Multi-colored with tiger eye effect?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Greetings from the far north

Is there anyone that can help me find a stone or a type of glass that
has a tiger eye type of effect but is multi-colored? I’m looking for
a dark material that has blues, reds and greens in it. I’ve been
trying to reproduce the northern lights and I cant seem to find the
right material that can give me that look.

2 
I've been trying to reproduce the northern lights and I cant seem
to find the right material that can give me that look.

Although tiger’s eye can be dyed in the colors you’re looking for,
I’ve never seen one piece with all of them together, just one piece
with solid color. Perhaps you shouls consider some of the synthetic
opal that is out there. It is available with different bodycolors,
including black, blue and pink, as well as the standard white. When
viewed from the side, it has a columnar structure that resembles the
aurora borealis (in an abstract sort of way), and contains the
play-of-color you’re looking for. A Google search of “Gilson opal
rough” and “synthetic opal rough” yields good results.

James S. Duncan, G.G.
James in SoFL

3 
Is there anyone that can help me find a stone or a type of glass
that has a tiger eye type of effect but is multi-colored?

Pietersite is “tigereye in which the chatoyence is brecciated” (in
quotes because I enjoy saying this jargon-y phrase). Anyway, it has
blues, reds, yellows, and occasionally even green, and it quite
beautiful. Whether it looks like the northern lights, I can’t say,
never having seen them. Marra Mamba is an Australian (I believe)
version that has some spectacular scenic effects in a similar color
range-- though it is pricey as these things go.

Be sure to share the results when you find what you’re looking for!

Noel

4

HI T-BO

Have you tried 'Pietersite"? It looks very similar to tigers eye,
but usually has all the colours in it and is an extreemly beautiful
stone.

Regards
Claire Drysdale
South Africa

5

I’m sure many poeple will think of opal right away for this. In
particular, there are some types of Brazilian opal that have a play
of color that has always reminded me of the northern lights. The
color has a soft sheen and is bright without being crisp, if that
makes any sense. It also looks like a holograph, the pattern
appearing to come from almost from behind the stone rather than on
the surface. You’ll know it when you see it. Unfortunantly somewhat
hard to find, but very striking.

Good luck with your project!

6

to T-BO:

Saw your posting for a stone representing the Aurora Borealis. We
saw them late one winter night in northern Wisconsin. Thinking back
to that awesome display, it occurs to me that maybe a well-cut
Labradorite stone would fit the bill. This stone tends to flash those
subdued multi-color hues. Or, less subtle, but definitely
multi-colored,. Abalone shell.

Hope this helps a bit.
Rhona

7

Pietersite will be your least expensive option for the quality. The
cost is $3 - $7 per gram. We are representatives for the African
mine which produces the finest quality in the world at this time. You
may view 1000 examples online for sale.

Ed Cleveland
303-882-8855

8

Just to give you an idea how well I think synthetic opal would work
for this purpose, I posted a couple of pics on the personal page at:

James S. Duncan, G.G.
James in SoFL