Meteorite Education & FAQs

For deep meteorite jewelry education, visit our Meteorite Knowledge Center.

Truly out of this world, a meteorite is a solid piece of debris from a source such as an asteroid or a comet that originates in outer space and survives its journey through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands on its surface.

Needless to say, meteorite is a very unique material to have in your engagement ring or wedding band. Jewelry by Johan has the largest selection of meteorite rings in the world and has sold thousands of meteorite rings across the globe to customers looking for a unique piece of jewelry.

WHAT TYPES OF METEORITE ARE USED IN JEWELRY?

Because of its unique pattern, most of our meteorite rings are made with Gibeon meteorite. We also craft other jewelry with Campo del Cielo, Sikhote-Alin, Muonionalista, Moldavite, and El Hammami. Read on to learn more about the unique characteristics of each type of meteorite.

We guarantee that our meteorite is 100% authentic and include a certificate of authenticity with our items. Don't be fooled by jewelers offering fake, usually very low-cost, meteorite rings. Check out our blog to learn how to identify fake vs. real meteorite jewelry.

GIBEON METEORITE

Gibeon is a meteorite that fell in prehistoric times in Namibia. It was discovered in 1838 and named after the nearest town: Gibeon, Namibia. The term Gibeon encompasses the whole meteoritic material fallen from the sky during this fall. This material is classified as iron meteorite belonging to the chemical group IVA. Gibeon meteorites are composed of an iron-nickel alloy containing significant amounts of cobalt and phosphorus. The crystal structure of this meteorite provides a classic example of fine octahedrite and the Widmanstatten pattern is appreciated for its beauty both by collectors and designers of jewelry.

CAMPO DEL CIELO METEORITE

The name Campo del Cielo – which is Spanish for “Field of Heaven” refers to a group of iron meteorites and area where they were found northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. These meteorites, the heaviest group ever discovered on earth, were first reported in 1576. Long before being documented, the aboriginal inhabitants knew the “Field of Heaven” and its many craters well. Natives used these iron-based stones for weapons and worshiped these stones from the sky. Spanish explorers doubted stones had fallen from space and assumed they came from a volcanic eruption. However, today we know these stones are 100% from space and definitely something worth revering!

SIKHOTE-ALIN METEORITE

In 1947 this meteorite crashed through the earth’s atmosphere violently just north of the Russian city Vladivostok. No other meteorite with this big of an explosive magnitude had been witnessed ever before. It fell during the day, capturing the attention of many witnesses with its bright-hot bolide and loud explosion. Everyone within 300 km saw this terrific event. It loudly burst in mid-air before breaking into pieces. Shrapnel from this great explosion can now be worn by you – where anyone can visibly see the catastrophic effects of the atmosphere on this storied stone!

MUONIONALUSTA METEORITE

The oldest meteorite known to man, 4.5653 billion years old, was found in Scandinavia near the Muonio river. This meteorite has experienced four ice ages! While crashing through the atmosphere it broke into forty pieces, with some of them keeping most of their original gargantuan size. Because it was exposed to cosmic rays while in space and a heavy shock while colliding with earth, the Muonionalusta has an extremely rare mineral within it – formed only by extremely high pressure. This mineral is called Stishovite. Wear this time-tested and rare rock with grace!

MOLDAVITE

Moldavite isn’t like the others – it’s actually a glass formed by a meteorite impact 14,700,000 years ago! With its brownish-green tint, Moldavite looks a lot like bottle-glass but is far more prized, of course. Forming in beautiful “flower-bursts” of glass, this type of meteorite exudes natural beauty! As seen in the ring shown here, moldavite can also be cut to have facets and comes in a variety of shapes, including round and pear.

EL HAMMAMI METEORITE

El Hammami Meteorite is said to have fallen in January of 1995 in Mauritania, Africa (southwest of Mhamid, Morocco). Nomads witnessed the fall, but the meteorite wasn’t discovered until over two years later by a man named Edwin Thompson. In November of 1997, Thompson traveled to Mauritania, Africa and collected six fresh-looking meteorite stones at the base of the El Hammami Mountains in Mauritania. El Hammami was discovered to have many sheets of iron running through it, giving it a unique texture and shine all its own.

MIMETIC METEORITE

Price should never get between you and the beauty of Meteorite’s pattern. Gibeon Meteorite’s pattern, the Widmanstatten figures, has found its way onto a cheaper product also offered by us. What you see isn’t actually meteorite, but titanium engraved to mimic the Widmanstatten pattern found on Gibeon meteorite. Mimetic meteorite is an affordable alternative to our signature Gibeon Meteorite rings. This titanium band shines with a polished finish.

CARING FOR YOUR METEORITE

Meteorite is an iron-based material so it has the potential to rust. Our meteorite care kit was specially designed to help protect and prolong the beauty of the meteorite in your jewelry. Although there are other products available from other companies, it is not recommended using them without contacting us first to confirm it is a safe product to use. We are not liable for any damage caused by products sold elsewhere.

FAQS ABOUT METEORITE JEWELRY

Why is Gibeon Meteorite used in jewelry?

Gibeon meteorite is used in jewelry to showcase its unique and beautiful Widmanstätten pattern. Meteorite’s beauty comes from its long journey through space, making it perfect to celebrate your own personal journey in life with meteorite engagement rings, wedding bands, or anniversary gifts. Besides marking special occasions, a meteorite ring is a great gift for someone who loves space.

Is Gibeon Meteorite Rare?

Yes, in 2004 Namibia passed a ban on exportation of Gibeon Meteorite, therefore there are only limited amounts of Gibeon available that was exported before the ban was put in place.

What is a Meteorite Ring Made of?

Meteorite rings generally have a piece of meteorite that is inlaid into a metal or overlaid over a metal sleeve. Or you may find jewelry that contains shavings of meteorite (a.k.a. stardust) that is mixed with another substance that acts as a moisture barrier and prohibits the formation of rust.

How Can You Tell if a Meteorite is Real?

Two immediate signs are that real meteorite is magnetic and will rust. It is also heavy because it usually contains a high concentration of iron. Check out our blog How to Tell If It's Real Meteorite for more tips on identifying the real deal. There are a lot of makers selling fake meteorite jewelry!

Can Meteorite Rust?

Yes, since meteorite contains iron, it can rust. The exact time frame for how long it’ll be until rust appears isn’t consistent. We offer a meteorite care kit for you to remove rust at home. We also provide a lifetime service guarantee, so we’ll clean the meteorite and re-etch it at no cost if you send it back in, making your ring look like how it was the day you got it! To take advantage of this free service, just fill out the “Lifetime Services” section of this form. Within the form, select either “meteorite rusting” or “meteorite needs to be re-etched” and we’ll take care of both.

For more info on taking care of your meteorite ring at home, visit the meteorite section of our Jewelry Care Guide. In this guide, we go over some simple steps for you to remove rust from your meteorite jewelry even if you don’t have our care kit. We provide this same jewelry care info in a booklet that comes with every meteorite item that we ship.

How Long Does it Take for Meteorite to Rust?

The time it takes for rust to form on meteorite varies significantly. The humidity of the air, for instance, is a key factor. Additionally, since meteorite is mostly a combination of iron and nickel, the amount of iron exposed to the surface will be slightly different item to item, and the rust forms on that iron. Another determining factor is lifestyle, as your sweat can promote the growth of rust as well. All of these factors together make it tricky for us to say exactly how long it’ll take for your item to rust. At the shortest, we’ve seen meteorite jewelry rust within a week, but at the longest, it can take months.

When we ship your item, we rub a thin, translucent wax onto the meteorite which helps slow the rate that rust builds. It’s natural for this thin coating to rub off over time (it’s difficult to see that it’s on the meteorite, or notice it rubbing off). You can re-apply this wax coating at home if you purchase our meteorite care kit, which includes it. The care kit also has a de-corrodor solution, which you can use to remove rust in 5-10 minutes.

Is it Safe to Wear Meteorite?

Meteorite can get wet, but it is recommended to dry as soon as possible.

What Should I Avoid Getting On My Meteorite Jewelry?

Some lotions contain oils or acids that can cause the iron in meteorite to rust faster. We suggest that you allow your skin to fully absorb the lotion before putting on your meteorite jewelry.

We also suggest taking off your meteorite jewelry if they could be exposed to any harsh chemicals, for example if you’re using cleaning products.

Is it Save to Wear Meteorite?

Yes it is safe to wear, however freshly fallen meteorites do release radioactive emissions from very short lived isotopes which are quickly released. Meteorites present on earth and later sourced for jewelry pose no danger at all.

Is Meteorite Hypoallergenic?

All iron based meteorites contain traces of nickel that range between 7.7% to 9.15%, which is less than the percentage of nickel in most gold alloys used in jewelry. However, if you are prone to reactions from gold, opt instead for a Stardust ring, which contains meteorite shavings inside a protective coating.

Can Meteorite be Rustproofed?

No, there’s no proper way to give solid meteorite a waterproof or rustproof coating. The better option is to take care of rust as it appears on the meteorite, rather than to rely on an improper solution like a coating/plating. This is why we offer free rust removal and re-etching, we do not coat or plate our meteorite.

Many jewelers have tried, but these coatings (like epoxy or polymer coatings) don’t properly adhere to the surface and they break down over time. They also make it difficult to clean and re-etch the meteorite in the instance that it does start to rust. Another solution that’s been attempted is rhodium plating. However, this also breaks down over time and it does not entirely prevent rust.

Meteorite that’s not solid, however, can be safely coated. For example, our Stardust jewelry features meteorite shavings inside a protective coating which guards against moisture, bumps, and scratches. This Ring Armor protective coating is covered under our lifetime service guarantee. It’s very easy for us to repair in the instance that it does ever get damaged. If you send your ring to us, we’ll repair this coating for free. Simply fill out our “Lifetime Service” form here and select “Ring Armor Repair” in the service dropdown.

What is Troilite in Meteorite Jewelry?

Troilite appears as a tiny, dark spot in meteorite stones and inlays. Learn more about Troilite in Meteorite Jewelry in our blog. We offer a troilite-free add-on service, if you'd prefer to ensure no troilite is present in your finished item. Troilite isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it won’t harm you or your jewelry, it’s just a matter of your aesthetic preference.

Can I Customize Meteorite Jewelry?

Any of our meteorite rings or other jewelry can be customized if you select “Customize This Item” in its listing. If you’d like to add meteorite to an existing item, you can request it there as well. If you have a design in mind, we’d love to bring it to work with you to bring it to life! If you want something completely custom, just fill out our custom jewelry request form or tell us about it in a free online consultation where we can answer all of your questions.