Tiger Eye Beads

Tiger eye beads are also called tiger's eye beads. Tiger eye is quartz that has replaced a fibrous material in a process similar to that of wood petrification. This fibrous pattern is responsible for a streaked coloration that appears to glow as it reflects light (chatoyancy.) Due to this glow, tiger eye has been considered all seeing and thus protection for travelers.

Tiger eye is generally brown with golden yellow (due to iron oxide content), but it can be blue and is often a dark rust red to black due to either natural or induced heat. In jewelry making, it is usually cut into cabochons or beads.

While it is not a birthstone, tiger eye is the anniversary gemstone for the 9th year of marriage in Western cultures. It's astrological sign is Gemini.

South Africa is the primary source of tiger eye, where a large deposit is very close to the surface which makes the mining and hence the material low in cost. However, it is also found in Australia, Burma, India and the United States.

Tiger eye jewelry supplies make fine companions with citrine, earth toned jasper, carnelian, aragonite, and amethyst.

common treatments: heat treated (red tiger eye)

special care: avoid high temperatures, abrasion, impact

hardness: 7