Tiger’s eye
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Tiger eye stone and blue tigers eye meaning
Tiger’s eye is a chatoyant gemstone that is usually a metamorphic rock with a golden to red-brown colour and a silky lustre. As members of the quartz group, tiger eye stone and the related blue-coloured mineral hawk’s eye gain their silky, lustrous appearance from the parallel intergrowth of quartz crystals and altered amphibole fibres that have mostly turned into limonite.
Other forms of tiger’s eye
Tiger iron is an altered rock composed chiefly of tiger eye stone, red jasper and black hematite. The undulating, contrasting bands of colour and lustre make for an attractive motif, and it is mainly used for jewellery-making and ornamentation. The stone is a popular ornamental material used in a variety of applications, from beads to knife hilts.
Tiger iron is mined primarily in South Africa and Western Australia. The stone is composed chiefly of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is coloured mainly by iron oxide. The specific gravity ranges from 2.64 to 2.71. It is formed by the alteration of crocidolite.
Serpentine deposits in which are occasionally found chatoyant bands of chrysotile fibres have been discovered in the US states of Arizona and California. These have been cut and sold as Arizona and California gemstones. The trade name of pietersite is used for a fractured or brecciated chalcedony containing amphibole fibers and promoted as crystals from Namibia and China.
Blue tigers eye
There’s a variety of blue-gray stones, called hawk’s eye; it is rarer than the gold color. Beware when buying blue, because it is often dyed rather than natural. If it’s a particularly bright blue rather than gray-blue, it’s probably fake.
Cut, treatment and imitation
Gems are usually given a cabochon cut to best display their chatoyance. Red stones are developed by gentle heat treatment. Dark stones are artificially lightened to improve color using a nitric acid treatment.
Honey-colored stones have been used to imitate the more valued cat’s eye chrysoberyl (cymophane), but the overall effect is unconvincing. Artificial fibre optic glass is a common imitation and is produced in a wide range of colors. It comes primarily from South Africa and east Asia.
Tiger eye stone meaning and properties benefits
The following section is pseudo scientific and based on cultural beliefs.
Tiger eye stone is a crystal with lovely bands of yellow-golden color throughout it. Traditionally, it was carried as an amulet against curses or ill-wishing. This is a powerful stone that helps you to release fear and anxiety and aids harmony and balance.
Tiger’s eye solar plexus sacral root chakra
By activating and balancing the root sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, tiger’s eye crystal properties help you stay grounded and centered, even if you’re surrounded by chaos. When you want to step into your personal power and overcome emotional blocks.
History and Cultural Significance of Tiger Eye Stone
Throughout history, tiger’s eye stone has been prized as a powerful talisman. Ancient civilizations valued its reputed ability to protect against negative energies and ill-wishing. Some cultures believed that the shimmering bands within tiger eye stone symbolized the watchful gaze of an all-seeing eye, providing spiritual insight and a protective aura. Roman soldiers were rumored to carry engraved tiger’s eye amulets during battle for strength and courage, reflecting just how widespread its reputation as a safeguard has been across different eras and regions.
Formation and Composition
Tiger’s eye stone forms when quartz slowly replaces fibrous blue or golden-brown crocidolite, also known as asbestos. Over time, these fibers are fully transformed into silica, which gives tiger eye stone its characteristic chatoyancy—a luminous sheen that appears to move across the surface of the stone when light hits it. The presence of iron oxide, along with other minerals like amphibole fibers, contributes to the stone’s rich golden, red, and even blue-gray tones. This fascinating process of gradual replacement under the earth’s surface creates the alternating bands and layers that make tiger’s eye so visually striking.
How to Choose a High-Quality Tiger’s Eye Stone
When selecting a tiger eye stone, look for pieces that display clear, vibrant chatoyance. The silky lustre should be prominent, especially in good lighting. Stones with deeper, more uniform colors and minimal visible cracks are typically considered higher quality. The most desirable tiger’s eye stones also exhibit crisp bands of color, with a lively interplay between light and dark areas. Additionally, cabochon cuts usually bring out the stone’s natural beauty best, highlighting its internal shimmer.
Caring for Your Tiger’s Eye Stone
Although tiger’s eye stone ranks fairly high on the Mohs hardness scale (6.5 to 7), proper care is still recommended to maintain its sheen. Warm water with a mild soap is typically sufficient for cleaning, as harsh chemicals can degrade the stone’s surface. Gently pat it dry with a soft cloth rather than using abrasive materials. Storing tiger eye stone separately from harder gems or jewelry will also help prevent scratches.
If you notice your tiger’s eye losing some of its lustre over time, polishing it gently with a smooth, lint-free cloth can revive its natural glow without damaging its chatoyant structure. Regular cleaning and mindful handling will ensure that your tiger’s eye stone remains bright and eye-catching for years to come.
Conclusion
Tiger’s eye stone remains one of the most fascinating and visually captivating gemstones in the quartz family. Its shimmering bands, combined with its storied reputation for protection and confidence, make it a cherished choice for jewelry collectors and enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re drawn to the golden-brown variety or the rarer blue-gray hawk’s eye, each piece tells a story of metamorphic transformation and cultural reverence. By learning how to select, care for, and appreciate this gem’s unique qualities, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty and meaning of tiger’s eye stone for a lifetime.
FAQ
What is tiger’s eye good for?
The stone is a crystal with beautiful bands of yellow-golden color throughout. This is a powerful stone that helps you to release fear and anxiety and aids harmony and balance. It stimulates taking action, and helps you to make decisions with discernment and understanding, and unclouded by your emotions.
What is the benefit of tiger eye stone?
A stone of protection, tigers eye meaning may also bring good luck to the wearer. It has the power to focus the mind, promoting mental clarity, assisting us to resolve problems objectively and unclouded by emotions. Particularly useful for healing psychosomatic illnesses, dispelling fear and anxiety.
What does wearing tiger’s eye do?
The benefits and healing power that the tiger stone crystal offers is appreciated and respected by all those who wear it. The crystal encourages a passion for life and enhances your willpower and drives your will for success. Those who believe that curses exist often keep the crystal close by.
What is the meaning of tiger eye bracelet?
The crystal may bring good luck and protection from the evil eye to the wearer. It also known to bring clear thinking and insight. Traditionally it was carried as an amulet against curses or ill-wishing, and is known to give you courage, self confidence and strength of will.
Who can wear tiger eye?
Saturn rules two zodiac signs, Capricorn and Aquarius. If you’re a Capricornian, you will find the stone disturbing your peace. Sleeping with this stone can give you nightmares, besides spoiling your career plans. If your zodiac is Aquarius, you shouldn’t wear tiger stone.
Is tiger’s eye dangerous?
This stone is formed in part from the mineral crocidolite, which is a type of asbestos. During the formation of the gemstone, crocidolite is completely replaced with quartz and iron ore, so if you ever wondered whether tiger stone is dangerous. No, it isn’t.
Is tiger stone a protection stone?
A very protective stone. It has powerful and dynamic energy with a watchful quality to it. The specific colors of the stone, from golden yellow to deep red, express strengthening and grounding energies in different degrees. It also has a mystical quality about it.
When should I wear tiger eye stone?
To avail the benefits of this gemstone, first of all, you must detoxify it. Keep it dipped in water for overnight for this purpose. It should be worn in ring finger of your correct hand. Prefer wearing the stone during sunrise of any Monday that occurs in waxing moon or Shukla Paksh.
How can you tell a real tiger eye stone?
A stone is being identified by examining its color and durability largely. The most identical color of stone is golden or brown which is achieved due to silicon dioxide composition. Moreover, the durability of the stone range from 6.5 to 7.0.
How do you clean tiger eye stone?
Cleaning should only done using only warm water and a mild soap or detergent. Avoid harsh chemicals and cleaners such as bleach, ammonia or sulfuric acid. Also avoid spraying perfume or hairspray on your gems.
What stone goes well with tiger eye?
It works very well with other gemstones, in fact its energy will enhance all the nearby gemstones. It is especially good with other forms of quartz, charoite, malachite and jasper make great combinations.
Natural tiger’s eye for sale in our gem shop
We make custom made tiger’s eye jewelry as engagement rings, necklaces, stud earrings, bracelets, pendants… Please contact us for a quote.
