This shell was found live in the Sea of Cortez near the city of Desemboque Mexico, about 70 miles south along the east coast of the Sea of Cortez, from Puerto Penasco.  The fishermen and panga divers collect murex for the snail meat only. They boil the shells, then throw them in the back of a pick-up truck and take them a couple of kilometers out of town and dump them in huge piles. This specimen is for more serious collectors it was taken live and operculum is included. it is 100% natural after cleaning. No mineral oil, no varnish.  Although I would personally add a coat of mineral oil to bring out the contrasting patterns.

They come very encrusted when taken from the ocean.  See the last photo, for a comparison.  Cleaning is extremely labor intensive and dangerous.  As acid is dripped onto the outside of the shell, then dipped in water to neutralize the acid.  A hard brush is used to clean as much of the calcium buildup and parasites as possible. Then another rinse in fresh water.  I then let dry for a day. Another quick acid drip, scrub, and rinse in water, then set out another day in the shade to dry.  This specimen and the next couple were very encrusted - see the last photo.

Since these shells are F++ CLEANED condition, many shells have parasites attached such as tube worms and barnacles.  I leave these on. Again one spine appears damaged and the siphon has small chips. Any other imperfections are within the shell itself.

I have only the biggest and most complete shells, damaged due again to the panga divers and fishermen, throwing these around without any regard to the condition, as they want the meat only.

This specimen is typical in size, color and weight.  As with all shells, some variations in patterning and color are unique.  I clean all my murex the same way, so variations you see are natural. Some radix are lighter and darker than others.

I live in Puerto Penasco, Mexico and have to go to the border town of Lukeville, AZ, U.S. to the Post Office and mail your shell, it is a 1 hour drive to the border.  I only go once a week, on Wednesdays.  Please be patient.  I will confirm your shipment every Wednesday evening when I return from my border run.