How to Distinguish Between Real Ivory and Bone

Ivory is a material obtained from the tusks and teeth of elephants, whales, and various other animals. While ivory and bone may appear similar in terms of appearance, weight, and texture, ivory is more valuable and is strictly regulated. Start by confirming whether the item in question is bone or ivory, rather than synthetic materials or replicas. Then, you can use a magnifying glass to help distinguish between the two materials.

Use the appropriate magnifying tool to inspect the item. Magnifying glasses come in various sizes and features. For items made from bone or ivory, a handheld magnifying glass with standard magnification is ideal. It lets you see enough details to differentiate the two materials and makes it easier to control the observation distance. Handheld magnifying glasses can be found online or at certain hobby and tool shops. Some decorative material stores also carry them.

• You can also use a microscope, but these are usually more expensive than magnifying glasses, especially if your bone or ivory piece is large.

Hold the magnifying glass above the item. Either hold the item in your hand or place it on a flat surface. Position the magnifying glass above the object, starting a few centimeters away. If necessary, move the magnifying glass closer until the details come into focus and you can see intricate marks on the item.

• If you're using a microscope, follow the instructions and adjust the lenses so the details become clear and sharp.

Look for tiny holes to confirm the item is bone. Once the details are visible through the magnifying glass, closely observe whether the surface of the item has any patterns or small holes. If the item has a porous surface, it's almost certainly bone.

• These holes appear as tiny, scattered dots on the surface of the item.

Examine the patterns to determine if the item is ivory. When inspected under the magnifying glass, if the item is real ivory, you'll notice distinct patterns on its surface. The patterns of real ivory can appear in several forms, including straight lines, crosshatching, or circular shapes.

Hold the item in your hand to assess its weight. Ivory and some types of bone feel dense and solid when compared to an average-sized billiard ball. If the item feels light, it's likely not ivory, though it could still be bone.

• Bone and ivory can have similar weights. A solid, heavy item isn't necessarily ivory, but it’s a sign that the material could be either of the two.
• If you're unsure about its weight, use a scale to measure it. Although the weight of ivory varies, common types like elephant ivory typically weigh about 0.64 kg for every 2.5 cm of length.

Examine the item under ultraviolet light. Purchase a UV bulb or UV flashlight. If using a UV bulb, install it in a desk lamp, preferably in a room with some natural light. Turn on the desk lamp or UV flashlight. Turn off all other lights to make the room as dark as possible. With only the UV light, inspect the item and assess the color it emits. Real ivory and bone will glow white under UV light, while synthetic materials tend to absorb light and will appear dull.

• Though rare, some fake or synthetic materials can also glow white under UV light, so you may need to perform additional tests to confirm if your item is real ivory or bone.

Feel the surface of the item to assess its smoothness and hardness. Run your fingers over the surface of the item to evaluate its smoothness and durability. Ivory and many types of bone feel smooth, solid, and durable. If the surface feels rough, soft, or fragile, it's unlikely to be real bone or ivory.

• While some types of bone may feel as smooth as ivory, most do not. Bone is porous and typically feels slightly rougher than ivory. If an object feels buttery smooth, it could be ivory, though further tests will be needed to confirm.
• Although bone can also be as durable as ivory, it's not always the case. You can easily snap a small piece of bone, but ivory is much harder to break.
• Be cautious when testing the hardness of the item, as bone or synthetic materials may easily become damaged.

Look for natural yellowing over time. Unlike synthetic materials (which are often made to retain their color), both ivory and bone naturally change color over time. Although aged ivory and bone will both turn yellow, bone can sometimes take on a light brown, red, white, or greenish tint. If your item has a yellowish hue due to aging, it may be an indicator that it's real ivory or bone.

• Some faux ivory or bone items are deliberately colored yellow to appear authentic. Therefore, you’ll need to perform additional tests to determine whether your item is ivory or bone and distinguish between the two materials.