Hawk Eye Jewelry
The blue-grey sibling of tiger's eye, with the same silky band of light
Unearthed Gemstones Hawk Eye Jewelry
Click the photos for a closer look of the jewelry pieces
Hardness
6.5 - 7 (Durable): Great for daily wear.
Toughness
Good (Generally resistant to chipping under normal wear)
Mineral Family
Quartz
Transparency
Opaque
Crystal System
Trigonal
Lustre
Silky
What Is Hawk's Eye?
Hawk's eye is the striking blue-grey sibling of tiger's eye. Both form when quartz grows through fibres of blue crocidolite. In tiger's eye, iron has stained the fibres golden brown, but in hawk's eye the original steely blue survives. The parallel fibres create chatoyancy, a band of light that sweeps across the stone like a cat's eye slit as you turn it. Most hawk's eye comes from the Northern Cape of South Africa, alongside its golden cousin, with more from Western Australia and India.
Is Hawk's Eye Durable Enough for Everyday Jewelry?
With quartz's hardness of 6.5 to 7 and a tough fibrous structure, hawk's eye is well suited to daily wear in rings, cufflinks and pendants. It must be cut as a cabochon with the dome aligned to the fibres, otherwise the light band disappears, so cutting quality really matters. Its moody blue makes it a favourite in men's jewellery.
How to Care for Hawk's Eye Jewelry
Care is easy: warm, soapy water and a soft brush.
How to Tell If Hawk's Eye Is Real
It is rarely imitated, though glass fibre-optic cabochons exist and look unnaturally bright.
Gemstones Similar to Hawk Eye
All close relatives: tiger's eye is the iron-stained golden version, and pietersite is the same material folded into swirling patterns.
