Crystal Calcite is a versatile, natural mineral used to create many types of inlay.
Calcite can be used as is, or dyed to emulate a variety of luxurious gem stones such as sapphire blue, ruby red, jade green and more. Other materials can be mixed in to enhance its appearance as well, such as metal filings, Mother of Pearl or pearlescent pigments that add a shimmering translucent chatoyance effect.
On the Mohs Hardness Scale, Calcite has a hardness of 3.0 and is easily sanded using silicon carbine (carborundum) or aluminium oxide (corundum) sand paper, which has a hardness of 9.0. It is durable and provides an excellent surface to polish and/or finish.
Note that these products are made from nature: there may be variations in colour and minor impurities which add to the overall natural aesthetic.