What is Cat’s Eye Apatite?
Resembling the eye of a cat, Cat’s Eye Apatite is a greenish-yellow to bluish-green gemstone of the apatite mineral family.
It’s a unique variety of apatite which exhibits a rare optical phenomenon known as 'chatoyancy.’ The official term for the cat's eye effect is derived from the French oeil de chat, meaning ‘the eye of the cat.’ Chatoyancy is a unique reflection of light that appears as a bright, narrow slit, similar to the pupils in the eyes of your favorite feline. This impact gives this gemstone a unique identity and exclusive name.
Determining Cat’s Eye Apatite Value
Is Cat’s Eye Apatite valuable? The value of colored stones is typically determined by a combination of its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. This is no different when determining what Cat’s Eye Apatite is worth. These guidelines will help you choose stones for your collection.
- Cat’s Eye Apatite Color
The most valuable trait when evaluating cat's eye gemstones is the strength and sharpness of the 'eye,’ followed closely by the intensity of its color. Cat’s Eye Apatite can be found in many hues, including pink, yellow, green, blue or violet. Due to its high demand and lesser availability, Cat’s Eye Apatite in greenish yellow or deep honey color commands the highest value.
- Cat’s Eye Apatite Clarity
Cat's Eye Apatite is mostly translucent to transparent due to the presence of rutile inclusions. The presence of these needle-like inclusions creates the cat’s eye effect. The best quality specimens will show a sharp contrast between the eye and bodycolor of the stone.
- Cat’s Eye Apatite Cut
Cat's Eye Apatite is mostly cut as a cabochon. Cabochons maximize the effects of chatoyancy. Cat's Eye Apatite may also be cut into round-cabochons or pear-shaped cabochons, but these are rarer and command a higher price.
- Cat’s Eye Apatite Carat
The stone’s low yield means that larger specimens aren’t readily available, limiting the size of polished stones to around a carat or less. Most apatite gems are about a half carat in size.
Cat’s Eye Apatite Treatment
Cat’s Eye Apatite undergoes heat treatment to improve and enhance the color of the stone. This is a stable treatment that requires no additional care.
Caring for Cat’s Eye Apatite
Simply wash your apatite gem and jewelry using a soft brush and warm soapy water. Always store apatite gemstones in a soft cloth, or place them in a fabric-lined box. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners in addition to chemical cleaners, which can damage the stone.
Who Can Wear Cat’s Eye Apatite?
Wearing Cat’s Eye Apatite can be truly helpful for those conducting business and those involved in speculative activities such as horse racing or the stock exchanging. It’s a guardian stone used for the purpose of fulfilling dreams. It has a power to enhance intuition and alleviate pain and suffering caused by arthritis or other joint-related health problems. This gemstone purportedly leads to spiritual bliss, victory, and fortune.
Cat’s Eye Apatite is regarded as a divine stone. It could be worn in many forms like earrings, rings, necklace, and pendants. But due to astrological benefits, it is recommended to wear a cat’s eye in the form of a ring or pendant. The continuously vibrating power of the stone protects the individual from any obstacle caused through any external negative energy and thus creating a positive aura around.
How Does Cat’s Eye Apatite Compare to Other Apatite Stones?
Cat’s Eye Apatite is a rare and unique chatoyant variety of apatite. There are a number of other minerals and gemstones that can be easily confused with apatite, such as tourmaline, sphene, beryl and topaz. There are also other gem varieties that can occur with chatoyancy, including cat's eye chrysoberyl, quartz, tourmaline, sillimanite and aquamarine. In many cases, because apatite can occur in a wide variety of colors, it can be easily confused with other cat's eye gemstones.
Where Does Cat’s Eye Apatite come from?
If you’re still thinking “where does Cat’s Eye come from,” then wonder no longer. Shop LC sources this variety of apatite from Brazil. Other locations include Madagascar and Sri Lanka.
How is Cat’s Eye Apatite Mined?
A variety of methods are used in mining apatite. Large-scale mining operations use machinery for extracting the stone from large open pits. On the other side of things, artisanal miners employ hand tools when digging the stone from the ground.
Cat’s Eye Apatite Properties
What Does Cat’s Eye Apatite Mean?
Many gem therapists view Cat’s Eye Apatite as a stone of intelligence. It is a stone for practicing meditation and achieving spiritual heights in life. Devotees maintain that this stone has the power to enhance wisdom and intellect of an individual.
Other benefits of this gemstone includes removeing fear, and guarding a person against evil spirits and black magic. Some believe that this stone helps in healing many serious health-related diseases and diagnosing cancer. Wearing Cat’s Eye Apatite stone can resolve memory problems and regaining interest in studies.
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. These remedies, approaches, and techniques are not a substitute for professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat any ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.
Is Cat’s Eye Apatite a Birthstone?
Cat’s Eye Apatite is not an official modern birthstone.
Cat’s Eye Apatite Facts
- Cat’s Eye Apatite ranks five on the Mohs scale of hardness.
- This variety of apatite is known for yellow-green to deep-honey color.
- Shop LC sources our supply of Cat’s Eye Apatite from Brazil.
- Cat’s Eye Apatite undergoes heat treatment to enhance color.
- The cat's eye is best viewed under direct lighting. As the stone is rotated, the effect can be observed to shift across the surface of the stone.