Indonesian teeth possess a number of characteristics typical for this location, including vibrant colors excellent preservation of enamel, amazing bourlettes and flawless serrations. The sheer variety of colors, sizes, shapes and relatively good access to teeth makes Indo teeth highly collectable. However, the Indonesian Megalodon market has been plagued by rampant "restorations" that are often poorly done and not disclosed in an honest fashion. The roots of many Indonesian teeth are often pitted and eroded while the blades are flawless, which often drives sellers to try restoring the roots. Luckelly, this is easy to spot by a trained eye and can largely be avoided by purchasing from a reputable American seller. Another common issue is for the vibrant colors of a tooth to fade over time as they "dry out". The vibrant colors found in these teeth often result from various mineral hydrates, which have water molecules integrated into the crystal structure of the mineral itself. When the fossil is left out in a low humidity environment (e.g. a heated home), the water leaves the mineral hydrate, often resulting in a change in color. Generally, these color changes are irreversible, as reincorporating water into the crystal structure is not possible. Most collectors are satisfied with the colors after "drying", but it is absolutely possible to maintaining vibrant colors indefinitely by storing them in a humidified environment. Using humidity control packs (e.g. Bovida) such as the ones used for storing cigars works very well. The only catch is that with increased humidity, mold can form, so cleaning off a tooth stored in a humidified environment with alcohol periodically is recommended. A large number of the teeth available for purchase have been stored in a humidified environment (generally 70%-80%) and have maintained their bold colorations for several years. Refer to the page on Humidified Storage for more information.

 

 

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