Howlite, or how the turquoise got so complicated

Howlite is commonly used to make decorative objects such as small carvings or jewelry components. Normally howlite is off-white to ivory in color. 

Because of its porous texture, howlite can be easily dyed to imitate other minerals, especially turquoise.

And so, the little disclaimer was born. 

"Some porous stones get dyed to enhance color, normal water hand washing or showering will not change properties of the stones. It's a normal practice for minerals with hardness on the Moh's scale less than 6. 

If you really need to check if the mineral is dyed, take a smallest cotton swab you have, daub in acetone (strong nail polish remover) and put a small dot somewhere hidden, not usually visible. If you see even a little discoloration, it was dyed. Again, minerals being dyed is a normal practice, and not a reason to return the piece."

Because one smartass resided to BOIL the piece to determine if it was dyed, and send the pictures of the process to me, and when I offered to kindly boil his mothers jewelry he (or she, I don't know for sure, just feels like a girl would have a bit more care for jewelry) replied: 

 

I don't know what it means, but I just leave it here, for everybody to enjoy. 

The actual jewelry rape 

CAUTION : Graphic Content

You can see by the bubbles, the water is starting to boil. 

I don't know the level if intelligence of that person, but with friends like these enemies are redundant. 

The ring in question is sapphire ore, normally is unassuming gray, got enhanced to look more dramatic.