Cat's Eye

Cat’s eye is one of those unique minerals that seem to actually have life. Cats eyes are far too lifelike to be a simple stone…or are they?

The mineral cats eye is relative to alexandrite, another gem that seems to have a life all its own. Both alexandrite and cats eye are chrysoberyls. This family of mineral is known to jewelry makers and gemstone lovers as a family of gems that seem to change colors and exude life.

The cat eye gemstone has a unique trait that makes it stand out in the crowd of beautiful gemstones. Cats eyes have a pronounced band of light that crosses the face of the cats eye stone. The result is exactly what it sounds like it would be – it’s like looking into a pair of cat eyes. This effect has long been duplicated in cats eye marbles; these sources of wonder in children’s marbles are usually crafted of glass, but in cats eye jewelry, the real thing is preferable.

Cat eye jewelry takes many forms. Cat eye jewelry might be an entire string of cat eye beads, with one or more colors of cats eye beads making up a strand. Cat eye bead strings are also fashioned into coordinating cats eye bracelets. It is not at all uncommon for cats eye jewelry to consist only of a single cats eye stone, though, as a gem of such wonder is often something to be studied and appreciated separately.

engagement rings styles

Cat eye color is variable. The color of cat eye stones might be a honey-brown or a green apple color, or the color can fall somewhere in between this range. Rich, golden tones are most highly valued.

What most strongly influences the value of cats eye is how sharp the cat eye is within the stone. Sharper eyes are, naturally, worth more and more sought-after.

Another feature of valuable cat eye gems occurs often in fine gemstone samples, but less often in less valuable cat’s eye pieces. This feature is what is called the "milk and honey effect"; when a bright light is shone on one side of a cat eye stone with this trait, one side of the stone’s cat eye will appear milky-white in color. The other side remains gold, and when the stone is switched, the colors switch with it.

Cat eyes are very popular for use in men’s jewelry. Historically, cat’s eye is said to be a powerful talisman that can direct fortune your way. Perhaps it is the value of the eye directing men’s fortunes that has made it more popular in men’s jewelry.

Cats eye jewelry offers a unique vitality that other gems do not. Products of the earth, cat eye stones seem to reflect the life the earth supports. The parallel is not lost on cat’s eye admirers. Cat eye jewelry is an excellent choice in jewelry, seemingly with a life of its own.