Turquoise is now howlite

nucci60 Senior Member Senior Geek

Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Amesbury Ma. Posts: 267 Real Name: Bob

turquoise is now howlite?

Bought the turquoise watch (0109) a few months ago. It was presented as a "genuine" turquoise dial. This morning (12/20) ,The shop, with Michael , is now calling it a HOWLITE dial, which is not genuine turquoise. dial or was it always fake? __________________

nucci60

#2 Today, 09:48 AM

"things that make you go Hmmmm! Did they change the

goldie'sdad Senior Member Super Geek

Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Antonio / Austin, Texas Posts: 1,561 Real Name: Scott

Maybe the first batch were turquoise and they changed the dail based upon what they had available. goldie'sdad

#3 Today, 10:10 AM

jeane519 Junior Member New Geek

Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Imperial Beach, CA Posts: 22 Real Name: Kristine

Whenever I looked at it online, it was shown as howlite. Daniel did call it turquoise when on ShopNBC 12-19-10. I will venture to say that it has always been howlite, which is a common substitute for turquoise in the jewelry industry. You can find a lot of information about turquoise substitutes on the internet. __________________ jeane519/Kristine jeane519

#4 Today, 10:21 AM

Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 4,614 Real Name: Jim B

the B Senior Member Master WatchGeek

Bet you are Right Quote: Originally Posted by jeane519 Whenever I looked at it online, it was shown as howlite. Daniel did call it turquoise when on ShopNBC 12-19-10. I will venture to say that it has always been howlite, which is a common substitute for turquoise in the jewelry industry. You can find a lot of information about turquoise substitutes on the internet.

Sounds abut right! __________________

PEACE TO ALL the B

#5 Today, 10:38 AM mrblue Senior Member Master WatchGeek

Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,432

Bob .. you may want to ask Eyal next time he does a chat with us on this forum ... Blue mrblue #6 Today, 10:41 AM TimLovesWatches Senior Member Super Geek

Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Enola Pennsylvania Posts: 2,052 Real Name: Tim

Quote: Originally Posted by mrblue Bob .. you may want to ask Eyal next time he does a chat with us on this forum ... Blue Any idea when the next chat might be?? __________________ Never forget those who are serving to keep our way of life.

TimLovesWatches #7 Today, 10:55 AM

nucci60 Senior Member Senior Geek

Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Amesbury Ma. Posts: 267 Real Name: Bob

Quote: Originally Posted by jeane519 Whenever I looked at it online, it was shown as howlite. Daniel did call it turquoise when on ShopNBC 12-19-10. I will venture to say that it has always been howlite, which is a common substitute for turquoise in the jewelry industry. You can find a lot of information about turquoise substitutes on the internet.

You may be correct that it was always Howlite, but it WAS advertised as genuine turquoise. I have had this since the summer. If you look up "howlite", it is used as an inexpensive (cheap)

substitue for the real article. __________________

nucci60 View Public Profile Send a private message to nucci60 Send email to nucci60 Find all posts by nucci60 Add nucci60 to Your Contacts #8 Today, 11:01 AM

Flyback Senior Member True WatchGeek

Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern CA Posts: 20,583 Real Name: Brad

Couldn't resist finding out more about Howlite.

Howlite, scientifically called a calcium borosilicate hydroxide, is a silicate mineral often used to replicate turquoise. In nature, the stone is white or grey with dark stripes. Although the mineral is often legitimately sold, it is occasionally pawned by dealers as real turquoise, which raises the price considerably.

The mineral was discovered by and named for Henry How, a 19th century Canadian geologist.

Initial deposits of howlite were found in How’s native Nova Scotia, but have since been

uncovered in Southern California as well. The mineral is now generally mined for its use as an imitation stone, although some New Age practices use undyed stones for meditation.

The mineral has a porous structure that allows it to accept dyes uncommonly well. Because of the characteristic streaks found in turquoise, howlite makes an excellent substitute. The Mohs scale hardness of the mineral is only 3.5, considerably lower than the average turquoise hardness of 5-6. This rating means that the imitation is more likely to be scratched or fractured than the authentic stone.

Other than this difference, the two stones are nearly identical, and some claim that even jewelers have difficulty telling them apart in absence of ultra-violet (UV) testing. In UV tests, howlite often appears to give off colored fluorescent glows. It also dissolves quickly in hydrochloric acid without causing bubbling, something turquoise will not do.

In recent years, howlite has been used as a substitute for several other minerals. The similarly streaky lapis lazuli is a much darker blue than turquoise, but howlite’s porous surface can soak up enough dye to make a worthy substitute. The mineral also can be dyed to make an excellent imitation of red coral. This last use has caused great happiness among environmental activists, as the harvesting of coral for commercial purposes has shown to cause severe and lasting damage to underwater ecosystems. __________________

If n = the number of watches you have, then n + 1 = the number of watches you need!

Flyback View Public Profile Send a private message to Flyback Find all posts by Flyback Add Flyback to Your Contacts #9 Today, 11:51 AM

407guy Senior Member Senior Geek

Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: 407 area code Posts: 496

Oh boy... how long before someone posts this is just another "circling black helicopters" issue?

Anyway, to the OP, the only way you are going to know is pull the watch part and have it looked at. Bummer for you if it's not what you thought you had bought. Good luck though.

Well, looked at Amazon and this is what they have for the watch...

Textured accents and a bold dial give the Invicta Men's Collection Stainless Steel Turquoise Stone Dial Watch eye-catching style in an easy-to-read design. The round silver-tone stainless steel case and unidirectional bezel feature a glossy polish, and the bezel displays Arabic numerals at the 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-minute positions. A turquoise blue dial displays luminous silver-tone rectangular quarter-hour indices, luminous silver-tone round indices at each remaining hour position, and the Arabic numeral 12 at 12 o'clock. The thick silver-tone luminous hour, minute, spade-shaped second hand, and an outside minute track add to the simple reading of this timepiece. A polished silver-tone stainless steel bracelet features textured center links and securely fastens by a fold-over clasp with safety. This timepiece offers reliable Swiss quartz movement and is protected by a durable flame-fusion crystal. The watch is water resistant to a depth of 330 feet (100 meters).

. __________________ My watch collection supports race car divers, pilots and sailing regattas. Personal timepiece axiom: quality over quantity.

Last edited by 407guy; Today at 11:56 AM. Reason: added Amazon info 407guy View Public Profile Send a private message to 407guy Send email to 407guy Find all posts by 407guy

Add 407guy to Your Contacts #10 Today, 11:53 AM secondplace Senior Member Senior Geek

Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 198

Quote: Originally Posted by nucci60 You may be correct that it was always Howlite, but it WAS advertised as genuine turquoise. I have had this since the summer. If you look up "howlite", it is used as an inexpensive (cheap) substitue for the real article.

IF true, this is disturbing and appears to follow a pattern. With the recent issues that I have read about here where Swiss(sometimes)=Chinese(?) , Sandstone= Goldstone(?), and now Turquoise=Howlite(?) This is just wrong no matter how you slice it intentional or not. SHOP has a duty to it's customers to be clear what you are buying. If the vendor is giving them bad information and has done so before then they should vet the information more closely. You should expect to get what you pay for no matter what the price. Truth in advertising seems to be just a suggestion these days (not just at SHOP). What's next, meteorite= the engine block of your uncles 57' Chevy? Caveat Emptor.

Good luck with this issue. Hopefully it is resolved to your satisfaction. __________________ The difference between ignorance and apathy? I don't know and I don't care!

Last edited by secondplace; Today at 11:58 AM. Reason: addition to post secondplace View Public Profile Send a private message to secondplace Find all posts by secondplace Add secondplace to Your Contacts #11 Today, 11:58 AM Arifani247 Senior Member Senior Geek

Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Orange NJ Posts: 417

Real Name: Luke

If it was my watch, I'd call Invicta and ask...is it turquoise or is it howlite...they should be able to tell you from model number and purchase date. I think it would be interesting to find out and then post the answer.

Arifani247 View Public Profile Send a private message to Arifani247 Send email to Arifani247 Find all posts by Arifani247 Add Arifani247 to Your Contacts #12 Today, 12:19 PM

nucci60 Senior Member Senior Geek

Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Amesbury Ma. Posts: 267 Real Name: Bob

Quote: Originally Posted by Flyback Couldn't resist finding out more about Howlite.

Howlite, scientifically called a calcium borosilicate hydroxide, is a silicate mineral often used to replicate turquoise. In nature, the stone is white or grey with dark stripes. Although the mineral is often legitimately sold, it is occasionally pawned by dealers as real turquoise, which raises the price considerably.

The mineral was discovered by and named for Henry How, a 19th century Canadian geologist.

Initial deposits of howlite were found in How’s native Nova Scotia, but have since been uncovered in Southern California as well. The mineral is now generally mined for its use as an imitation stone, although some New Age practices use undyed stones for meditation.

The mineral has a porous structure that allows it to accept dyes uncommonly well. Because of the characteristic streaks found in turquoise, howlite makes an excellent substitute. The Mohs

scale hardness of the mineral is only 3.5, considerably lower than the average turquoise hardness of 5-6. This rating means that the imitation is more likely to be scratched or fractured than the authentic stone.

Other than this difference, the two stones are nearly identical, and some claim that even jewelers have difficulty telling them apart in absence of ultra-violet (UV) testing. In UV tests, howlite often appears to give off colored fluorescent glows. It also dissolves quickly in hydrochloric acid without causing bubbling, something turquoise will not do.

In recent years, howlite has been used as a substitute for several other minerals. The similarly streaky lapis lazuli is a much darker blue than turquoise, but howlite’s porous surface can soak up enough dye to make a worthy substitute. The mineral also can be dyed to make an excellent imitation of red coral. This last use has caused great happiness among environmental activists, as the harvesting of coral for commercial purposes has shown to cause severe and lasting damage to underwater ecosystems.

Good info. Thanks Flyback __________________

nucci60 View Public Profile Send a private message to nucci60 Send email to nucci60 Find all posts by nucci60 Add nucci60 to Your Contacts #13 Today, 12:39 PM Hawk404 Member Member Geek

Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 49

Quote: Originally Posted by 407guy Oh boy... how long before someone posts this is just another "circling black helicopters" issue?

Anyway, to the OP, the only way you are going to know is pull the watch part and have it looked at. Bummer for you if it's not what you thought you had bought. Good luck though.

<snip> I wonder if the UV check in Flyback's post would still work even though the howlite is dyed?

That'd save tearing the thing up.

If it is, and always was, howlite perhaps the lapis and red coral versions will follow? It'd probably make a pretty serviceable jade look-alike as well.

Hawk404 View Public Profile Send a private message to Hawk404 Find all posts by Hawk404 Add Hawk404 to Your Contacts #14 Today, 01:18 PM Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,048 warpig Senior Member Super Geek

I'm sure the howlite was meant for Invicta's international markets, whereas the Shop got the

good stuff. __________________ Ah, pigs: an omnivorous, domesticated, cloven-hoof vertebrate that defecates the same place it consumes.