Tiger Eye Cleopatra Necklace

Tiger eye is a pseudomorphic quartz. The chatoyancy, the silky, shifting band of light, comes from parallel fibrous inclusions of crocidolite that were replaced by silica over time. The brown and gold are iron oxide. The stone has weight and optical depth that photographs consistently understate.

This Egyptian collar sets tiger eye squares across the upper band, framed by ochre and blue beadwork loops. Small blue-green accent beads punctuate the lower strand. Tiger eye teardrops hang along both tiers. A gray glass flower drops from the center on a blue stem.

The blue-against-tiger-eye is what makes this colorway work. It pulls the brown into something cooler than amber-and-gold, and the ochre keeps it from going cold. Wear it with a denim shirt, a slate wool sweater, or a camel turtleneck. For long lunches, museum days, or a workday that wants a piece with some heft.

Construction

• Egyptian collar form, hand-built
• Tiger eye squares and teardrop drops, iron oxide chatoyancy
• Bronze twisted tube upper strand
• Ochre and periwinkle blue glass beadwork throughout
• Blue-green accent beads along lower strand
• Gray glass flower center drop on blue stem
• Lobster claw clasp closure