topic Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem. in Jewelry

Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Margui — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:55:19 GMT

I love this gem, but I feel it's only used to imitate other gems and not showcase its natural beauty. I absolutely disliked when it's dyed in different colors. To me, it looks so fake.

I only choose the gem, when it is featured in its natural white color. It deserves to be cast in gold with diamonds as accent stones. Why not?

What do you think? Share your opinions.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

millieshops — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:04:39 GMT

@MarguiI stopped buying jewelry at least 6 years ago, but shortly before that, Chico's sold an assortment of jewelry featuring howlite. I loved lots of it and added a few pieces to my bead collection. They were, of course, costume - my pieces have no sparkles - it's the howlite that attracts.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

depglass — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:09:28 GMT

Howlite has been presented as fake turquoise over the years and I can never get that thought out of my head. So I wait for real turquoise.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Lavenderjunkie — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:15:01 GMT

Howlite is an intersting looking stone. But I seem to recall that it's not very hard. That means in a necklace, pendant or earrings, it might be fine. But get more information before investing in this stone for rings or bracelets, since those are exposed to harder wear.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

SilleeMee — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:15:23 GMT

Howlite is a very soft stone with a hardness of about 3.5 and it's super porous. So it is perfect to take up dye and resins to make it more durable for use in jewelry. Just as a comparison, turq has a hardness of about 5 to 6 before stabilization.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Margui — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:34:39 GMT

My faceted howlite earrings set in Sterling silver. I got them on Etsy. I love them. I will plan to get more non-dyed howlite pieces.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

SilleeMee — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:42:40 GMT

@Margui wrote:
My faceted howlite earrings set in Sterling silver. I got them on Etsy. I love them. I will plan to get more non-dyed howlite pieces.

Natural and unstabilized Howlite cannot be faceted like those earrings. Those faceted stones must have been cut from resin-treated Howlite rough. Otherwise they would have just crumbled.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Margui — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:52:24 GMT

@SilleeMee I think they are stabilized, like turquoise does, but the gem is still have its natural color. I don't mind stabilization. The issue is the dying of this gem. I will never buy a dyed howlite jewelry, the gem looks horrible, it's ruined.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

SilleeMee — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:01:42 GMT

LOL! Have you ever noticed how some turq stones feel like plastic?? That's because they have so much resin in them that they are only partially genuine turq. I realize that stabilization needs to be done but it also adds weight to the stone and you end up paying for an expensive piece of plastic resin.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Margui — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:24:56 GMT

@SilleeMee : LOL! I noticed that! ShopLC uses the Zachery treatment for the turquoise, according to the website. But let's stay in topic. I don't want to talk too much about turquoise in a thread about howlite.

Do you own any howlite pieces?

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

anin — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:27:49 GMT

lol . some of them feel like plastic

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

sunshine 919 — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:28:28 GMT

@Margui wrote:
My faceted howlite earrings set in Sterling silver. I got them on Etsy. I love them. I will plan to get more non-dyed howlite pieces.

Those earrings are pretty and they look very well made. The silver is impressive. Nice.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Margui — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:31:16 GMT

@sunshine 919 : Thank you.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

SilleeMee — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:39:24 GMT

@Margui wrote:
@SilleeMee : LOL! I noticed that! ShopLC uses the Zachery treatment for the turquoise, according to the website. But let's stay in topic. I don't want to talk too much about turquoise in a thread about howlite.
Do you own any howlite pieces?

I do own Howlite pieces. But all of it is dyed, mostly in red to mimic red coral.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 20:10:28 GMT

Howlite a gem? That's the first I've heard it called a gemstone. It's no more a gem than a hunk of clay is a gem. It's useless and is sold by the dump truck load. It would never have cone to our attention if it didn't have a matrix that slightly resembles that of turquoise. It's chalky texture makes it easy to dye, hence counterfeit turquoise. I don't want it under my roof, much less my jewelry box.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Sweetbay magnolia — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 20:19:58 GMT

The only reason I like howlite is because there's not enough jewlelry done with white agate, a favorite of mine.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

sunshine 919 — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 03:39:31 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Howlite a gem? That's the first I've heard it called a gemstone. It's no more a gem than a hunk of clay is a gem. It's useless and is sold by the dump truck load. It would never have cone to our attention if it didn't have a matrix that slightly resembles that of turquoise. It's chalky texture makes it easy to dye, hence counterfeit turquoise. I don't want it under my roof, much less my jewelry box.

Wow tell us how you really feel. lol

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Margui — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 06:07:29 GMT

@sunshine 919 : Yes. You are right. And don't buy useless things. If Howlite, was useless like Kachina624 it won't be considered a gem, nor as an imitator of more expensive gems.

The white buffalo stone is really Howlite and it is not cheap.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Margui — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 06:24:38 GMT

@Kachina624 @Well, it is. If Howlite was garbage, the miners would not bother to take out the stone. Or put it in a precious metal like Sterling Silver. And I don't buy garbage. 😡 Nor the seller that worked hard to make a piece of jewelry using this gem.

You think the only gemstones are the classic Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald and Diamond. There are more gems that we have not idea they exist. I don't know how old are you, but you need to read more books about gemstones.

Re: Howlite: Thoughts about this gem.

Lavenderjunkie — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 14:29:26 GMT

Jewelry is an accessory, bought and worn for pleasure. It can be valuable or not, it can be expensive or not. Each of us gets to decide what is right for us.... both financially and in terms of the benefit (pleasure) we derive from owning and wear a particular item. How long an item will last, does it have an 'intrinsic' value, etc. are factors to consider, but not the only things that go into making a decision.

When someone asks a question about a particular item or stone, I try to provide information so that they can make the best decision for themselves. What might make sense, or be right or wrong for me, or work with my finances or life style, are not the issue. Some posters will comment on whether they like an item and others will provide info based on their prior experiences.

There are a lot of voices today that are encouraging a move to classics and away from disposable or fast fashion. The trends are swinging away from collecting and toward minimalism.... for financial and for environmental reasons. It's not that these are new ideas, but they are getting much more notice now. Maybe they will help balance out the pressures to buy the latest item or things with designer names.

Gather your information and make the decision that is right for you. There is no need to defend your position... it's your right to make decisions for yourself. The rest of us don't know anything about your financial situation. I could create any number of possible examples to explain why someone should or should not buy a particular item. But I think it's more helpful to provide what ever information and facts I have so that they can make the decision that works for them.

Hopefully everyone will evaluate all the considerations and make educated choices. I know that I've learned more over the years and would make different choices today than I did years ago. And I bet I still make a few bad choices, hopefully really small ones.