Skip to content
WHOLESALE BLOG FAQ SHOWS LIVE SALES

Howlite Beads

Howlite beads are the chalk-white stone with gray spiderweb veining — a soft, porcelain white that reads as marble in a strand. White howlite is the natural stone; the blue turquoise howlite on the market is the same mineral dyed. A matte finish flattens the white and shows the veining most, a polish warms it, and a faceted cut gives it edges to catch light. It is the clean neutral against silver and oxidized metal, and beside turquoise or pyrite it is the quiet one.

Products: 27

This is a Dakota Stones 4x6mm White Howlite Corner Gemstone strand with table-cut cube beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 4x6mm White Howlite Corner Gemstone strand with table-cut cube beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 4x6mm Corner Drilled Table Cut Cube Bead - 15-16 Inch

$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Cut Gemstone strand with coin star beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Cut Gemstone strand with coin star beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 8mm Star Cut Coin - 15-16 Inch

$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
This is a Dakota Stones 12x13mm White Howlite Hexagon Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 12x13mm White Howlite Hexagon Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 12x13mm Faceted Hexagon - 15-16 Inch

$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
This is a Dakota Stones 4x6mm White Howlite Triangle Cut Rice Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 4x6mm White Howlite Triangle Cut Rice Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 4x6mm Faceted Triangle Cut Rice - 15-16 Inch

$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
This is a Dakota Stones 7x8mm White Howlite Swirl Gemstone strand with faceted oval beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 7x8mm White Howlite Swirl Gemstone strand with faceted oval beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 7x8mm Faceted Swirl Oval - 15-16 Inch

$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
This is a Dakota Stones 13mm White Howlite Clover Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 13mm White Howlite Clover Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 13mm Faceted Clover - 15-16 Inch

$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
This is a Dakota Stones 3x6mm White Howlite Thin Gemstone strand with heishi beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 3x6mm White Howlite Thin Gemstone strand with heishi beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 3x6mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
This is a Dakota Stones 14x18mm White Howlite Dove Gemstone strand of round beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 14x18mm White Howlite Dove Gemstone strand of round beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 14x18mm Dove - 15-16 Inch

$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
This is a Dakota Stones 2x4mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with heishi beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 2x4mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with heishi beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 2x4mm Heishi - 15-16 Inch

$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 8mm Round - 15-16 Inch

$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 6mm Round - 15-16 Inch

$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Hexagon Gemstone strand of round beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Hexagon Gemstone strand of round beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 6mm Hexagon - 15-16 Inch

$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with cross beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with cross beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 8mm Cross - 15-16 Inch

$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with faceted rondelle beads in 8 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with faceted rondelle beads in 8 inch strand.

White Howlite 8mm Faceted Rondelle - 8-Inch

$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Bicone Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Bicone Gemstone strand with faceted beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 8mm Faceted Bicone - 15-16 Inch

$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
This is a Dakota Stones 2x4mm White Howlite Tube Gemstone strand of round beads in 15-16 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 2x4mm White Howlite Tube Gemstone strand of round beads in 15-16 inch strand.

White Howlite 2x4mm Tube Beads - 15-16 Inch

$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Large Hole Large Gemstone strand with matte round beads.
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Large Hole Large Gemstone strand with matte round beads.
Large Hole

White Howlite 6mm Round Matte Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch - CLEARANCE

$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Large Hole Large Gemstone strand with round beads.
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Large Hole Large Gemstone strand with round beads.
Large Hole

White Howlite 6mm Round Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch

$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
MATTE White Howlite 8mm Large Hole Round 8-Inch
MATTE White Howlite 8mm Large Hole Round 8-Inch
Large Hole

MATTE White Howlite 8mm Large Hole Round 8-Inch

$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Large Hole Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.
Large Hole

White Howlite 8mm Large Hole Round 8-Inch

$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
This is a Dakota Stones White Howlite pendant from the Dakota Stones collection.
This is a Dakota Stones White Howlite pendant from the Dakota Stones collection.

White Howlite 40mm Donut Pendant

$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
This is a Dakota Stones 30mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with coin beads in 8 inch strand.

White Howlite 30mm Coin 8-Inch

$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
This is a Dakota Stones 5x15mm White Howlite Flat Gemstone strand with chip beads in 8 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 5x15mm White Howlite Flat Gemstone strand with chip beads in 8 inch strand.

White Howlite 5x15mm Flat Chip 8-Inch - CLEARANCE

$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00
$11.00
$11.00 - $11.00
$11.00
This is a Dakota Stones 10mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 10mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

White Howlite 10mm Round 8-Inch

$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 8mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

White Howlite 8mm Round - 8-Inch

$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
This is a Dakota Stones 12mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with square beads in 8 inch strand.

White Howlite 12mm Square 8-Inch

$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.
This is a Dakota Stones 6mm White Howlite Gemstone strand with round beads in 8 inch strand.

White Howlite 6mm Round - 8-Inch

$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

White Howlite is named for Canadian mineralogist Henry How, who first discovered the stone in Southern California in 1868. It is typically white or...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

About this stone

Color
WhiteGray
Origin
USACanada (Nova Scotia)MexicoRussia
Mohs hardness
3.5
Treatment categories
NaturalDyed
Industry-standard treatment
Often dyed blue and sold as a turquoise substitute; natural white howlite has gray-to-black matrix veining
Mineral chemistry
Calcium borosilicate hydroxide Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5
Crystal system
Monoclinic
Stone family
Borate
Common cuts
RoundFaceted Round
Common sizes
4mm6mm8mm10mm
Care notes
Soft (Mohs 3.5). Avoid ultrasonic, steam, harsh chemicals; mild soap and soft cloth only. Dyed material can transfer color with solvents.
Related stones
Magnesite, Turquoise (commonly substituted by dyed howlite)

Frequently asked questions

  • Is howlite a real stone?
    Yes — howlite is a naturally occurring mineral, a calcium borosilicate hydroxide first described in 1868 by Canadian chemist Henry How in Nova Scotia. Most bead-grade material today comes from the western United States, principally California, with smaller deposits in Mexico and Russia. The confusion around howlite usually comes from the dyed-blue version sold as turquoise: the howlite itself is a real natural mineral, but when it's dyed blue and labeled "turquoise," what's being misrepresented is the species, not the existence of the stone. Natural howlite is white with gray-to-black spiderweb veining.
  • Is howlite the same as turquoise?
    No — they are completely different minerals. Turquoise is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate (Mohs 5–6) that forms naturally in blue and blue-green. Howlite is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide (Mohs ~3.5) that forms naturally in white with gray or black veining. Howlite is dyed blue to imitate turquoise because its white porous structure takes dye uniformly and inexpensively. Real turquoise and dyed howlite can look similar at a glance but differ in price, hardness, and veining geometry.
  • How can I tell dyed howlite from real turquoise?
    Three signals. Price is the first and most reliable: real turquoise of comparable size and color saturation costs many times more than dyed howlite. Veining pattern is the second: howlite's veining is irregular and spiderweb-like; turquoise matrix patterns differ by deposit but generally show different geometry. The third is dye behavior at the drill hole — dyed howlite sometimes shows lighter or whiter material exposed at the drill where the bead was cut after dyeing.
  • How durable is howlite for daily wear?
    Howlite is Mohs ~3.5 — soft, and softer than most of the stones designers work with. It is suitable for necklaces, earrings, and light-wear bracelets; less suitable for rings or heavy-wear bracelets where constant impact and abrasion will scuff the surfaces. Avoid stringing howlite with hard abrasive beads that will scratch it on the same strand. Clean with a soft cloth and mild soap; avoid ultrasonics and steam, especially on dyed strands where prolonged solvent exposure can leach the dye.
  • What sizes and cuts do howlite beads come in?
    Rounds carry the range — 4mm and 6mm for spacing and bracelets, 8mm as the everyday size, 10mm for statement strands — polished, matte, faceted, or star-cut. Beyond rounds: 2x4mm and 3x6mm heishi, tubes, table-cut cubes, hexagons, clovers, crosses, doves, stars, bicones, faceted and rough nuggets, 30mm coins, double-drilled tabs, donut pendants, and mala beads. Large-hole rounds and heishi come on 8-inch strands. At Mohs 3.5, smooth cuts wear better than sharp facets in pieces that take knocks.