What Are Shark Tooth Necklaces Made Of? Materials Guide

Shark tooth necklaces can be made with a genuine shark tooth, a fossilized tooth, or a tooth-shaped pendant crafted from materials such as metal or resin. The tooth or pendant is usually attached to a cord or chain, so the necklace’s materials include both the centerpiece and whatever holds it around your neck.

A natural shark tooth is an actual tooth, while a fossilized tooth has undergone mineral replacement over time; either may be left largely as found or mounted in jewelry. A tooth-shaped pendant offers the same pointed silhouette without necessarily containing a shark tooth, making the material description more useful than the necklace’s name alone.

Metal shark-themed necklaces may use a shaped charm, a setting around a tooth, or decorative stones, with the chain and clasp adding their own material considerations. For example, our Shark Pendant Necklace for Men with Moissanite is described as 925 sterling silver jewelry with moissanite; it is a shark pendant necklace, not a stated natural-tooth necklace.

If you want an organic tooth, look for a clear identification of whether it is a natural or fossilized shark tooth, along with a description of its setting. If you prefer a polished jewelry look, compare the pendant, chain, and clasp materials, then consider the chain length and how the pendant will sit with the necklines you wear.

Handle a natural or fossilized tooth gently, especially where it meets a drilled hole or setting, and avoid tugging on the pendant when you remove the necklace. For a metal-and-stone design, use care appropriate to its stated materials; we recommend putting any necklace on after applying lotions or fragrances and storing it where the chain will not tangle.