Tiger’s Eye is the best know variety of chatoyant Quartz (or Cat’s Eye Quartz). Tiger’s Eye, with its bands resembling the eye of a tiger, received its name due to this similarity. Tiger’s Eye is also called Crocidolite Cat's Eye or African Cat's Eye. Tiger’s Eye has rich yellow and golden brown stripes, with a fine golden luster when polished.



Coveted since antiquity, Roman soldiers wore Tiger’s Eye for protection in battle. Due to its appearance, in the ancient world Tiger’s Eye was thought to be all seeing, offering protection during travel, strengthening of convictions and confidence.

Many legends say that wearing Tiger’s Eye is beneficial for health and spiritual well being. Legend also says it is a psychic protector, great for business and aids in achieving clarity of mind.

Today, crystal healers use Tiger’s Eye for focusing the mind.



Quartz gemstones are commonly separated into two groups based on the size of their individual crystals. The macrocrystalline Quartz (large crystal) group includes many popular gemstones such as Tiger’s Eye, Amethyst, Ametrine and Citrine. Cryptocrystalline Quartz includes species whose individual crystals are too small to be easily distinguished. Apart from being a variety within the group, Chalcedony is also a catch all term to describe cryptocrystalline Quartz and includes many gems that have been coveted since antiquity.

Tiger’s Eye is a pseudomorph (the result of one mineral replacing another) that contains oriented fibers of Crocidolite that have been replaced by silica.

Tiger’s Eye displays chatoyancy (a vertical luminescent band like that of a Cat's Eye). Tiger’s Eye typically has lustrous alternating yellow or brown bands. Cutting is crucial with Tiger’s Eye because the rough crystals reveal little or nothing of the exciting chatoyancy of the finished gem.