Cross-Chatoyant Tiger’s Eye Oval Cabochon

This polished oval cabochon from Northern Cape, South Africa, presents an unusual arrangement of pattern and light. A softly rippling, fur-like structure runs lengthwise through the stone, while several chatoyant bands appear across it from the opposite direction.

Tiger’s eye belongs to the quartz group and is known for its silky lustre, created by parallel mineral structures within the material. Here, that familiar optical movement is given a more complex character by the crossing directions.

Despite its slim profile, Joun finds this piece relatively easy to handle. View it beneath a direct light and slowly change the angle to follow the shifting bands across the polished surface.