Tiger’s Eye – The Stone of Courage

Tiger’s Eye, with its mesmerizing, chatoyant bands of gold, brown, and black, is a variety of quartz known for its eye-like appearance. This gemstone is primarily found in South Africa, with significant deposits also in Australia, India, and the USA.

Etymology

The name “Tiger’s Eye” reflects its resemblance to the eye of a tiger, capturing the wild and vibrant spirit of the animal. It’s also known as: Cat’s Eye for its chatoyancy, though this term is more commonly used for other minerals with similar optical effects, Tiger Eye, Hawk’s Eye when referring to the blue variety, Tigrite.

Cosmic Junction

Tiger’s Eye resonates with the solar plexus chakra, symbolizing courage, strength, and personal power.

Ancient Egyptian Culture: Used in the eyes of funerary statues to ensure protection in the afterlife, symbolizing all-seeing wisdom and protection.

Roman Lore: Roman soldiers wore Tiger’s Eye for protection in battle, believing it could ward off curses and bring victory.

Modern Metaphysical Practices: It’s used to boost confidence, harness inner strength, and provide clarity in decision-making. Tiger’s Eye is also thought to balance yin and yang energies, promoting harmony and balance in one’s life.

Stainless Steel | 18k PVD Gold Finish

Material Composition: The base material of these earrings includes high-grade stainless steel, commonly types 304 or 316L, known for excellent corrosion resistance and hypoallergenic qualities. Over this, an 18k Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) gold finish is applied, giving the appearance of real gold while enhancing durability.

Manufacturing Process:

• Material Selection: Opt for high-quality stainless steel for the base, which ensures longevity and resistance to tarnishing.
• PVD Coating Preparation: The stainless steel is cleaned and prepared for the PVD process to ensure adhesion of the gold layer.
• PVD Application: Gold atoms are vaporized in a vacuum chamber and deposited onto the steel in a process that bonds the gold at an atomic level, creating a hard, durable gold coating.
• Cutting & Shaping: After coating, the steel is cut and shaped into the desired forms, like fish/french hooks for earrings.
• Polishing & Finishing: The gold-coated steel is polished to enhance the finish’s luster and smoothness.
• Quality Control: Each piece is checked for uniformity of the gold layer, adherence to jewelry standards, and overall integrity.

Why They Don’t Oxidize

The stainless steel base forms a protective chromium oxide layer which prevents rust. The PVD gold coating adds another layer of protection, making the jewelry highly resistant to oxidation, even in humid or salty environments.

Magnetic Properties

Similar to plain stainless steel, the 18k PVD gold finish does not alter the magnetic properties significantly. The stainless steel might still have slight magnetic qualities based on its composition or processing, but this is not affected by the PVD layer.

Hypoallergenic Assurance

The gold PVD coating further seals the nickel content within the stainless steel, reducing the likelihood of skin reactions. This combination ensures that the earrings are suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies to base metals.