cabochons generally exceeds $500+ per pound or more. This ultra-premium grade demands exceptional clarity, evenness of coloration, purity, and freedom from any visible imperfections. Only a tiny fraction of obsidian deposits contains sections meeting these stringent gem-quality standards.
- Museum-grade specimens – Perfectly flawless obsidian display pieces exhibiting ideal snowflake concentrations, banding, translucency, difficult rarity, important archeological significance, or immense intricacy of workmanship meet the highest collector standards and thus command prices from $5000+ per pound to potentially over $100,000 for individual artifacts. Only tiny few pieces reach this pinnacle based on their uniqueness, irreplaceability, and elite display qualities.
In general, expect to pay substantial premiums above common raw stone costs for investment-grade obsidian that has been substantially improved by skilled human artistry. But for everyday functional purposes from landscaping to basic jewelry beads or arrowhead knapping practice, inexpensive raw base grade material easily suffices for most hobbyists.
Source Location
Geography affects obsidian value in two ways:
Rarity – Obsidian only forms near certain rare volcanic features across the globe. Material originating closer to these remote difficult-to-access primary volcanic glass sources tends to be more relatively scarce compared to finds distant from the source flows. This frequently extreme localized supply limitation substantially drives up prices for obsidian originating nearest to the handful of major active sources worldwide.
Prestige – Separately, some obsidian origins like Mexico and the Southwestern United States are globally renowned as prime sources consistently producing material of exceptionally brilliant quality with vivid banding, snowflakes, and ideal working properties. As such, these premium-reputation regions command very significant pricing premiums for their material seemingly above and beyond scarcity alone, with valuation multiples frequently exceeding 50% over obsidian from lesser-known regions. Provenance matters.
For example, obsidian from Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains often costs 50%+ more than comparable stones from other regions.
Market Trends
Along with intrinsic factors, external market forces also influence values:
- Jewelry demand – Surging use in metaphysical jewelry is raising prices for rare transparent and rainbow obsidian.
- Metaphysical uses – Strong interest among crystal healers and meditation enthusiasts focused on obsidian’s purported protective energies increases values.
- Mining restrictions – Tighter regulations have reduced supply, elevating costs.
- Archaeological discoveries – High-profile obsidian relic finds also spur renewed demand.
Overall demand remains strong despite fluctuations over time.
Where To Buy Obsidian
Obsidian can be found at:
- Rock shops – Offer small purchases for hobbyists at retail rates.
- Online marketplaces – Allow price comparisons among individual sellers.
- Specialty gemstone retailers – Sell obsidian for healing and collectors.
- Wholesalers – Provide discounted bulk pricing but require large orders.
Obsidian Value and Quality
Factors indicating high obsidian quality:
- Even, consistent dark tones without blotches
- Absence of conspicuous crystals or streaks
- Ability to fracture into ultra-sharp edges
- Lack of pores or air bubbles
- Potential to be worked very thinly without fracturing
Final Words
With unique origins stemming from remote high-elevation lava flows, prized for its aesthetic banding and glassy texture, and boasting an immense history role across ancient civilizations, global demand for obsidian endures to this day.
Prices range from just $5 per pound for basic raw material to over $1000 per ounce for investment-grade finished carvings and jewelry bearing the finest available gemstone quality.
Seek geologic experts for guidance when acquiring important rare obsidian acquisitions. With knowledge and appreciation, obsidian offers immense enjoyment and tangible connections to our past across any budget range.
Answers to Common Questions
Is Obsidian free for commercial use?
No, obsidian is a natural material subject to mining regulations. Commercial products using obsidian must be lawfully sourced and any related indigenous intellectual property rights respected.
Does Obsidian cost money to sync?
No, the core Obsidian software is totally free. Obsidian Sync for seamless cross-device syncing is an optional paid subscription service, but the app remains fully functional without it.
Does Obsidian have unlimited storage?
No, the amount of data that can be stored in Obsidian vaults depends on the physical storage space available across synced devices. There are no artificially imposed limits on vault sizes or numbers of files. But physical storage capacity is finite.
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