Shell small for the genus. Shape globose with convex whorls. The protoconch is white, elevated. The first whorl has a spiral sculpture of two raised spiral ribs. Shell with 4 1/2 whorls. The suture is not particularly deep. There is a subsutural shoulder which is almost horizontal to the axis of the shell. Upper part of the whorls with 4 spiral ribs that are covered with numerous axial ribs, rendering the whole surface reticulate. Base with 5 spiral ribs and a well defined umbilical keel. The axials are weaker on this part of the shell, but where they touch the umbilical keel, small beads are formed. The spiral ribs continue within the umbilicus: there are about 6 clearly visible. Columella simple, small parietal callous. Aperture nacreous within. The color of the shell is pale olive with a pattern of two brown irregular bands of spots: one near the shoulder, one mid-whorl.

Close to what is called in literature Machaeroplax delicatus (Dall, 1919). This Japanese species is more than twice as big as V tragema and has the peristome of the aperture not interrupted. It is pink colored and the whorls are less globose, the shoulder is less pronounced. Machaeroplax is considered a subgenus of Solariella here.

Wilson (1993: 95) mentioned this species from northern Queensland. This species has a wide distribution in the Western Pacific, it is known from the Loyalty Islands, northern Queensland, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Very rare in the Philippines and known from one specimen only, taken on a white sand bottom, 5 m deep in Pandanan Island.

The lectotype of this species is designated and figured by Herbert (1989: fig lg), it was described from the Loyalty Islands. Hickman (1985) studied the radula, which indicated that this species belongs to the Umboniinae.