The shell is of a « very obese shape, almost globose, tapering quite abruptly at both extremities. The costae are even thicker at their base, where they are broad and contiguous and more undulating in their course than those of C. succinea and especially of C. troglodytes; their edge is blunt. The decurrent cords from the base do not form any granulation. […] the amber tone is quite vivid, very shiny, softened by a bright white band, which shows a little below the suture and form like a necklace of pearls on the costulations; a second strip appears at the base of the whorls and is lost in the suture to show itself again on the last whorl, below the periphery; it is wider than the first. The base is often dotted with white on the amber background of the test. In no part can we see traces of brown or tawny lines or fascia. This species appears to be stable in shape and coloration. » – J. Hervier: “Le genre Columbella dans l’archipel de la Nouvelle-Calédonie”, Journal de Conchyliologie vol. XLVII, 4th quarter 1899, Paris 1900, p.376.