Recently renamed, the Pacific species as C. renkeri and the Indian Ocean congener as C. Bayeri. The size of an adult shell varies between 35 mm and 75 mm. The smooth shell is rather thin. The spire is low-conical and contains revolving striae, usually maculated with chestnut.

The body whorl is striate below. The color of the shell is yellowish or light chestnut, with large white blotches forming a band at the shoulder and another on the middle, encircled by narrow chestnut lines, which are often broken up into small dots .

The color of the base and the aperture is usually violaceous. In Conus cinctus, Swainson 1822, the narrow chestnut lines are continuous, the white blotches and interior of aperture are more or less suffused with rose-color.