What is tiger's eye?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Tiger's eye is a variety of quartz with a distinctive optical effect called chatoyancy, which produces a silky, shifting band of light that rolls across the surface as the stone is tilted, resembling the slit pupil of a cat. It forms when crocidolite fibres are replaced by quartz while retaining their fibrous structure, and the most familiar colour is a rich golden amber with dark brown bands. It is usually cut as a cabochon to show the effect at its best. Blue tiger's eye, also called hawk's eye, retains the blue-grey colour of the original mineral before full silicification.
Frequently asked questions
- What causes the shimmering effect in tiger's eye?
- The effect is chatoyancy, caused by the parallel fibrous structure within the stone. When light hits those aligned fibres at an angle, it reflects in a concentrated, moving band across the surface. The same mechanism produces the cat's eye effect in chrysoberyl and other fibrous gems.
- What does tiger's eye symbolise?
- Tiger's eye is traditionally associated with courage, clarity of mind and protection. Many people wear it as a grounding stone that is said to help with focus and decision-making, and in various traditions it is carried for good luck and to guard against ill intent.
- What is the difference between tiger's eye and hawk's eye?
- Both are the same mineral with the same fibrous structure, but hawk's eye, also called blue tiger's eye, forms when the original crocidolite has only partially been replaced by quartz and retains its blue-grey colour. Tiger's eye has been more fully altered and oxidised, giving it the warm golden-brown tones most people recognise.
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