Variegated Blue & Gold Tiger's Eye Sphere - 65mm, 395g

Variegated Blue & Gold Tiger's Eye Sphere - 65mm, 395g

Regular price £64.99 Sale

Locality - Prieska, Northern Cape, South Africa
Size – 65mm
Weight – 395g

This variegated tiger's eye sphere features deep, midnight navy blue tones and golden brown streaks with subtle, silky banding chatoyancy around its centre. It has an unusual, clay brown and jet black matrix pattern on an end face and a couple of sandy brown patches on the other, making for a uniquely patterned piece. Variegated blue tiger's eye (also known as 'hawk's eye') is entirely natural and very rare, estimated to be only 10% of tiger's eye found, as most material is golden brown. A wooden sphere stand as pictured will be provided with this sphere.


About Tiger's Eye

Tiger's eye (also know as 'tiger eye') is a pseudomorph of compact quartz after the fibrous bluish-grey mineral crocidolite, formed when the quartz dissolves and replaces the crocidolite resulting in a beautiful fibrous and chatoyant gemstone in brown, yellow and golden tones. This unique effect is best seen if a piece is turned in the light, displaying bright waves of light across its surface, and polished specimens that display this effect are very popular for use in jewellery and ornaments. Varieties of tiger's eye include hawk's eye - specimens that have retained the blusih-grey crocidolite colour, and pietersite - an incredibly rare and colourful brecciated variant. The two most important sources of tiger's eye are Thailand and the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.



Tiger's Eye in History

Tiger's eye is mentioned in myths and legends in various cultures worldwide. It was used by the Egyptians for the eyes in their deity statues to express divine vision and was believed to provide the protection of both the sun god Ra and the earth god Geb. In Eastern mythology, tiger's eye is rather appropriately linked to the magical tiger and portrays courage, integrity and the responsible use of power. Roman soldiers carried engraved tiger's eye stones to deflect weapons and to bring its holder bravery in battle. It has also been believed by many throughout the ages to protect its bearer from the evil eye.


A note on Fakes, Treatments & Misrepresentations

Tiger's eye is often heat-treated or dyed to turn the natural yellow-golden colour into a deep red typically marketed as 'bull's eye', whilst some naturally darker pieces are artificially lightened with nitric acid treatments. Less convincing treatments include dying them vivid blue or green. Imitation tiger's eye is also produced and is usually composed of artificial fiber-optic glass, easily identified by it's lack of irregular banding and seemingly 'perfect', clean chatoyancy.