What gives a cat's eye its value?

Above all, a thin, sharp, bright eye running straight through the centre. Body colour and the milk and honey effect come next.

Is quartz cat's eye the same as lehsunia?

Not really. Traditional lehsunia is chrysoberyl cat's eye, which is harder and worth considerably more than the quartz kind.

How can I recognise glass cat's eye?

Glass gives an unnaturally perfect, stiff line and often shows a honeycomb pattern from the side. A lab test settles it.

Can I wear cat's eye in a daily ring?

Chrysoberyl cat's eye, at 8.5 on the Mohs scale, is very durable. Quartz cat's eye is softer but still fine with sensible care.

Cat's Eye (Lehsunia) Quality Guide

How Lehsunia Is Graded: Eye, Colour and Milk-and-Honey

In short: Lehsunia is graded on its eye first: a thin, sharp, bright line running straight through the centre of the dome that opens and closes cleanly as the stone turns. After that come the prized milk and honey effect, body colour (honey yellow, greenish yellow and apple green are favoured) and cut. Chrysoberyl cat's eye is the most valued.

2 min read

In this article

Start by asking which cat's eye it is
What dealers check, in order
Fibre-optic glass and other fakes
Wearing lehsunia
Choosing your lehsunia

Written by Sameer

Reviewed on 21 October 2026

Lehsunia is judged on something most gems simply do not have: one bright line of light that slides across the dome as you turn the stone. The trade calls it chatoyancy. It comes from fine parallel needles or fibres inside the stone, and its quality outweighs size, shape and nearly everything else. That single line can put two stones of the same weight a long way apart in price.

Start by asking which cat's eye it is

More than one mineral can show an eye. The lehsunia of Vedic tradition is chrysoberyl cat's eye: very hard at 8.5 on the Mohs scale, and the one people value most. Quartz cat's eye is much more common, softer at around 7, and its eye is fainter. Tourmaline, apatite and a few others can show the effect too. A proper listing tells you which mineral you are buying, because their prices cannot be compared like for like.

What dealers check, in order

1. The eye

The ideal is a thin, sharp, bright line that runs straight across the centre of the dome from one end to the other, opening and closing cleanly as you turn the stone. An eye that is wide, blurry, off-centre or broken into pieces pulls the value down.

2. Milk and honey

Hold a torch to one side of a good chrysoberyl cat's eye and the half nearest the light goes milky while the far half stays honey coloured. Rotate the stone and the two halves swap. This "milk and honey" effect is highly prized and is one of the clearest signs of fine material.

3. Body colour

The traditional favourites are honey yellow, greenish yellow and apple green. Very dark or flat brown stones usually rank lower.

4. Cut and proportions

Cat's eye is always cut as a cabochon, and the height of the dome affects how crisp the eye looks. Cutters often leave extra weight on the underside to keep the eye centred, so ask for or study side photos.

Fibre-optic glass and other fakes

Fibre-optic glass gives a band that is too sharp and too perfectly straight, and from the side you can often see a honeycomb pattern. A real stone's line looks a touch softer and more alive. If you are unsure, an independent lab can test the stone; ask us before you order.

Wearing lehsunia

Chrysoberyl is hard enough to make an excellent everyday ring stone. In South Asian tradition cat's eye is linked to Ketu and worn for protection and sudden good luck. These are traditional beliefs, not guaranteed outcomes. Agree the weight and metal with your astrologer first, and see our rashi guide.

Choosing your lehsunia

We check and photograph every stone in our cat's eye collection on its own, so you can judge the eye yourself before ordering. You could also compare green agate or nephrite. Urdu names are listed on our names page. We send everything from Karachi with Cash on Delivery: Karachi orders usually arrive within 1 to 2 working days, and Lahore and other cities follow a little later.

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