Gemstones are generally referred to in the jewelry trade as precious, referring to diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds; semi-precious, referring to the large variety of other mineral, crystal, or organic stones traditionally used in decorative items such as jewelry. Precious gems are traditionally cut in facets to best display their beauty, clarity and color, and are set in precious metal to show the stones to their best advantage. Semi-precious gemstones have been used in beads and cabochons for many centuries and have been used as a form of currency, called trade beads, in many cultures.

Gemstone jewelry is enjoying a revival both for the simple beauty of the stones as well as renewed interest in traditional beliefs about the healing properties of certain stones. The history of the stones can be as fascinating as the color and cut. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Tigers eye is a beautiful two toned gemstone containing a golden brown hue of vertical lines when light is passed through the stone. It is the vertical golden lines that when seen look very similar to the eye of a cat and this is where it got its name “Tigers eye”.This is quite ironic as even though tigers belong to the cat family they do not share the similar eye characteristics and do not have vertical slits as their pupils but small round pupils similar to human eyes.

Tigers eye was originally mineral called crocidolite which through a transformation of heat and pressure became chalcedony quartz. The gem Tigers eye formal name is psudomorph which is a Greek term meaning “false form”. This happens when one mineral replaces another mineral the change occurs when quartz changes into crocidolite into a golden brown stone called Tigers eye or a bluish stone called hawks eye.

How does Tigers eye have the different colored lines?

In the process of changing from quartz the crocidolite is dissolved and the quartz has changed form into long fibers giving the different shades of colors in the stone when penetrated by light.
The small traces of the crocidolite remains as a trace of iron which makes the soft golden traces in the gem, the less iron held in the stone the more likely it will form into the blue of the Hawks eye gem. The Tiger’s eye gem is usually cut en cabochon in order to best display the vertical fibers of color within the gem. The golden fibers may be as long as 5 centimeters and are very thin fibers making it a very difficult gem to cut without destroying the natural lines.

Where do Tigers Eye gemstones come from?

Tigers eye is mined in South Africa, Australia, the USA, Canada, India, Namibia, and Burma. It has great historical and mythical value in the African regions due to its cat eye like appearance. The native African tribes thought it to be a magical stone that was once the eye of an all powerful ancient wild cat that roamed the grasslands of the region hunting humans for food.

These cats were greatly admired and feared by the tribes and so the stone was believed to have the powers of the animal and when worn on ones person it gave you great power and courage. There where many amulets made from this stone and worn by worriers in battle and hunters on their journeys to bring food back to the village.