What is Tiger's Eye?

Natural stones with flowing light - Why they are popular as watch faces

It has shining golden stripes and a unique glow that looks like flowing light.
Tiger's eye is a popular natural stone used in both jewelry and watch faces.

When polished , the fine golden-brown stripes shine, resembling the iris of a tiger's eye , hence the name.
Its Japanese name is "Tiger's Eye Stone" or "Tiger's Eye Stone," and it is widely known as jewelry and a power stone.

The most distinctive feature of this stone is its chatoyancy (cat's eye effect) , which creates streaky sparkles due to the reflection of light.
It has been prized as a gemstone since ancient times because the bands of light appear to move depending on the angle from which it is viewed.

Tiger's Eye Mineral Structure

Tiger's Eye was originally a fibrous mineral called crocidolite (blue asbestos) .
It is a mineral formed by the infiltration and replacement of quartz (SiO₂).

The characteristics of the mineral are as follows:

◇Main component: Quartz (SiO₂)
◇Mohs hardness: 7
◇Specific gravity: Approx. 2.65
◇Gloss: Glass gloss

Quartzized crocidolite has a structure in which the fibrous tissue is aligned in parallel , which causes differences in light reflection when polished.
This structure creates the chatoyancy effect that is unique to tiger eye.

Why is it golden?

Tiger's Eye forms in the crevices of rocks containing iron .

The color of the stone changes when the iron contained in crocidolite oxidizes.

This results in the following distinctive colors:

◇Golden color◇Yellowish brown
◇Brown

This oxidation of iron gives tiger's eye its characteristic golden glow .

Tiger's Eye Stone Meaning

Tiger's Eye has long been known as a stone that symbolizes strength and insight .
It is generally known by the following stone words:

◇Insight

Decisiveness

◇Career luck

◇Financial luck

◇Success

◇Amulets to ward off evil and misfortune

It has been worn as a talisman since ancient times, as it is said to be a stone that can see the essence of things and lead to calm judgment.
Its powerful and deep glow is not only beautiful to look at, but also has an appealing quality that instills inner confidence and calmness in the wearer.

When tiger's eye is chosen for a watch dial, the symbolism of this stone will give the watch special meaning and individuality .

The 1970s "Stone Dial" Boom

Tiger's eye first came to be seen as a watch dial during the boom in natural stone dials (stone dials) in the 1970s .

At the time, the quartz revolution was intensifying technological competition in the watch industry.
In this context, luxury watch brands have moved towards increasing the value of mechanical watches through their materials, artistic merit, and rarity, and watches with natural stone dials have become a symbol of this trend.

Natural stone used in the 1970s

The following natural stones were used for the dials of luxury watches at the time:

◇Tiger's Eye

◇Lapis lazuli

◇Malachite

◇Onyx

◇Turquoise

◇Jasper

◇Aventurine

Tiger's eye in particular became popular for its unique appearance with moving bands of light , and was often used in gold-cased dress watches.

Technological innovation in natural stone dials

Natural stones are very fragile and require advanced processing to be used as watch faces.

In the 1970s, a processing technique was established in which stones were sliced ​​thinly to about 0.3 to 0.5 mm and glued to a metal base to create dials.

This made it practical to manufacture natural stone dials.

The allure of tiger eye dials

Tiger's eye is popular as a watch face for the following reasons:

◇Chatoyancy: Stripes that move with light

◇No two patterns are the same

◇It goes very well with the gold case.

For this reason, it has been widely used in dress watches and gold case models in particular.

Reevaluating natural stone dials today

In recent years, natural stone dials have become popular again among independent and luxury watch brands. The reasons for this are the unique natural patterns, the sense of luxury, and the value they offer as art pieces. Natural stone dials, such as aventurine, opal, and tiger's eye, are once again garnering attention from watch enthusiasts.

A unique dial made from natural stone

The greatest appeal of natural stone dials is that no two have the same pattern .

The patterns created by nature are all different for each piece.

Therefore, a watch with a natural stone dial can be said to have a truly unique look .

The charm of natural stone dials expressed by DENNISON

DENNISON, a brand steeped in the tradition of British watchmaking, is a noteworthy brand that offers a contemporary reinterpretation of meticulous design and craftsmanship. Its timepieces, which combine classic aesthetics with modern details, elegantly complement everyday wear and are highly appealing as timepieces that will last a lifetime.

Another major feature of DENNISON watches is that they beautifully bring out the individuality of the materials while also considering comfort and practicality. In particular, natural stone dials, such as tiger's eye , have a unique look for each watch, adding elegance and individuality to your wrist. The beauty of the stones, which change appearance depending on the angle of the light, embodies a special charm not found in mass-produced products, further expanding the joy of dressing up.

DENNISON watches are crafted without compromise, from the selection of high-quality materials to meticulous finishing, and can be said to have redefined the prototype of a watch with a modern sensibility.
As an authorized dealer of DENNISON, CONTÉVANOU offers you the opportunity to see the charm of Denison for yourself. Furthermore, a two-year international limited warranty is included from the date of purchase.

Please come to our store and experience the profound charm of natural stone dials. If you are looking for a DENNISON natural stone dial watch, including a tiger eye dial, please come to our CONTÉVANOU store and experience the difference in its appearance.

CONTÉVANOU is an authorized watch and jewelry dealer in the Nishi-sando area of ​​Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. From uniquely designed watches to high-quality jewelry, you can take your time to look at the actual items in your hands.

CONTÉVANOU, authorized watch and jewelry dealer
Nishi-sando Terrace E1, 28-7 Yoyogi 4-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-3299-8008