How do I care for tigereye crystal jewellery?

Gemstones take centuries to emerge from the earth. But some can be ruined with just a few hours of exposure to sunlight, perfume or water. Here’s how to care for your tigereye crystal jewellery.

What is tigereye?

Tigereye is a dark stone with beautiful stripes of gold, sand, black and brown. It’s part of the same mineral family as jasper and agate, which are also powerful magical gems. Traditionally, tigereye has been carried to ward off evil and curses. It’s found in South Africa, India and Western Australia, where the air is hot and dry.

How hard is rose quartz?

The hardness of crystals and gemstones is ranked on what’s called a Mohs scale. A high rank on the Mohs scale means a gemstone or crystal is very hard. A low score means it is very soft, and could be damaged by light, scratches or water.

Tigereye ranks a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. That means tigereye is fairly hard, and will not be damaged when exposed to light or heat. It is also fairly difficult to damage by scratching.

How do I care for my tigereye jewellery?

With a high Mohs score, tigereye jewellery should be fairly durable. The stone itself is unlikely to scratch or discolour, and can be gently washed in warm, soapy water.

But you will want to be mindful of the fastings, which are the bits and pieces that make the stones a complete piece of jewellery. Cunningfolk tigereye jewellery is strung on 100% real silk. To preserve the silk, remove your tigereye jewellery when you shower or go swimming.

Many pieces of tigereye jewellery will also use gold filled, gold plated or gold vermeil clasps. These can tarnish, so try to avoid showering or swimming with your tigereye jewellery on.

Tigereye jewellery from Cunningfolk can be washed in warm, soapy water, then rinsed and hung to dry. Check our blog for incense blends and rituals to recharge the magical properties of your gemstones.