Howlite Turquoise
 25 pcs colorful Howlite Turquoise Skull Loose Bead 9 color Free choice US $3.79 
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 Wholesale 100PCS Multicolor Howlite Turquoise Carved Skull Loose Beads Fingdings US $16.88
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 gorgeous colourful howlite turquoise 32pcs mini star loose beads NL0756 US $2.49
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 Wholesale 10 50 100pcs Skull Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Loose Beads As131 141 US $12.31
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 13x12mm Colorful Howlite Turquoise Skull Loose Beads 15 L US $3.98
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 Blue Turquoise Howlite Gem Rice Beads 25x10mm Strand HOT US $5.49
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 White Carved Skull Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Loose Beads Strand For Jewelry US $3.32
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 Cool Colorful skull Howlite Turquoise Loose Beads US $3.99
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 blue Howlite Turquoise 6 12mm Chips Baroque Beads 34 US $2.81
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 20 50mm UNIQUE DYED HOWLITE TURQUOISE SPIKE Loose Beads US $14.50
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 As060 50PCS MIX COLOUR HOWLITE TURQUOISE SKULL SPACER BEADS US $12.18
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 8mm Deep Sky Blue Turquoise Howlite Gemstone Round Loose Beads 1 Strand 16 L US $6.98
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 4mm 6mm 8mm 10mm 12mm 14mm Blue Howlite Turquoise Round Beads 15 US $4.88
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 15 Gemstone 32X Black Howlite Turquoise Carved Skull Loose Beads Gems Findings US $5.99
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 5x20 5x50mm Blue Howlite Turquoise Graduated Loose Beads 185 US $9.99
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 Gorgeous turquoise howlite disc beads 12mm x3mm US $3.65
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 FRE SHIP Different Shape Dyed Colorful Howlite Gemstone Turquoise Loose Beads US $71.48
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 6x10mm Howlite Turquoise Stripes Abacus Gemstone Beads US $5.89
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 colorful Howlite Turquoise Skull Loose Beads 32pcs US $4.99
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 Set Red Howlite Turquoise Stick Beads Fit Pendant 11pc US $2.99
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 Red Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Spike Loose Bead 18L US $9.97
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 New 20Pcs Howlite Turquoise Heart Shape Charm Spacer Beads 12mm 128 US $1.97
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 smooth round blue stripe howlite turquoise Beads 15 US $4.31
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 8x30MM Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Leaf Loose Beads Strand 16L US $9.99
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 5 Strand Colorful Round Natural Turquoise Howlite Gem Loose Beads 4mm B974 US $11.48
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 5 Strand Yellow Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Butterfly Loose Beads 35mm B966 US $58.48
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 16x20mm23x26mm Natural Howlite Turquoise Oval Gemstone Beads 5pcs US $69.00
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 0327 49mm Howlite turquoise graduated loose beads 185 US $10.00
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 Wholesale 100PC Mix Howlite Turquoise Carved Skull Bead US $16.88
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 5 Strand Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Purple Butterfly Loose Beads 35mm B967 US $58.48
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 100pcs Black Howlite Turquoise Carved Skull Loose Beads US $16.88
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 20x23mm Howlite Turquoise Flat Oval Carven Beads 15 US $13.50
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 5 Strand Colorful Howlite Turquoise Gem Butterfly Loose Beads 35mm B968 US $58.48
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 6mm Pink White Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Round Beads 1 Strand 15 L Free Ship US $4.88
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 Wholesale 100PCS Charm Green Howlite Turquoise Carved Skull Loose Beads Findings US $16.88
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 6mm Multicolor Turquoise Howlite Round Loose Beads Jewelry Finding 1 Strand US $4.88
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 As142 16L Mix SKULL Howlite Turquoise Spacer Loose Beads US $3.48
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 White Turquoise Howlite Skull Carved Loose Beads 155L US $3.22
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 Howlite Blue Turquoise 30x22mm Cross Beads 16 Strand US $5.99
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 As143 16L Mix SKULL Howlite Turquoise Spacer Loose Beads US $3.48
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 smooth round blue howlite turquoise loose Beads 15 US $6.99
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 Red Howlite Turquoise Gradual Stick Beads 11pc Loose For Pendant US $2.98
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 12mm Blue Howlite Turquoise Round Gemstone Beads 15 US $4.50
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 5X10MM Howlite Turquoise Chip Loose Beads Gemstone 1 Strand 16L US $4.59
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 18X18MM Howlite Turquoise Heart Loose Beads Gem Strand 16L US $5.99
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 Red Howlite Turquoise Gemstone Needle Necklace 18L US $9.49
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 Strand of 12 GEMSTONE ZUNI BEAR BEADS 13mm x 18mm YOUR CHOICE US $6.25
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 18X18MM Red Howlite Turquoise Heart Loose Beads Gemstone Strand 16L US $6.59
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"White Buffalo Turquoise" jewelry related....?
Ok - first question - "White Buffalo Turquoise" is not REALLY turquoise at all, right? I can't remember if it's 'howlite' or something like that?
Second, does anyone know where to find this stone set in jewelry - preferably made by Native Americans in the Southwestern US? (and at a reasonable price?)
Thanks for your input...
"White Buffalo" Turquoise
When discovered in the Dry Creek Mine, north of Austin, Nevada, in 1993, they were not sure what it was. Because of its hardness, it was decided to send it in to be assayed and their suspicions proved correct; it was in fact White Turquoise. It was not until 1996, however, that it was finally made into jewelry.
The chemical name for Turquoise is Aluma Phosphate which, in its pure chemical state, is white. Turquoise takes on color via an intrusion of either copper or iron. In the case of Dry Creek ore, the slight coloration, when present, is the result of copper. The more intrusion, the darker the color.
Blue turquoise forms where there is copper present, which is the case with most Arizona turquoises. Green turquoise forms where iron is present, the case with most Nevada turquoises. White Turquoise forms where there are no heavy metals present, which turns out to be a very rare occurrence. To date, no other vein of gem quality white turquoise has been discovered anywhere else in the world. When this current vein runs out, that will be the last of it. Because White Turquoise is as rare as a white buffalo, the Indians call it "White Buffalo" Turquoise. The White Turquoise is itself considered sacred and powerful. The jewelry-making is an honoring or tribute to the "White Buffalo" Turquoise.
Fine Jewelry to Fashion Jewelry - The Transition
Why is fashion jewelry so popular today? Well, to answer that question, we need to examine what the wearer is hoping to accomplish by wearing this jewelry. To a large extent, we find that people wear fashion jewelry because they want to stand out from the crowd by wearing a truly unique one-of-a-kind piece of costume jewelry. One way to go would perhaps be to wear a hand-made custom piece of jewelry designed by a well-known artist. While many hand made pieces are quite beautiful and will likely garner you several compliments, you would likely have to be willing to pay a pretty penny for the piece. The other option would be to wear contemporary, trendy and striking jewelry - perhaps a fashion necklace - that will also draw an observer’s attention. Vibrantly colored designs usually suggest a fun and extroverted personality. Contemporary styles indicate a trendy and perhaps artistic person.
In the world of fashion today, stepping from a classic and probably piece of fine jewelry, to a more affordable piece of fashion jewelry along the same theme can be surprisingly easy. Take for example, that quintessential piece of classic jewelry – a white pearl bracelet. A single strand of matched natural pearls can cost hundreds of dollars, and would fall into the fine jewelry category. In the fashion jewelry version of the same piece, the designer would probably use cultured pearls and therefore be able to sell the bracelet for less than twenty dollars! In the context of pearl bracelets, there are two styles that are particularly popular today. The first includes a sterling silver chain that forms the spine for the bracelet. From this chain hang small and colorful freshwater button pearls. The colored pearls give the bracelet a bohemian look. The second popular style uses baroque pearls. Baroque pearls do not have a regular shape because as they develop within the oyster’s shell, they are stuck to the inside wall. These misshapen pearls are usually dyed and used to make necklaces and bracelets. Baroque pearl jewelry usually has a fun and trendy look.
A similar approach and philosophy is used in designing and creating fashion necklaces. Popular designs for fashion necklaces today have large chunky beads. If you were to use natural turquoise as the stone, a necklace would two or three hundred carats of natural turquoise would run you a few hundred dollars. Even if the designer used stabilized turquoise, the necklace would still be priced at over one hundred dollars. For the fashion jewelry version of this same piece, the designer would likely use pieces of howlite dyed to look like turquoise. You could probably buy the necklace for less than thirty dollars, and no one other than the designer and owner – you – would ever know that it wasn’t genuine turquoise! With a bit of imagination and some scouring of online and local jewelry stores, making the transition from expensive fashion jewelry to more affordable fashion jewelry can be quite painless!
About the Author
Dale is a geo-professional in the Southwestern United States, and an avid and amateur gemmologist and a fashion jewelry buff.