What makes a cat's eye valuable?

A thin, sharp, bright eye running straight across the centre matters most, followed by body colour and the milk and honey effect.

Is quartz cat's eye the same as lehsunia?

Not quite. Traditional lehsunia is chrysoberyl cat's eye, which is harder and more valuable than quartz cat's eye.

How do I spot glass cat's eye?

Glass shows an unnaturally perfect, rigid line and often a honeycomb pattern from the side. A lab test confirms it.

Is cat's eye suitable for a daily ring?

Chrysoberyl cat's eye, at 8.5 on the Mohs scale, is very durable. Quartz cat's eye is softer but still fine with sensible care.

Cat Eye Stone Quality: How Lehsunia Is Graded

Lehsunia Grading: The Eye, the Colour and the Honey Tone

In short: Lehsunia is graded first on its eye: a thin, sharp, bright line running straight through the centre of the dome, opening and closing cleanly as it turns. Next comes the prized milk and honey effect, then body colour, with honey yellow, greenish yellow and apple green favoured, and finally cut. Chrysoberyl cat's eye is the most valued.

2 min read

In this article

First, which cat's eye is it?
What the trade looks at, in order
Fibre-optic glass and other fakes
Wearing lehsunia
Choosing your lehsunia

GemStore team — written by the people who list and pack every stone.

Reviewed on 19 October 2026

Cat's eye (lehsunia) is judged by a feature most gems do not have: a single bright line of light that glides across the dome as you turn it. That line, called chatoyancy, is caused by fine parallel needles or fibres inside the stone, and its quality matters more than size, shape or almost anything else. Two stones of the same weight can sit far apart in price because of it.

First, which cat's eye is it?

Several minerals can show an eye. The classic lehsunia of Vedic tradition is chrysoberyl cat's eye, very hard at 8.5 on the Mohs scale and the most valued. Quartz cat's eye is far more common and softer at around 7, with a fainter eye. Tourmaline, apatite and others can also show the effect. A listing should say which mineral you are buying, because the prices are not comparable.

What the trade looks at, in order

1. The eye itself

The best eye is a thin, sharp, bright line running straight through the centre of the dome from end to end. It should open and close cleanly as the stone turns. A wide, blurred or off-centre eye, or one that breaks into fragments, lowers the value.

2. Milk and honey

Shine a torch from one side of a fine chrysoberyl cat's eye and the near half turns milky while the far half stays honey coloured. Turn it and the halves swap. This "milk and honey" effect is prized and is one of the clearest signs of good material.

3. Body colour

Honey yellow, greenish yellow and apple green are the traditional favourites. Very dark or dull brown stones usually rank lower.

4. Cut and proportions

Cat's eye is always cut as a cabochon, and the dome height affects how crisp the eye looks. Cutters often leave extra weight underneath to keep the eye centred, so check side photographs.

Fibre-optic glass and other fakes

Fibre-optic glass shows an unnaturally sharp, perfectly straight band and often a honeycomb pattern when viewed from the side. Real stones show a slightly softer, living line. If in doubt, independent lab testing can be arranged on request.

Wearing lehsunia

Chrysoberyl's hardness makes it an excellent daily ring stone. In South Asian practice cat's eye is linked to Ketu and worn for protection and sudden good fortune; these are traditional beliefs, not guaranteed outcomes. Settle weight and metal with your astrologer first, and see our rashi guide.

Choosing your lehsunia

Every stone in our cat's eye collection is inspected and photographed on its own, so you can judge the eye before you order. You might also compare green agate or nephrite. Urdu names are on our names page, and we deliver with Cash on Delivery to Lahore, Karachi and every other city.

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