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.

“The Precious Stones” – this is a common connotation by many people about gemstones and gem minerals. This is in line with the fact that many are yearning to own even only a single piece of these precious stones. What made these people so interested with gemstones? Likewise, how do these stones capture everyone’s attention, especially ensnaring every woman’s heart? Let us get the idea from one of the most famous gemstones in the world – Sapphire.

One of the most prominent gemstones is Sapphire. There are actually three of them that are deemed as the world’s well-known gemstones. This is with the inclusion of Emerald, Ruby, and not to mention, Sapphire stones. These three become as prominent as they are called so, because of several interesting factors. A feature that is extremely distinct from the rest of the sprouting gemstones in the beauty and fashion industry.

A Glimpse to the History of Sapphire Gemstones

It has been a common belief that gems bring magic, charm and good luck to anyone who gets a hold of them. Same connotation goes to the Sapphire gemstones.

Talking about magical gemstones, Sapphire realizes the essence. Hearing the word alone would let you foresee some sort of magical thought, embedded in such precious stone. Try to hear it one more time, Sapphire… doesn’t it sound magical? Delightful as it sounds, the reflection of Sapphire, likewise invokes a Sapphire blue flower, blue water and blue sky.

Sapphire depicts the concept of a blue color, per se the blue gem. Way back in the 18th century, blue gemstones belong to the hyacinth nomenclature. However, such classification was found out erroneous. It is recently revealed that Sapphire gemstone falls in the corundum categorization. And so, this is what we suppose. What’s more at present, Sapphire is already patented by other colors than just blue. This is together with yellow, violet, purple, pink and orange colors.

Sapphire has become even more prominent during the middles ages. It was during this period when Sapphire rings came to existence. The blue sapphire rings were greatly favored by the Clergy. The rationale behind this choice was their belief of Sapphire representing heaven. In one way or another, this strengthened their faith.

On the other hand, magicians utilized the sapphire stone to aid them in their quest to fight against evil, as well as to control spirits. These people also believed that Sapphire influences the healing of different kinds of sickness, likewise, in dealing with curses.

The influence of blue sapphire rings never ended on such epoch. Apparently at present, sapphire rings and jewelries still remain the enticing items that anyone wishes to own. In the United States, sapphire gemstone also bequeaths special adoration. As a matter of fact, prominent sapphires are flaunted in several American museums.