Cat’s eye

Description

Key Characteristics of Cat’s Eye:

• Chatoyancy: The most defining feature of a Cat’s Eye gemstone is its chatoyancy effect, where a bright, narrow band of light appears to move across the surface of the stone when it is rotated, creating the illusion of an eye. This optical effect is due to parallel needle-like inclusions, usually made of rutile, within the stone.
• Color: Cat’s Eye gemstones come in various colors, but the most common is golden yellow or greenish-yellow, though they can also be found in brown, gray, and even colorless forms. The color of the stone can impact its overall appeal and value, with greenish or golden tones being more desirable.
• Hardness: Cat’s Eye is a form of Chrysoberyl, which is a durable gemstone with a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes it relatively resistant to scratches and wear, suitable for use in rings, pendants, and other jewelry.
• Clarity: High-quality Cat’s Eye gemstones generally exhibit a clear and sharp eye, free from visible inclusions that could disrupt the chatoyancy effect. The presence of inclusions can actually enhance the cat’s eye effect in some cases, so their visibility isn’t always considered a flaw.
• Cut: Cat’s Eye gemstones are almost always cut in a cabochon shape—a smooth, rounded shape without facets—because this cut maximizes the play of light and creates the cat’s eye effect. The size and sharpness of the “eye” can vary, with larger, more pronounced eyes being more desirable.