What Does Tiger's Eye Mean? Symbolism, Lore & Jewelry
Tiger's eye is a golden-brown natural stone from the quartz family, with a silky sheen that glides across the surface when you tilt it, just like the eye of a tiger. In crystal lore, tiger's eye stands for courage, confidence and focus, and it is seen as a protective stone. When people talk about the 'properties' or 'powers' of tiger's eye, they usually mean that traditional meaning: a lovely story to carry with you, not a medical promise.
The short answer
Tiger's eye is quartz with very fine fibers of an iron-bearing mineral running through it: that is where the golden-brown color and the moving play of light come from.
- Meaning: courage, confidence, focus and protection.
- Properties: this is how the stone is traditionally described; there is no scientific evidence of any effect.
- Origin: mainly South Africa and Western Australia, as well as India, Namibia and Brazil, among others.
- Zodiac: often linked to Leo and Capricorn. Tiger's eye is not an official birthstone.
- Care: the stainless steel of your jewelry is waterproof, the stone less so. Take it off for showering, swimming and sports.
What is tiger's eye?
Tiger's eye is a natural stone made of quartz (silicon dioxide) with very fine, parallel fibers of an iron-bearing mineral inside. Over millions of years those fibers have largely altered into iron oxide, and that gives the stone its warm color: from honey yellow and golden brown to deep reddish brown, with light and dark bands.
Its best-known feature is the silky sheen. Because the fibers all run in the same direction, light reflects as a narrow, shining band that moves as you turn the stone. This effect is called chatoyancy, from the French 'chat' (cat): it looks like the eye of a cat, or in this case a tiger. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, tiger's eye is durable enough for jewelry you wear often.
The largest deposits are in South Africa and Western Australia. Tiger's eye is also found in India, Namibia, Myanmar, Brazil and the United States. Because every stone comes from a different layer, no two tiger's eyes have exactly the same banding.
Tiger's eye and its relatives
- Hawk's eyeThe same fibrous structure, but blue-gray, because the fibers did not alter into iron oxide.
- Red tiger's eyeTiger's eye that has been gently heated. The heat turns the stone reddish brown; a common treatment.
- Tiger ironA rock in which tiger's eye, red jasper and black hematite occur together in layers.
- PietersiteA related stone from Namibia, among other places, with a swirling, stormy pattern instead of straight bands.
The meaning of tiger's eye
In books on gemstones and in crystal lore, the same words come up again and again for tiger's eye. That meaning is symbolic: it tells you what people have seen in the stone for a very long time, not what the stone measurably does.
- CourageThe stone is seen as support for moments that take nerve: a job interview, an exam, a new step.
- ConfidenceTiger's eye stands for standing on your own two feet and daring to make decisions.
- FocusJust as the band of light always stays sharp, the stone is said to help you separate what matters from what does not.
- ProtectionOne of the oldest meanings. In some regions tiger's eye is worn to ward off 'the evil eye'.
There are lovely stories about its history, such as Roman soldiers wearing tiger's eye for protection in battle. There is no hard evidence for that; think of it as part of the lore that gives the stone its character. Because tiger's eye suits a fresh start so well, it is often given for a new job, a graduation or a new business.
Tiger's eye properties: what is the stone said to do?
Search for tiger's eye properties and you will often find big promises. We prefer to keep it honest. In crystal lore, tiger's eye is linked to the solar plexus chakra, said to stand for willpower and self-confidence. It is also seen as a 'grounding' stone: something that helps you stay calm and practical when life gets busy.
There is no scientific evidence that a stone has any effect on your body or your mood, and jewelry is no substitute for care or advice. What does work: a piece with a meaning that speaks to you, one you see or feel every day. A tiger's eye on your finger can remind you that you are braver than you think. That is the kind of power we believe in.
Tiger's eye, zodiac signs and birth months
Tiger's eye is not on the classic list of birthstones by month, which was set in the United States in 1912. If you want to choose a stone for a birth month, take a look at our overview of birthstones by month.
In astrology, however, tiger's eye is often linked to Leo (July 23 to August 22), because of its warm, golden color and its association with courage, and to Capricorn (December 22 to January 19), for the grounded determination associated with that sign. Some lists also mention Gemini. You can read more about stones and symbols per sign in zodiac jewelry.
How can you tell if tiger's eye is real?
You can recognize real tiger's eye by three things:
- Moving light. Tilt the stone under a lamp: the band of sheen slides along. A printed or painted plastic imitation does not do that.
- A pattern of its own. The bands are never perfectly regular. Two stones side by side always look slightly different.
- Cool and solid. Natural stone feels cooler and heavier than plastic.
Note that there is also fiber-optic glass that gives a similar light effect, often in unnaturally bright colors. Red tiger's eye is usually heat-treated; that is a common treatment, as long as the seller says so.
Tiger's eye jewelry from Lundholm
At Lundholm you will find genuine tiger's eye in necklaces, rings and small stud earrings, always combined with premium stainless steel in gold-tone or silver-tone. Because it is natural stone, every stone is slightly different in color and pattern. You will find them all in our natural stone jewelry collection.
Tiger's eye necklace
A necklace keeps the stone close to your heart and is the easiest way to wear tiger's eye every day. Choose a rectangular pendant for a clean, slightly vintage look, or an oval one for something softer. The Rosan comes in both gold-tone and silver-tone, and the Cecile also has an oval tiger's eye pendant.
Pictured
Talia – rectangular tiger's eye pendant
A rectangular tiger's eye in a golden frame, on a 45 cm chain with a 5 cm extender. The pendant sits just below your collarbone and looks beautiful against a cream sweater or a white blouse. New this fall.
View the Talia →
Small tiger's eye accents
Prefer something subtle? The Novi studs have a polished tiger's eye of about 8 mm in a golden frame; they also come with rose quartz or lapis lazuli. The Una is a small round pendant of around 11 mm with a domed tiger's eye: lovely for every day and easy to layer.
Tiger's eye ring
A ring is something you see yourself all day, and for many people that is exactly the point of a stone with meaning. The rings below are adjustable, so you do not need to know a ring size: handy when it is a gift. The Tiger ring in the bowl with cinnamon and star anise above has an organic, flowing shape. Read more about shapes and styles in types of rings for women.
Tiger's eye for men
Tiger's eye is one of the few stones you find just as often in men's jewelry as in women's. Its warm brown tones go with leather, denim, a dark T-shirt or a wool sweater, and its meaning (courage, confidence) makes it a strong gift for a new job, a graduation or just because.
You will find more styles and tips in men's jewelry: the complete guide and in our men's jewelry collection.
How to wear tiger's eye
Tiger's eye is at its best in the fall: its golden-brown tones go with camel, cognac, rust, olive green and cream. Wear it with gold-tone jewelry for a warm, calm look, or with silver-tone if you want to show off the contrast. Not sure which suits you? Read gold or silver: which suits me best?
If you combine stones, give one of them the lead role. Tiger's eye with rose quartz makes a soft, warm contrast; with amethyst you get a rich fall combination of golden brown and purple. Lapis lazuli (deep blue) is the classic counterpart. Read more about combining stones in jewelry with stones: the complete guide.
Caring for tiger's eye jewelry
Tiger's eye is fairly hard, but it is still natural stone. The stainless steel of Lundholm jewelry is waterproof and hypoallergenic; the stone is not, at least not in the same way. Water itself does little to quartz, but soap, chlorine, salt water, perfume and lotion can dull the shine over time and affect the setting of the stone. So:
- Take it off around water. Remove your tiger's eye for showering, swimming, sports and the sauna.
- Skincare first, jewelry last. Let perfume, lotion and hairspray dry first.
- Cleaning. Use a soft, slightly damp cloth, then wipe dry. No ultrasonic cleaner or harsh products.
- Store separately. In a pouch or compartment, so the stone does not get scratched by other jewelry.
Want to know more? Read how to clean jewelry by material or which jewelry can handle water.
Tiger's eye as a gift
Because of its meaning, tiger's eye is a gift for moments that take nerve: a new job, final exams, starting a business, a move or any exciting step. Order before 3 pm (CET) on a working day and we ship the same day. Free shipping thresholds depend on your country; you will find the details on our shipping page. When you order from our own web shop, you always get a free gift bag too. On larger orders, our gift ladder adds free gifts as well (different ones every month).
Frequently asked questions about tiger's eye
What is the meaning of tiger's eye?
Tiger's eye traditionally stands for courage, confidence, focus and protection. It is a golden-brown stone from the quartz family with a band of sheen that moves in the light. The meaning is symbolic: it is what people have seen in the stone for a very long time.
What are the properties of tiger's eye?
In crystal lore, tiger's eye is seen as a stone that supports courage, confidence and focus, and it is linked to the solar plexus chakra. There is no scientific evidence of any effect on body or mood. Think of its properties as a meaning you carry with you, not as a medical promise.
Which zodiac sign is tiger's eye for?
Tiger's eye is often linked to Leo and Capricorn, and sometimes to Gemini. It is not an official birthstone.
How do I know if tiger's eye is real?
By the band of sheen that moves when you tilt the stone, and by banding that is never perfectly regular. Fiber-optic glass can give a similar effect, but often comes in unnaturally bright colors.
Can tiger's eye jewelry get wet?
A splash of water does no harm, but take natural stone jewelry off for showering, swimming, sports and the sauna. The stainless steel is waterproof; the stone and its setting are not, at least not in the same way. Soap, chlorine and salt water dull the shine.
Where does tiger's eye come from?
The largest deposits are in South Africa and Western Australia. Tiger's eye is also found in India, Namibia, Myanmar, Brazil and the United States.
Is tiger's eye for men too?
Yes. Tiger's eye is one of the most popular stones in men's jewelry, for example as a beaded bracelet or beaded necklace. Its warm brown tones go well with leather and denim.
Which stones go with tiger's eye?
Rose quartz for a soft contrast, amethyst for a rich fall combination and lapis lazuli as the classic blue counterpart. Choose one stone as the lead and keep the rest simple.
A stone with a story?
Discover all our natural stone jewelry: tiger's eye, amethyst, rose quartz and more. Premium stainless steel, hypoallergenic and beautifully gift-wrapped.
