Blue tiger eye, also called hawk's eye, is natural quartz that kept its original blue fibers. Golden tiger's eye is the same material after iron in those fibers turned brown over time.
See it as
Quartz · Quartz (chatoyant, with unoxidised crocidolite fibres)
Blue Tiger Eye
Ojo de Tigre Azul
- Palette
- Blue Gray
- Mined in
- South Africa, Namibia, Australia, India, Myanmar, Brazil, Thailand
- Hardness
- Mohs 6.5–7.0 ?
- See-through
- opaque
- Known since
- Prehistoric
- Named for
- its blue color; German quarz, of uncertain origin
- Also sold as
- Hawk's Eye, Blue Tiger's Eye
- Intention
- Calm Strength
- Looking for
- Communication Calm Focus and clarity Courage
- Water
- Fine with water and mild soap
- Dye or finish
- Natural blue-gray tiger eye (also called hawk's eye) is sold as natural. Very bright or deep blue strands in the trade are sometimes dyed, so ask the seller.
In our pieces · 1See the piece ↓
2003
A 2003 Penn State study found that quartz did not fully replace the crocidolite fibers in tiger's eye; they remain encased in the quartz.
BLUE ASBESTOS
The blue in hawk's eye traces back to crocidolite, the fibrous amphibole better known as blue asbestos.
EMIL RIEBECK
Riebeckite, the mineral behind crocidolite, is named for German explorer Emil Riebeck (1853-1885) and was first described in 1888 from Socotra.
What it is
Opaque quartz with silky blue-gray to blue-black fibers that shimmer in a band across the bead. It is the earlier, unoxidised stage of tiger's eye, where the crocidolite has kept its original blue color.
What gives it its color
The blue-gray comes from the original blue fibers of crocidolite (a blue amphibole) that were replaced by quartz before they rusted; where the iron rusted, the stone turns gold-brown instead. Very bright blue beads are usually dyed or heated, so ask the seller.
Where it comes from
Tiger eye in general comes from South Africa (the Northern Cape, once called Griqualand), Australia, Namibia, India, Myanmar and Brazil.
What's said about it
In crystal lore, it's thought of as a stone for calm, clear speech and insight. People keep it for intuition and for talking things through. It's traditionally paired with the throat and third-eye chakras.
Older folklore lists eye-like stones, tiger's eye among them, as ones of special interest in evil-eye lore.
Wear it at the neck, carry it in a pocket, or hold it in one hand. Some people set it wherever good conversation is needed.
How people wear or keep it: Around the neck, in a pocket, held in one hand, or where conversation is needed.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, blue tiger eye is paired with the throat and third eye chakras, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: around the neck, in a pocket, held in one hand. People reach for it when they want communication, calm, focus and clarity, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraThroat, Third Eye
ZodiacCapricorn
ElementFire
Also calledHawk's Eye, Blue Tiger's Eye
Care
- Fairly hard, but keep it from sharp knocks that can chip polished edges.
- Wipe with a soft damp cloth and mild soap; dry fully.
- Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals.
- Store apart from harder gems to avoid scratches.
- Ask the seller whether the color is natural; if enhanced, avoid soaking and strong solvents.
How to tell what you have
- Look for a band of light that moves as you tilt the bead, over fine, parallel fibers.
- Natural blue tiger eye is a muted blue-gray to blue-black; a bright, neon or perfectly even blue is a reason to ask about dye.
- Fiber-optic glass is a common imitation: its light line is a single sharp, too-perfect stripe rather than the soft shimmer of the stone.
What sets the price
Natural blue tiger eye (hawk's eye) is a muted blue-gray, and price follows how strong and even the moving band of light is, how even the color is, and bead size and polish. A very bright blue strand is usually dyed or heated, and glass imitations exist, so the price should match what the bead really is.
Rules and sourcing
Very bright or deep blue tiger eye strands are sometimes dyed, so natural blue-gray is the safe expectation. The FTC jewelry guides call for a seller to disclose added color. Blue tiger eye (hawk's eye) is quartz that still holds fibers of crocidolite, an asbestos mineral under US law. Finished beads are sold as jewelry, but do not grind, sand, drill or cut them without dust protection.
Questions people ask at our table
What is blue tiger eye?
It is hawk's eye, a natural quartz that still holds its original blue crocidolite fibers. Golden tiger's eye is the same material after iron in those fibers has oxidised.
Is blue tiger eye dyed?
GemSelect says hawk's eye is not normally enhanced, though some darker or redder stones may be dyed or heated. Natural color is blue-gray to blue-green, so ask the seller about any unusually vivid blue.
Is blue tiger eye heated golden tiger eye?
No. Geology sources describe blue as the earlier unoxidised stage, with golden forming later. One forum claim says otherwise, but it conflicts with the geological references.
Will it change color?
Strong heat can shift the color, and the iron in the fibers oxidises toward brown over time in nature. Keep it away from torches and hot cars.
Where is it found?
GemSelect lists sources including Australia, Namibia and South Africa, with the Northern Cape of South Africa among the notable ones.
Our blue tiger eye pieces
Stay in the loop
Sign up to hear about new product drops, upcoming events, and the latest from Peritik. No spam, just the good stuff.