Cat’s Eye quartz is formed due to the presence of fibrous mineral inclusions, in a parallel orientation within the quartz. These parallel oriented features reflect light in the form of a well-defined bright band -which moves across the surface of the material- when it is turned.

When cut into a “cabochon” shape, with a rounded surface this “cat’s-eye” effect becomes much more pronounced. When the stone is cut into a circle or an oval shape, the parallel fibers produce striking chatoyancy or the cat’s eye effect.

Quartz Cat’s Eye is usually located and mined in the veins that form within the quartz rock. Cat’s Eye is usually near milky quartz that borders quartz veins. Quartz becomes increasingly transparent towards the center of the vein.

Cat’s Eye has a specific luster called chatoyancy. Its chatoyant luster, crystal structure and transparency make it stand out from normal quartz. The Cat’s Eye quartz is a striking gemstone that is mysterious and luxurious

Cat’s-eye quartz is generally recognized by its chatoyant luster and hardness. It can be identified as quartz by its crystal habit, transparency, hardness, conchoidal fracture, occurrence and general lack of cleavage.