Tiger's Eye Tumblestone

A polished tumblestone of tiger's eye, golden to red-brown with that unmistakable silky band of light that shifts as you turn it in your fingers. It's a chatoyant gemstone, usually a metamorphic rock formed in regions rich in iron ore, and like the blue-toned hawk's eye it belongs to the quartz group, taking its lustre from the parallel intergrowth of quartz crystals and altered amphibole fibres.

The name refers as much to the stone's symbolism as to its appearance: protection and vigilance, and the intensity of a tiger's gaze. Its history runs a long way back. Amulets and jewellery of tiger's eye have been found in the tombs of the pharaohs in Egypt, worn as symbols of power and protection and regarded as talismans capable of repelling negative energies. Elsewhere in Africa, warriors carried it into battle as an amulet for courage and success, believing it sharpened their agility and insight.

Deposits were discovered in South Africa in the nineteenth century, and for a while the stone was treated as a rare jewel for a privileged few. As further deposits turned up in West Africa and Asia it became more accessible, settling into its place as a semi-precious stone valued for its aesthetic and its protective qualities without ever losing its association with strength and resilience. Today it's carried to boost self-confidence, invite good fortune and guard against negative energy.

Each tumblestone is hand-selected by Rachel before listing for beauty, grade and energetic purity, so you're choosing from a curated collection. As these are natural stones, yours will vary in size, shape and banding from the ones photographed, which is rather the joy of them.

Every order qualifies for a free gift. Orders over £75 (excluding postage) qualify for a free crystal heart, and orders over £150 qualify for free delivery.