The history and origin of Tiger’s Eye
Tiger’s Eye has a name that automatically evokes the description of this stone. While extremely interesting to look at, Tiger’s Eye is not as popular as the individual stones that make up this gemstone. Tiger’s eye usually includes shades of honey, yellow and browns. It is extremely similar to another type of Eye – the Hawk Eye, where instead of blue, caused by iron inclusions, it has inclusions of the mineral crocidolite that oxidizes and forms brown. Both Tiger’s Eye and Hawk’s Eye are fibrous in nature and structure.
This wonderful gemstone is created from the mineral quartz which is essentially any type of stone that is oxidized. Quartz comes in many varieties including coarse quartz stones with larger crystalline structures and small fibrous crystal structures called cryptocrystalline. Small crystalline structures usually include Agate and Onyx; large crystal structures include Amethyst and Citrine.
Tiger’s Eye is usually used for ornamental jewelry and is cut for rings or charms. It is a truly magnificent looking gemstone and it is usually very affordable. Tiger’s Eye has been known for thousands of years and has many medicinal and mystical properties associated with it. It is said to stabilize one and to protect the wearer from evil and illness. Many times, Tiger’s Eye is given to children as a protectorate, as well as being fun to possess. However, for gemstone lovers, Tiger’s Eye makes excellent fine jewelry and is sometimes given as a birth stone.
What is Tiger’s Eye used for?
One of the more unique looking and interesting gemstones available for sale is Tiger’s Eye. Tiger’s Eye resembles the color and patterns of a Tiger’s Eye. It is also extremely similar to the Hawk’s Eye and instead of having blue, it includes an inclusion of crocidolite that has oxidized creating a beautiful brown hue.
Three main uses of Tiger’s Eye are for ornamental jewelry, as a talisman and for samples for gem collectors. It should be noted that the mineral Quartz, which Tiger’s Eye is formed from does have many uses, some for ornamental jewelry and others that are industrial and electrical in purpose.
Tiger’s Eye is made from Quartz which is Silica dioxide. This mineral is great for jewelry pieces due to the fact that it is hard, usually with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, it is also very stable and can be worn daily.
Tigers Eye includes the colors of yellow or honey, red and brown. It usually comes with a very silky luster and is made from the fibrous type of Quartz (cryptocrystalline). Most of the time, these colors are either in lines or bent. This beautiful gemstone is usually very affordable and has been known to man for thousands of years. For those that are spiritual and into astrology, Tiger’s Eye is used for positive effects for oneself. In ancient times it was used to protect oneself from evil spirits and evil doers. While most people purchase this gemstone for its beauty, it is still fascinating and mystical to look at.
How and where is Tiger’s Eye formed and found?
The Tiger’s Eye is a fascinating gemstone that is very popular with spiritualists and astrologists. This beautiful gemstone has been known to man for millennia and has been used to ward off evil, illness and evil doers. For those that are not into the spiritual meaning of Tiger’s Eye, it is still a very interesting and intriguing gemstone. Here is some more information.
Quartz can be found in most regions of the world; however, gem grade Quartz is found in far fewer places. Usually Tiger’s Eye can be found near iron bands. These iron bands can mix with many elements to give it wonderful color. For instance, Tiger’s Eye consists of trace elements of iron in it. This helps create the beautiful shapes of honey or yellow and brown. Tiger’s Eye is fibrous in nature and very silky to the touch. It should also be noted that there is a synthetic Tiger’s Eye that can be made from plastic or other lower cost minerals or even from small filaments of plastic that create a fiber optic type of eye.
This gemstone can be found mainly in South Africa; however, Tiger’s Eye is also known to form in smaller quantities in Canada, China, Brazil, the USA, India and Burma.
The color, shapes and sizes that Tiger’s Eye comes in
Usually, the Tiger’s Eye contains three colors; honey yellow, brown and red, these colors along with the silky luster of the quartz creates the appearance and beauty of the Tiger’s Eye. Usually this gemstone is cut into one simple shape, the Cabochon which is spherish. While sizes do vary, most of the time this gemstone is made for a ring or charm setting.
Tiger’s Eye is usually affordable and it should be noted that synthetic Tiger’s Eye do occur, mostly from lower valued minerals or plastic. There is also Tiger’s Eye made from fiber optic plastic filaments.
Besides synthetic Tiger’s Eye, there is also a gemstone called Tiger Iron. This stone is made with red Jasper and black hued Hematite. These gemstones are not as popular as normal Tiger’s Eye, but still extremely beautiful. If you are looking for a gemstone that looks fascinating for everyday jewelry or as a spiritual talisman, Tiger’s Eye is worth pursuing.
