Stone library / Quartz & Silica / Quartz Replacement
Tiger's Eye
Everything you need to know about tiger's eye: what it is, where it comes from, treatments, jewelry care, cultural meaning, and what affects value.
Note: ⚠️ Raw crocidolite is asbestos — hazardous. Finished tiger's eye jewelry is safe as the fibers are fully silicified (replaced by quartz).
What is tiger's eye?
Tiger's Eye has chemical formula SiO₂ (quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite asbestos). Mohs hardness: 7. Density: approximately 2.64–2.71 g/cm³. Refractive index: 1.54–1.55.
What gives it its color?
Chatoyancy (cat's eye effect) from parallel fibrous structure. Golden-brown color from iron oxide staining of replaced crocidolite fibers.
Where does it come from?
Major sources include South Africa, Australia, India, China.
Treatments and how to spot them
May be dyed to produce red or blue colors. Natural tiger's eye is golden-brown. Heat treatment can produce red tiger's eye.
Important: Visual clues such as inclusions, color patterns, or surface features can provide preliminary observations, but they cannot replace refractive index, specific gravity, microscopic examination, and laboratory testing for a definitive identification. Treat visual clues as starting points, not final answers.
Jewelry and care tips
With hardness 7, tiger's eye can be used in various jewelry types. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners unless the stone is known to be fracture-free. Store separately from harder gemstones.
Note: Prolonged strong light or high heat may cause some color-sensitive or treated stones to fade. Brief daily wear does not usually cause immediate fading, but avoid leaving jewelry in direct sun for extended periods.
Cultural beliefs and symbolism
Tiger's Eye carries cultural meaning across many traditions — these are folkloric and cultural traditions, not scientifically verified properties. Its associations vary by culture, and its use in astrology, chakra, or feng shui contexts should be understood as cultural expression rather than factual claims.
What affects its value?
Price is determined by color saturation, clarity, cut quality, and size. Terms like commercial color names are market descriptions — they cannot by themselves prove origin or value. Before buying: ask the seller to confirm the material identity, treatment status, dimensions, and return policy in writing.
Use this guide as a starting point
For a costly or disputed stone, ask for species, treatment, and origin information in writing. An independent laboratory report is stronger evidence than a marketing phrase.
Return to Quartz & SilicaEditorial framework: the GemVerity editorial method. This is an educational guide, not a gemological identification report. Cultural beliefs described above are folkloric traditions, not scientific guarantees.