Howlite: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Howlite - known for its white to cream base colour with fine grey grain - stands for a calm, minimalist look and modern elegance. As howlite jewellery it brings bright, clean accents to everyday and business looks and can be perfectly combined with silver, stainless steel and rose gold.

In this guide you will learn what characterises howlite, how genuine howlite can be recognised, how to care for howlite jewellery properly and which pieces of jewellery with howlite are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: Symbolic and spiritual meanings of the howlite come from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically proven and do not replace medical advice.

• Howlite is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide with the chemical formula Ca₂B₅SiO₉(OH)₅.
• Typical are white to cream-coloured tones with grey to black, net-like veins.
• Howlite is used in jewellery comparatively soft and therefore somewhat more sensitive than quartz stones.
• Due to its porous structure Howlite is often coloured, especially as a imitation turquoise.
• The following are sufficient for care: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth.

Howlite is a favourite because of its bright, calm aura and its light, modern look is particularly popular for elegant genuine stone jewellery. Discover real stone chains, real stone earrings and real stone bracelets with a natural look. You can also find many designs in our FINE EDITION and in models of the Birthstone collection.

Howlite is a boron-containing mineral and does not belong mineralogically to the quartz group. Characteristic is its white to ivory-coloured base with fine grey or black veins, which give it a marbled, often net-like appearance. This pattern makes howlite in jewellery particularly striking and at the same time very calm in its effect.

Howlite is typically formed in borate-rich, evaporitic deposits and usually comes in compact, bulbous aggregates present. Large, clear crystals are rare. In jewellery, howlite is particularly popular because of its light colour, its comparatively low weight and its comfortable wearability. At the same time, however, howlite is significantly more scratch-sensitive than many other gemstones in your encyclopaedia.

Natural howlite is usually white to cream-coloured and shows a grey to black grain. It is precisely this natural pattern that makes the stone so attractive for purist and minimalist jewellery designs.

However, howlite is also frequently found in the trade coloured especially in turquoise blue to imitate the look of turquoise. This use is common, but should always be clearly declared as such. Optical confusion with magnesite may occur, as both materials can appear similarly bright and veined.

Howlite was only described in the 19th century and is therefore historically not a classic antique jewellery stone like agate or amethyst. The mineral was named after the Canadian chemist and geologist Henry How. Howlite later gained popularity in modern jewellery in particular because its light, veined surface goes very well with clear, minimalist designs.

To this day, howlite in jewellery stands for a form of calm, modern clarity which combines well with silver, stainless steel, rose gold and light-coloured stone materials. Howlite looks light, fresh and contemporary, especially in minimalist looks. This stylistic categorisation also fits in very well with your current brand aesthetic on the existing site.

Howlite has a light-coloured base, which is often characterised by fine darker veins or filling lines. This irregular grain creates the typical, slightly marbled impression. It is precisely this natural pattern that makes genuine howlite visually interesting and easily recognisable.

Because howlite also porous it absorbs dyes comparatively well. This is why it is often dyed blue, green or other colours in the trade to visually imitate more expensive materials - particularly Turquoise. This is standard practice in the industry, but should be stated transparently become.

Anyone who wants to buy howlite jewellery should look out for some typical characteristics. Genuine howlite usually shows a natural, irregular veining, a rather silky to matt surface and a light, non-artificial base colour. Very uniform, bright blue or strongly turquoise-coloured variants are common coloured howlite and not natural stone.

Pay attention to:

• Natural grain: irregular and organic, not as printed.
• Bright, calm colour effect: White to cream instead of artificially bright.
• Clear declaration: coloured howlite should also be labelled as such.
• Careful polishing: Clean surfaces and well-finished drill holes speak for quality.
• Trusted dealers: Transparent material specifications are particularly important for howlite.

Howlite is a decorative natural stone, but should be treated a little more carefully in everyday life than harder quartz stones. So that howlite jewellery stays beautiful for a long time – simple care steps are recommended. The following are sufficient for cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. The piece of jewellery should then be rinsed briefly and dried carefully.

Avoid ultrasound, steam cleaners, aggressive chemicals and prolonged soaking. With coloured howlite strong heat, alcohol and direct sunlight are also unfavourable, as the colour can be affected over time. It is best to store howlite jewellery separately in a soft pouch or case so that harder metals or stones do not cause scratches.