In this article
Written by Sameer
Reviewed on
Tiger iron, or iron tiger eye, is a banded rock built from three materials stacked in layers: golden tiger's eye, red jasper and shiny grey hematite. It doesn't cost much, it wears well and every piece has its own personality, so it makes a good first stone for a new buyer. What takes a little skill is finding a piece where all three layers sit well together.
The three layers
- Golden tiger's eye: silky bands that seem to move as you tilt the stone.
- Red jasper: opaque bands from brick red to rust, which give the stone its warmth.
- Hematite: steel-grey to black stripes with a metallic shine.
The classic material comes from Western Australia, though similar banded iron rock is found in other places. No two pieces are alike, because the layers were folded by nature over an enormously long time.
What to look for
Balance and contrast
The best-looking stones show crisp bands in all three colours. If a piece is nearly all grey or nearly all red, it loses that lively look.
Shimmer
Hold the stone under a lamp and tilt it. The gold bands should flash and roll across. A strong, silky shimmer adds to the value.
Polish
The three layers are not equally hard, so a rushed polish can leave the soft bands sitting a little lower than the hard ones. Run a fingertip across a good stone and it will feel smooth and even.
Cracks
Check where the bands meet. Small cracks like to form there, and a hairline crack running across a ring stone is a weak spot.
Dyed quartzite and composite stone
The usual fake is dyed quartzite or a dyed composite. Natural bands are irregular: they narrow, widen and fold. Imitation bands tend to repeat evenly, almost like a print. With dyed stone you may also see colour gathered in the cracks. Ask whether the piece is natural and untreated. We state treatments wherever we know of them.
Wearing tiger iron
Depending on the band, tiger iron is about 5.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, which is fine for rings and pendants worn with normal care. Wipe it with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, and store it away from harder gems so the hematite doesn't get scratched.
Check three things before you buy
- It is natural banded rock, not dyed or composite stone.
- Any treatment is stated in writing.
- The weight quoted is for the stone alone.
Every piece in our iron tiger eye collection is checked and photographed by itself, so you see the real banding before you order. You may also like moh-e-najaf or sulemani agate. Urdu names are on our names page. We dispatch from Karachi, where delivery is usually 1–2 working days, and send Cash on Delivery to Lahore and every other city in Pakistan.
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