A natural tiger eye of 11.60 carats, about 12.75 ratti, at Rs. 1,730 – roughly Rs. 149 per carat.

The crispest band of the six, and why that suits a pendant

Chatoyancy can be measured two ways, and both matter.

The first is how strongly the lightness varies from one slice of the stone to the next: on this one, 30.5% of its mean lightness, which is above the middle of the six in this category. The second is how directional that variation is – whether the stone bands in one direction and stays even in every other, which is what parallel fibres do, or varies much the same whichever way you slice it, which is just blotchiness. On that measure this stone reads 3.11, the highest of the six, where the least directional reads 1.87.

In plain terms: its band is the cleanest and best defined in this tray. And a band of light only shows itself when the stone moves through the light, which is exactly what a pendant does all day and a ring on a desk does not.

A balanced outline, which matters for hanging

This stone is about 1.17 times as long as it is wide – the most balanced of the six, where the longest measures 1.36. A near-equal oval hangs square on a chain instead of tipping, and looks the same from any angle. At 11.60 carats it has real presence without being heavy enough to drag on a fine chain.

Honest about the colour

About 73% of this stone's face reads as golden brown, which is the lowest share of the six, and it is the darkest stone here, with a mean lightness of about 82 on a 0-255 scale against 107 for the brightest. The rest of the face is deep near-black fibre banding.

That is a description, not a fault. The dark ground is exactly why the bright band stands out so clearly on this stone. But if you are after an even honey colour rather than strong contrast, another stone in this category suits you better.

What tiger eye is

A quartz built of parallel fibres; light reflecting off all of them together gathers into one bright line at right angles to them, and the line travels as the stone turns. That is chatoyancy, from the French for cat's eye, and in Urdu the stone is chashm-e-babri. At Mohs 7 it is hard enough for a ring worn daily, so a pendant is a preference here rather than a precaution.

Colour and treatment, plainly

Golden brown is tiger eye's natural colour. The red and some of the blue tiger eye sold elsewhere is produced by heating or dyeing, which is the usual treatment in this material. This stone has no laboratory report and its treatment has not been tested, so we are stating the norm rather than a finding about this piece.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners and prolonged direct sun. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural tiger eye with a weight of 11.6 Carat. Its price is Rs. 1,730 — roughly Rs. 149 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000481 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

On the Mohs scale tiger eye rates 7. It handles daily wear, but a hard knock can still nick an exposed corner, so a protective setting is a sensible choice. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and keep it away from abrasive cleaners and high heat.

Whoever you buy tiger eye from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every tiger eye for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Tiger eye is usually untreated; red and some blue colours are produced by heating or dyeing. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.