Like the glimmering eye of a Royal Bengal tiger, the tiger's eye jewel is captivating. With a radiant shine that makes it difficult to ignore, this gemstone is one of the most recognizable jewels. Its signature looks and hardness makes the tiger's eye crystal the perfect gem to add to your jewelry box.

Tiger's eye has been used over the centuries as a good luck charm, a talisman for strength, and in haute couture as fine jewelry and accessories. It's perfect for you if you're looking to collect these gems for your collection. It's also desirable if you have ambitions of crafting something unique with it.

What Is Tiger's Eye?

Tiger's eye is a pseudomorph of quartz. Blue asbestos, called crocidolite, turns into quartz and retains its fibrous build. When particles of iron stain it, it gains a golden brown color. In this form, this gem is called tiger's eye.

Pieces that are unstained by iron retain their blue color. These are called hawk's eye. You can find varieties with both colors present in them.

Where Is Tiger's Eye Found?

Tiger's eye is found in many countries across the world. This includes Australia, China, South Africa, Namibia, South Africa, England, the USA, and the UK. A major source of tiger's eye gemstones is the Northern Cape province in South Africa. It's also mined heavily in East Asia, in Thailand.

Types of Tiger's Eye

The most popular type of tiger's eye is brown. It possessed the stunning chatoyancy unique to it and the stone's cousin, the blue hawk's eye gemstone. The other types of tiger's eye stones are as follows:

• Arizona Tiger's Eye - These are quartz or opal pseudomorphs found in Arizona.
• Marra Mamba Tiger's Eye - This is strongly chatoyant tiger's eye from the Hamersley Range in Western Australia. It has a beautiful multicolored effect of yellowish-green, reddish-brown, steel-blue, and yellow.
• Tiger's Eye Matrix or tiger iron - This is tiger's eye mixed with iron oxide lines or patterns. Dark gray or red hematite or yellow limonite are included.

The 3 C's of Tiger's Eye

• Color: Tiger's eye is usually golden brown to brownish golden. The higher the iron content, the more golden its hue. When there's a lower iron content, it appears blue and is called hawk's eye. Some gemstones have both colors within them.
  Tiger's eye is usually multi-coloured with strands of brown, gold, and black in wavy patterns. Depending on the way the light hits the gemstone, the crystal appears darker or lighter in color.
  
  
• Cut: 

  Tiger's eye is cut en cabochon to depict the gemstone's luster. Experts cut the stone in a particular way. They ensure the fibers are parallel to the base of the gemstone. Tiger's eye has a Mohs hardness scale rating of 6.5 to 7.0.
  Sometimes, tiger's eye can be carved into a decorative stone. Flower and animal carvings are both popular. Sometimes, the gems may be faceted, but most stones are finished as ovals, pears, rounds, and freeform shapes.

• Clarity: Tiger's eye is an opaque gemstone with a vitreous lustrous effect called 'chatoyancy.' This creates the cat's eye effect and is caused due to the material's structure and fibrous nature. Chatoyancy is the most important factor when evaluating a tiger's eye stone's value.

Treatment of Tiger's Eye

Tiger's eye can be bleached, dyed, and heated. Heating may create the eye effect. Be careful as there are many kinds of lab-created tiger's eye in the market. A layperson wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a fake and a natural tiger's eye crystal.

The imitations are made with fiber-optic glass and are colored in various shades. Remember that the real tiger's eye only comes in earth tones.

Normally, tiger's eye gemstones don't need to be treated.

How Do I Keep My Tiger's Eye Clean?

Unlike most quartz, tiger's eye is strong and durable. It doesn't get scratched or worn out easily. It's sensitive to certain acids that you'll find in household cleaning solvents. Due to this, cleaning should only be done with warm water and mild soap. Don't use strong chemicals or cleaners such as sulfuric acid, ammonia, or bleach.

You may use ultrasonic cleaners and steamers but proceed with caution. Don't wear these gems while exercising or doing any vigorous activities. Store them safely and separately in a soft cloth or a fabric-lined jewelry box.

Tiger's Eye Uses

• Tiger's eye gemstones are popular in designer jewelry. It's an excellent crystal for necklaces, pendants, charms, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Many designers craft beautiful pieces into fobs, shirt studs, and cufflinks.
• Tiger's eye is a good gem to match with several other stones.
• Statement pieces with tiger's eye in them are sought-after.
• Tiger's eye is the official gemstone for a couple's 9^th wedding anniversary.
• Due to its warm tones that shift from golden to brown and to reddish-brown, tiger's eye is particularly popular for men's jewelry and accessories.
• This crystal is said to solve eye-related issues.
• Tiger's eye is good for treating back pain and stiff necks.

Tiger's Eye Metaphysical Properties and Chakra Connection

• The tiger's eye gemstone has been used as a good luck charm for thousands of years.
• It's claimed to be a psychic protector, making it a great stone to have if you run your own business.
• It's historically an amulet against bad luck, evil, and illness. It keeps away the evil eye.
• Roman soldiers would carry these stones into battle, hoping they would increase their courage.
• Many feel that tiger's eye prevents diseases and is an auspicious gemstone. It has healing properties and blesses a person with physical strength.
• The tiger's eye gemstone increases your ability to focus on any task. It heightens your intellectual prowess and makes your mind sharper.
• The tiger's eye gemstone resonates with multiple chakras. This includes the solar plexus, the sacral chakra, and the root chakra.
• It connects with you on both the spiritual and physical planes.

Tiger's Eye Birthstone

Tiger's eye works best for those born under the houses of Taurus and Gemini. This mystical stone is associated with midsummer July 22- August 21.

Where Should You Buy a Tiger's Eye?

You should buy tiger’s eye crystals from trusted sources. Many may try to sell you fake stones or inferior quality gemstones. A few precautions you could take is to select an outlet that has excellent customer reviews. Also, look for sellers who have a refund policy. If you'd like to reach out to an established retailer of precious and semi-precious gems, do contact us. We possess premium quality natural tiger’s eye at reasonable prices in various cuts and colors with coatings that don't peel or chip off easily.