Tiger’s eye gold countertops hold a captivating glow that is one of a kind and simply unmistakable. These striking countertops are a rarity, capable of highlighting a bathroom with a royal grandeur that is filled with seemingly flawless natural stone patterns.
Tiger’s eye is a metamorphic rock that features a bold golden hue filled with speckles of red, brown, and yellow throughout the stone. Classified as a type of quartz, tiger’s eye is held in high-esteem as a luxury that is recognized for its unique look and outstanding longevity. While tiger’s eye may appear to hold an elusive charm, you may be surprised to learn that it is actually used for healing rituals as well. Certain mystical properties make it a “protective stone” as characterized in a special style of Feng Shui healing.
Tiger’s Eye Gold Bathroom. Image via Stone Smiths. Click to view larger image.
Where does Tiger’s Eye Come From?
Tiger’s eye is predominantly sourced in certain areas of South Africa and East Asia. Within the United States, this gemstone has been extracted from Arizona and California on rare occasions. These geographic locations have serpentine deposits that can contain chatoyant bands of chrysotile fibers. Often times, this source of the gemstone is renamed as “Arizona Tiger’s Eye” or “California Tiger’s Eye.”
What Does it Look Like?
Tiger’s eye has brilliant reflective qualities that make these countertops shimmer in the light. This chatoyant gemstone is rich in color, holding opalescent qualities that have made it a highly desired commodity for high-end kitchen and bathroom vanity countertops. When you look closely, you will find hues of golden-brown, yellow, and a hint of red undertones. As a natural stone, each slab has its own unique pattern and may contain variations of the aforementioned characteristics.
A beautiful Tiger’s Eye Gold Slab. Image via TM Supply. Click to view large image.
Cabochan – Tiger’s Eye Cut
In order to achieve the highest standard of beauty and visual stimulation, tiger’s eye is cut using cabochan. This is a style of preparing a stone that dictates the manner in which it is cut and polished. It contrasts a faceted cut (flat faces), resulting in a rounded top with a flat bottom. This gives it the appearance of a cat-eye which is attributed to gemstones with the catoyance effect. By using cabochan cuts, tiger’s eye is able to magnify the fibrous structure of the stone and retain remarkable reflective qualities.
Tiger’s eye countertops are hard to find in the United States, most slabs being imported from foreign countries. This species of quartz is noted for its contrasting bands of rich colors that undulate across the countertop. You can tell authentic tiger’s eye by noting the rich colors and a certain depth in the actual stone. You will be able to note the three dimensional quality as the inner workings of the stone reveal flowing fibers that vary on different levels.
Tiger’s Eye Gold Bathroom Countertop. Image via Complete Home. Click to view large image.
Tiger’s Eye Applications
Tiger’s eye gemstones were originally used as a good luck charm by pagans. In the same mystical fashion, it continues to be used for healing purposed because of the watchful energy that has often been attributed to it. For this reason, tiger’s eye is often used for beads and custom protective jewelry.
In the home, tiger’s eye is used for kitchen countertops, bathroom counters, and even flooring. As one can imagine, this hard to find quartz is rather expensive but delivers a distinctive translucent gold tone that has an enamoring effect on guests. The natural contrast provided by brown and gold tones are coupled with gorgeous reflective qualities, creating an alluring countertop that is easy to fall in love with.
A close up of Tiger’s Eye Gold. Click to view large image.
Browsing for the right countertop? You can learn more about other types of luxury countertops like Dark Emperador and Carrera Marble here!
About this Post
Cheryl Khan is an interior design and freelance writer. This Christmas, she will enjoy sipping hot chocolate and replaying all of her favorite Holiday movies with the family. Merry Christmas!
