What Is Blue Tiger’s Eye? Your Guide to Everything You Should Know

In this journal post, I'll explain what Blue Tiger's Eye is, how it gets its blue color, how it forms, where it comes from, how to identify natural Blue Tiger's Eye, and what makes a good specimen worth collecting.

Blue Tiger's Eye is a naturally occurring blue-gray variety of the very well known Golden Tiger's Eye. You may also come across Blue Tiger's Eye as something called Hawk's Eye or Falcon's Eye. I feel the nicknames come from the appearance of the crocidolite fibers within the stone that resemble iris collagen fibers in eyes. The blue color in the Crocidolite fibers is a result of not going through the entire oxidation process that Golden Tiger's Eye goes through and where it gets its golden color.

If you have ever held a good piece of Blue Tiger's Eye under direct light, you probably understand why collectors like it. Its the Chatoyancy effect you get when you tilt a polished stone and produce a silky blue, gray/silver band that seems to glide across the surface.

I've handled a lot of Tiger's Eye over the years, and Blue Tiger's Eye remains one of my favorite varieties because it can look almost black indoors and suddenly light up with bands of blue and silver when you bring it into the sun.

 

Here Are a Few Blue Tiger's Eye facts

Property	Description
Mineral Family	Quartz
Common Name	Blue
Other Names	Hawk's Eye, Falcon's Eye
Chemical Composition	Primarily SiO₂
Color	Blue-gray, slate blue, blue-green, silver-blue
Mohs Hardness	Approx. 7
Optical Effect	Chatoyancy
Transparency	Usually opaque
Major Sources	South Africa, Australia, Namibia and other locations
Common Uses	Cabochons, beads, jewelry, carvings and polished specimens

Tiger's Eye is a quartz material with a hardness of approximately 7 on the Mohs scale, which makes it an easy stone to work with and carry around for artists and crystal practitioners. If you're on the hunt for Blue Tiger's Eye, remember that it also goes by Hawk's Eye and Falcon's Eye, so make a mental note to remember those names so you don't miss out on something meant for you. Blue Tiger's Eye seems to be the default and best known trade name for this stone now as Hawk's Eye and Falcon's Eye seem to have fallen out of favor the last few years.

What Is Blue Tiger's Eye

The Blue Tiger's Eye crystal as some call it, contains fine, parallel fibrous structures associated with Crocidolite, a naturally blue form of the amphibole mineral riebeckite. These structures help create both its blue-gray appearance and its characteristic moving silver reflection.

Keep an eye out for that chatoyancy effect, because what really separates a beautiful Blue Tiger's Eye specimen from an average one is that under good lighting, a high quality polished specimen can show bands of:

• Dark navy blue
• Slate blue
• Steel blue
• Silvery blue
• Blue-green
• Golden brown

If you're lucky, you can also find amazing polished pieces that naturally transition from Blue Tiger's Eye to Golden Tiger's Eye you're familiar with. These "transitional" stones are some of our favorites because they hold a wonderful geological story.

How is Blue Tiger's Eye Formed?

This transformation process is called metamorphism, an important step in forming many different types of stones and crystals you see today. During metamorphism, the minerals that make up the Crocidolite are rearranged and reorganized, creating new structures and properties. In the case of Blue Tiger's Eye, this process causes the Crocidolite to become fibrous and take on a bluish-gray color.

The next step in forming this variety of Tiger's Eye is the process of alteration. This is where the stone is exposed to fluids containing silicon and iron during over the course 2.5 billion years. These fluids work to replace the asbestos fibers in the Crocidolite with silicon and iron, creating the gemstone's unique chatoyancy, or "cat's eye" effect. The silicon and iron also give Blue Tiger's Eye its characteristic dreamy blue/gray/golden brown color depending on the quantities of the minerals that produce those colors.

The final step in the formation of Blue Tiger's Eye is the weathering and erosion. Over time, the gemstone is exposed to the elements, and the outer layers of the stone begin to wear away. This process can take millions of years, giving Blue Tiger's Eye its unique shape and texture.

It's good to note that Blue Tiger's Eye is not a super common stone and the quality of Blue Tiger's Eye can vary greatly based on locale, with some of the best quality stones being found in mines in South Africa. We have a contact in South Africa that we get a lot of our South African minerals from and every so often we can get a few Kgs. Blue Tiger's Eye. So come back from time to time and we may just have some available.

The History and Cultural Significance of Blue Tiger's Eye

Blue Tiger's Eye, is a stone with a rich history and cultural significance. This stunning stone has been used for thousands of years in jewelry, talismans, and other decorative objects, and it continues to be a popular choice today.

The history of Blue Tiger's Eye can be traced back to ancient civilizations, for instance, the Egyptians believed that Blue Tiger's Eye had powerful properties and used it in amulets like those that represented the sun god Ra to protect against evil spirits. The Romans and Greeks also highly valued the stone and used it to make intricate jewelry and decorative objects. 

This stone continued to be popular throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and was often used to make rings, pendants, and other jewelry. In medieval Europe, Blue Tiger's Eye was believed to have magical powers and was used to ward off evil and negative energies and bring good luck.

Today, it has maintained its popularity and continues to be used in jewelry and other decorative objects. Blue Tiger's Eye is particularly popular in the fashion industry, where it is often used to make statement jewelry and other high-end accessories. 

How to Identify Natural Blue Tiger's Eye vs. Treated or Dyed Blue Tiger's Eye

Blue Tiger's Eye should have a bluish-gray color with a chatoyancy or "cat's eye" effect. If the stone appears too blue or too gray, it may have been treated or dyed. Additionally, natural Tiger's Eye stone should have a consistent color and pattern throughout the stone, whereas treated or dyed stones may have uneven coloring and patterns.

You can also identify raw Blue Tiger's Eye by examining its texture and shape. It should have a smooth surface with no signs of cracking or chipping. The shape of the stone should also be natural and not too perfect. Treated or dyed stones may have an unnatural shape or a rough or bumpy surface. Of course if the item is polished it’ll have a smooth surface so further investigating should be done.

Checking the weight of the stone is another way to determine if the stone is real or fake. Natural Tiger's Eye is a relatively heavy stone; if it feels light, it may be a fake. Also, Tiger's Eye is often cut and polished, while treated or dyed stones may be rough or uncut. Luckily you shouldn’t have to worry about buying fake Tiger’s Eye as it is not as valuable to reproduce as much as it is other higher end minerals and crystals.

Another way to identify Blue Tiger's Eye is to ask where the stone was mined. Natural Blue, Tiger's Eye, is found in only a few places worldwide, such as South Africa, Australia, China, and the US. If the Blue Tiger's Eye you are examining is from an unlikely location or an unknown source, it could be fake.

Now, let's talk about pricing. Tiger's Eye can be pretty expensive, especially if it is of high quality. If the price of the stone is so low that it seems too good to be true, it probably is. However, with that being said, just because a stone is expensive doesn't mean it is natural, either. There are plenty of shady and unaware dealers willing to sell you treated stones for higher than reasonable prices.

Lastly, if you're still unsure if the Blue Tiger's Eye you're looking at is natural, the best thing to do is take it to a university or gemologist. Someone in the geology department at the university might be willing and able to examine the stone and give you a definitive answer.

Identifying Blue Tiger's Eye can be tricky, but by examining the color, texture, shape, weight, location, and price of the stone, you'll be able to spot natural Blue Tiger's Eye in no time! And if you're still not sure, don't be afraid to consult with a professional, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Natural Blue Tiger's Eye Compared to Other Varieties of Tiger's Eye

Although this variety of Tiger's Eye that we're talking about is known for its distinctive color and striking "cat's eye" effect, it's not the only variety of Tiger's Eye available. In fact, there are several different types of Tiger's Eye, each with its own unique properties and characteristics.

One of the most common varieties of Tiger's Eye is Gold Tiger's Eye. This gemstone is known for its golden color and has a "cat's eye" effect similar to Blue Tiger's Eye. Golden Tiger's Eye has the same properties similar to Blue Tiger's Eye, such as grounding and protection, and helps give you the ability to speak your personal truth (Throat Chakra).

Another variety of Tiger's Eye is Red Tiger's Eye. This gemstone is known for its deep red color and also has a "cat's eye" effect similar to Golden Tiger's Eye. Red Tiger's Eye is has powerful grounding properties and can help with balance and stability. Some have said that it has an intense energy that can enhance psychic abilities and bring good luck. Unfortunately, this has not been the case with us but we continue to love Tiger’s Eye none the less!

A third variety of Tiger's Eye is the Brown Tiger's Eye. This gemstone is known for its brown color and again, similar "cat's eye" effect. In our humble opinion, Blue Tiger's Eye stands out the best for its sheer black and blue colors compared to these Tiger's Eye varieties. Any of these Tiger's Eye varieties can be used for their believed metaphysical and spiritual properties. For collectors though, Blue Tiger's Eye is particularly amazing for its iridescent shimmering when under the natural morning sun.

What is the Rarest Tiger's Eye Color?

The most common colors of Tiger Eye are the yellow/golden/brown color and reddish brown color, but there are other colors that are harder to find like Blue Tiger’s Eye and Green Tiger’s Eye.

Blue Tiger's Eye

One of the harder to find colors of Tiger's Eye is the blue variety. Blue Tiger's Eye is formed when the mineral crocidolite, which is blue in color, is replaced by silica. This process gives the stone its unique color. Blue Tiger's Eye is typically found in South Africa and is considered “rare”, making it sought after by collectors.

Green Tiger's Eye

Green Tiger's Eye is also considered to be variety that is tough to find, especially very high quality. It is formed when iron oxide is present in the mineral during the formation process. Like the blue variety above, Green Tiger's Eye is typically found in South Africa but, unlike Blue Tiger’s Eye, Green Tiger’s Eye can also be found in Madagascar. Much like Blue Tiger's Eye, the green variety is also considered fairly rare and sought after by collectors.

Black Tiger's Eye

In addition to Blue and Green Tiger's Eye, there are other rare colors, like Black Tiger’s Eye which is a mixture of black and purple and is formed when the mineral crocidolite is replaced by limonite and hematite, giving it a mostly black color although purple can also be seen.

Purple Tiger's Eye

Purple Tiger's Eye is formed when iron oxide is present in the mineral during the formation process. Tiger's Eye in general is usually found in areas with high iron and silica, such as volcanic rocks. The mineral is typically formed when these elements come into contact with each other and undergo a process of alteration. Under the perfect set of circumstances these conditions produce Tiger’s Eye in rare colors which are sought after by collectors.

Tips for Purchasing Natural Blue Tiger's Eye Specimens

Purchasing natural Blue Tiger's Eye can be tricky if you’ve never purchased minerals or crystals before. But, with a bit of knowledge and some helpful tips, you can get closer to being able to identify high-quality specimens that’ll be a valuable addition to your collection.

The very best tip we can offer is to look for a seller who specializes in just crystals and minerals and who can provide detailed information about any item they’re selling, including where it was found, what minerals are present in the item and if the item has been altered in any way. We definitely avoid purchasing Blue Tiger's Eye from sources we do not know as that increases the risk of getting a treated or dyed stones.

Another good tip is when examining a Blue Tiger's Eye specimen, pay attention to its color, texture, and shape. Blue Tiger's Eye should have a bluish-gray color with a chatoyancy or "cat's eye" effect. The color should be consistent throughout the stone, and the texture should be visually smooth. We have seen some fakes out there, and it’s obvious by the very low prices.

Weight and Shape Can Be Important Indicators

The shape should be natural and not too perfect. If the specimen appears too blue or gray, has uneven coloring, a rough or bumpy surface, or has an unnatural shape, it may not be natural. The more you experience handling Blue Tiger’s Eye, the easy it’ll get to identify the real thing.

Lastly, always consider the price of the specimen; authentic Blue Tiger’s Eye can be quite expensive, especially if it’s high quality. Like they said in the very ancient times, “If the cost of the specimen seems too good to be true, it probably is”. With a little bit of research, you’ll be a pro in no time.

Can Tiger's Eye Bring You Good Luck?

Beyond its historical and decorative uses, Blue Tiger's Eye also holds a deep cultural significance, as it is believed to bring prosperity, success, and good luck in some cultures. It’s also thought to have healing properties and is said to help with issues related to the eyes and the throat (Throat Chakra).

Some believe it has spiritual significance and is often used in meditation and spiritual practices to help focus concentration and decision-making, making it a popular choice for anyone looking to improve their mental clarity or bring emotional balance.

Blue Tiger's Eye is a well-known talisman for protection, especially for travelers. Its said to protect the wearer from danger and to bring good luck on the journey. Even if you don’t follow this line of thinking, you can’t deny that bringing a little bit of Tiger’s Eye with you when you travel can’t hurt.

With its beautiful blue color, unique chatoyancy or "cat's eye" effect, and powerful healing and spiritual properties, Blue Tiger's Eye is a gemstone that is really deserving of its reputation as a beautiful gemstone. Blue Tiger's Eye is worth considering if you're looking to add a touch of vibrant blue/black to your jewelry collection or improve your spiritual practice.

More Healing Properties Associated with Natural Blue Tiger's Eye

Blue Tiger's Eye is also known to some as “healing crystals” and believed to have powerful properties and a wide range of associated metaphysical beliefs. Throughout history, Blue Tiger's Eye has been used in various cultures for its healing energy and spiritual significance and continues to be a popular choice for those looking to improve their physical and mental well-being.

One of the most well-known properties of Blue Tiger's Eye is its ability to help with issues related to the eyes (Third Eye Chakra) and throat (Throat Chakra). The gemstone is believed to help improve eyesight, reduce eye strain, and relieve sore throats. It’s also thought to help with headaches and migraines, making it a popular choice for those who suffer from these conditions.

Blue Tiger's Eye can have powerful grounding properties, like helping with emotional balance, and stability, making it a popular choice for those looking to feel more connected to the Earth.

Spiritual and Metaphysical Properties of Blue Tiger's Eye

One of the most popular metaphysical beliefs associated with Blue Tiger's Eye is its ability to bring prosperity, success, and good luck. Helping to manifest abundance and prosperity in all areas of life, making it a popular choice for those looking to improve their financial well-being. In addition to its healing and spiritual properties, we've heard through close friends that some can feel a powerful energy that can enhance psychic abilities, or helping with developing psychic abilities like clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition.

Now, it's worth mentioning that healing properties and metaphysical beliefs associated with Blue Tiger's Eye should not replace any medical treatments; always consult with a medical professional before using any gemstone as a treatment. Blue Tiger's Eye stones are worth considering whether you're looking to improve your physical health, enhance your spiritual practice, or bring good luck and prosperity into your life.

Caring for Your Blue Tiger's Eye Specimens

To keep your specimen looking its best, handling it carefully and avoiding exposing it to harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures is super important. When cleaning your protective stone, use a soft cloth and warm water. Avoid using detergents if possible unless heavily soiled but even then, do so with caution and try a small inconspicuous area first. Very important, avoid using ultrasonic or steam cleaners, as these can damage the stone beyond repair.

Make sure to properly store your crystals or minerals. Keep it in a cool, dry place, away from other gemstones or jewelry that may scratch or damage the body of the stone. A soft cloth or velvet pouch or display case is an excellent option to store it.

Final Thoughts on Buying and Caring for Your Blue Tiger’s Eye

Purchasing and caring for Blue Tiger's Eye can be tricky, but with a little knowledge and these helpful tips, you closer to spotting a high-quality specimen. Always purchase from reputable sources, and pay attention to the specimen's color, texture, shape, weight, and price.

When caring for your specimen, handle it with care, avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures, use warm water when cleaning and always store it in a cool and dry place. Following these tips will ensure that your natural Blue Tiger's Eye specimen will be a treasured possession for many years to come.

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*The views expressed in this article should not be substituted for medical advice. All metaphysical properties claimed in association with healing crystals come from books, writings, folklore, ancient wisdom and beliefs, and other sources. Their power will vary depending upon the spiritual beliefs and mindset of each individual using them. We recommend doing additional research to evaluate your available options before following any tips or advice in this journal entry.