Gemstone Guides · Evergreen Guide
Tiger's Eye: Bands, Chatoyancy, and How to Wear It
Why tiger's eye seems to move when you turn it, plus care, sourcing, and pairing notes from the studio.
By Robert Anthony · · 5 min read
Tiger's eye is quartz that grew around parallel fibers of an older mineral (crocidolite), replacing them while preserving the fibrous structure. Turn the stone and the fibers catch light in a moving band — an effect called chatoyancy. The Mindat reference covers the pseudomorph process.
At a glance
- Family: Quartz pseudomorph
- Mohs hardness: 6.5–7
- Color: golden brown, sometimes with red or blue variants
- Sources: South Africa, Australia, India
How it wears
Durable and forgiving. Tiger's eye tolerates gentle water and everyday contact well, and its warm banding hides scuffs the way lighter stones can't. A tiger's eye pendant is a strong choice for anyone who wants a stone that works without babying.
Care
Warm water and mild soap. Avoid extended sunlight — some variants darken over years of UV. See at-home cleaning for the routine.
Pairing
Tiger's eye is a warm anchor stone. It sits beautifully with mahogany obsidian, red jasper, brass chain, and rose gold. Cooler tones (silver, moonstone) can work as intentional contrast — see the layering guide for lengths.
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From the studio
Hand-strung and finished in-studio. Every piece from our shop can be restrung or re-set at cost — just reach out.
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