Tiger eye is a golden-brown or rust colored stone that is popular for its metaphysical properties as well as for jewelry and ornamental purposes. But what determines the price of this lustrous gem? Here is an overview of the factors that impact the cost of tiger eye stone.
Scarcity
Like many gemstones, supply and demand plays a key role in tiger eye pricing. Tiger eye is composed of asbestos fibers that have been naturally replaced by silica. This type of stone is relatively abundant compared to rarer gems but high-quality tiger eye is still scarce enough to command a higher price. The finest tiger eye with rich, shimmering bands of color and a high polish demands a higher price than more common material.
Color
Tiger eye stones exhibit banding in golden-brown, yellow, or reddish-brown hues. The most desirable and expensive tiger eye exhibits a rich, vibrant golden color. Pale yellow or brownish material is less valuable. Color intensity and saturation are key value factors.
Clarity
Tiger eye should be relatively free of flaws and inclusions. Stones with distinct banding and high clarity score higher prices. Lower grade tiger eye may have flaws, cloudiness, or indistinct banding that reduces value.
Cut
Cabochons, beads, and tumbled stones are common tiger eye cuts. The most prized cuts exhibit strong chatoyancy, or cat's eye effect. Well-cut cabochons with a dome shape to maximize chatoyancy are most expensive. Finely cut and polished beads or tumbled stones also fetch higher pricing. Rough tiger eye is least valuable.
Carat Weight
For cabochons and beads, larger stones command a higher per carat price. While size does matter, cut quality is also important for maximizing value. For tumbled stones sold in bulk, weight directly impacts price.
Source Location
The top sources for tiger eye are South Africa, India, Burma, Western Australia and California USA. South African tiger eye with vibrant color and banding from the Crocodile River area reaches the highest prices. Gem-quality Australian tiger eye is also highly valued. Source locality is an important value factor.
Treatments
Completely natural, untreated tiger eye is most valuable. Heating or dyeing to enhance color reduces value significantly. Irradiation to create cat's eye chatoyancy is also common but lowers price. Buyers should seek untreated, natural stones verified by lab certificates.
So, scarcity, color, clarity, cut, carat weight, source location, and treatments all impact tiger eye value. Top quality cabochons over 5 carats can reach $7 to $20 per carat. Beads in the 5mm to 10mm range sell for $10 to $30 per strand. Tumbled stones usually sell for under $10 per ounce. With its mesmerizing shimmer, tiger eye offers great beauty and metaphysical energy at affordable prices for most buyers.
