Materials glossary / Organic material
Ivory
On the label: Ivory · Organic material · a rule or standard applies
What it is
Elephant ivory is banned from sale in the US with narrow antique exceptions; 'ivory' in fashion jewelry is bone, resin or tagua nut (vegetable ivory).
Organic materials: Materials made by living things: pearls, amber, coral, shell, jet, bone. Softer than mineral stones and sensitive to acid, heat and perfume.
Wikidata: Material derived from the tusks and teeth of animals. Q82001 →
In the research
47 PubMed papers mention it with jewelry, allergy, eyewear or UV; the three most recent:
- Dermoscopy of Keratinizing Skin Tumors: Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Keratoacanthoma, and Bowen's Disease · Dermatology practical & conceptual, 2026
- Sprayable Cellulose and Mannan Nanocrystals from Ivory Nuts for Treatment of Skin Diseases in Mice · ACS applied bio materials, 2025
- Breast Implants · , 2025
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on one fabric or one filter says little about the piece in your hand.
Other organic materials
Clasp & Lens describes materials from the public record and does not appraise, grade or test pieces; what a listing states is the supplier's statement. If a piece causes a rash, take it off; a reaction that spreads or blisters is a doctor's question, and sunglasses are no substitute for impact-rated eye protection where that is required.