Category Archives: Gemstones

About Tiger’s Eye – History and Introduction Tiger’s eye is a gold-brown, opaque gemstone variety of fibrous quartz. More specifically, it is a variety of macrocrystalline quartz. However, unlike most quartz gemstones, tiger’s eye is actually a ‘pseudomorph’ of quartz. A ‘pseudomorph’ is what geologists refer to as any mineral that transforms into another mineral.… Read More

About Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye – History and Introduction Chrysoberyl cat’s eye is a gemstone quality variety of beryllium aluminum oxide which exhibits a rare optical trait known as ‘chatoyancy’. Chatoyancy is the unique ability to reflect light in a way that resembles the slit eye of a cat, hence the name ‘cat’s eye’. Chrysoberyl is… Read More

About Star Sapphire – History and Introduction Star sapphire is rare variety of sapphire that exhibits a rare asterism under specific lighting. When viewing star sapphire, a six-rayed star will appear to float across the surface of the stone. The effect is best viewed under a direct light source and while tilting and rotating the… Read More

About Chrome Tourmaline – History and Introduction Chrome tourmaline is a rare, gemstone quality variety of chromium-bearing green dravite. Dravite is one of several specific varieties of the tourmaline group. Although dravite tourmaline is quite common in occurrence, most deposits are too opaque or too heavily included to be of any gemstone value. Chrome tourmaline,… Read More