Your guide to chrysoberyl
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chrysoberyl
Chrysoberyl is most famous as a cat’s eye stone. This is called so because when a light is shone directly onto it the refracted light gives the appearance of a cat’s eye. Although some other gem stones can possess this quality, they are usually given a different designation such as ruby cat’s eyes. When cat’s eye is specified alone, it is always referring to the Chrysoberyl variety. Its usually colour range from green to yellow green.
The cat’s eye phenomenon is due to very fine inclusions within the stones, the scientific name for which is 'chatoyancy'. The name Chrysoberyl comes from the Greek word “gold coloured beryl”, although it is not actually a beryl at all.
Gems showing good colour and a good quality cats eye will be forced to dig deep as these gems can be quite expensive if you want good quality. The eye should have a fine line running through it, so the eye appears to open and close as the stone is moved.
