The surface is encircled by numerous spiral smooth riblets, their interstices closely finely obliquely striate.

The body whorl is rounded (or a trifle angled) around the lower part, slightly convex beneath.

The base color is chocolate brown to mauve with light tan raised cords, and the aperture is pearly white.

Snails spawned in the laboratory in the San Juan Islands, WA, USA, during the months of February, March, and April, but only in water that was at least 10 °C.

Early development proceeds as the zygote undergoes cleavage in the spiral pattern typical of molluscs and other protostomes.

Calliostoma eats a variety of items including the kelp it lives on as well as small sessile organisms and other material that live on rocks or kelp surfaces, including bryozoans, hydroids, diatoms, and detritus.

Snails displayed a flight response with movement rates up to 10 cm/min, often accompanied by shell twisting, between 70% and 100% of the time after contact with the following predatory seastars: Leptasterias hexactis, Pycnopodia helianthoides, Pisaster ochraceus, and Evasterias troschelii.

Snails either withdrew into their shells, turned away, or fled after contact with the subtidal crab Cancer oregonensis.

After making initial contact the snail reared up, extended its head forward and visibly rasped the upper body wall of H. leviuscula with its radula.