Shell up to 12.3 mm high, of moderate thickness, stout, glossy; spire narrowly and rather evenly conical, 1.68-2.05 x higher than aperture, mean spire angle 62-66°, anomphalous.
Colour of protoconch and 1st teleoconch whorl yellowish brown, next 2 whorls translucent white; subsequent spire whorls with irregular yellowish brown maculations, or yellowish brown with scattered white patches, pale green nacreous layer showing through translucent outer shell layer in spiral interspaces; irregular, wavy, yellowish brown axial bands extending from S3 onto outer two thirds or occasionally all of base, elsewhere white base. Protoconch 400-420 µm wide, sculptured with network of fine threads that enclose roughly hexagonal spaces. Apical fold tip rounded, terminal varix rounded.
Teleoconch of up to 7.75 whorls; 1st eighth whorl with crisp spiral threads, delineated by growth scar and strong, rounded varix. First 2 whorls strongly convex, subsequent whorls weakly convex, periphery rounded, base weakly convex, suture well impressed. Spire and basal spirals prominent, rounded, multiplying by intercalation, rounded conical nodules on spire, rounded nodules on base; interspaces about as wide as each spiral; axial riblets strong on 1st 3 whorls, becoming obsolete over next 2 whorls. P2-P4 commencing immediately after post larval growth scar; P2 and P3 similar throughout, P4 weaker; PI commencing late 2nd or early 3rd whorl, enlarging to resemble P2 and P3; P4 partly covered by succeeding whorls, Secondary spirals enlarging to resemble primaries, SI commencing early 4th - early 5th whorl, S2 commencing mid 3rd - mid 4th whorl, S3 commencing late 4th - late 5th whorl. Tertiary spirals commencing on last 1 or 2 whorls in adults, 1 in each of most interspaces. Base with 12-15 spiral cords, inner 3 or 4 spirals becoming nodular only on last whorl in adults. Fine collabral growth lines throug¬hout. Aperture subquadrate. Outer lip thin at rim, thickened within, strongly so at base, inner lip thick. Parietal inductura extremely thin or absent.

Calliostoma (Fautor) metivieri superficially resembles C. (F.) necopinatum but differs in numerous details of shell morphology, more conspicuously the colour and colour pattern, and in being more finely sculptured. It differs from C. (F.) paradigmatum in having a colour pattern, finer nodules on the spire, and in that S3 appears earlier and enlarges to resemble the other primary spirals.
A single specimen taken alive from a seamount to the south east of New Caledonia (CHALCAL 2: stn DW 74, 24°40' S, 168°38' E, 650 m; Fig. 19) differs from the type (described) material in being uniform pale yellowish brown and in that S3 commences early on the 3rd teleoconch whorl instead of on the late 4th or 5th whorl. Additional material will be required to ascertain whether it represents a phenotypic variant, a local form of C. (F.) metivieri, or a distinct species.

South of Ile des Pins, southern New Caledonia, 390-535 m, living at 400-535 m.