SEDA JEWELRY
Cat’s Eye Opal Pendant
Factory Direct

This pendant features a natural, untreated green Cat’s Eye Opal from Brazil, displaying a striking chatoyancy effect. We carefully selected this stone for its strong, defined “cat’s eye” line—a luminous band that moves gracefully across the gem when viewed under light. Its iridescent shifting display makes it truly captivating to watch.

• Stone: Natural Cat’s Eye Opal (untreated)

• Origin: Brazil

• Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5 on the Mohs scale

• Metal: 925 Sterling Silver (stamped)

• Total Weight: Approx. 70 cts

• Size: Approx. 40 x 30 x 14 mm

• Handmade: Crafted in our own factory

About Chatoyancy

Chatoyancy (from the French œil de chat, meaning “cat’s eye”) is an optical effect where a luminous streak of light reflects across the surface of a gemstone. This phenomenon occurs due to fibrous structures or inclusions within the stone, similar to the sheen of silk. The effect is best displayed in cabochon-cut stones, where the fibers run parallel to the base of the gem.

Formation of Cat’s Eye Opal

Cat’s Eye Opal formed around 15 to 30 million years ago during the Tertiary period. Beginning as a silica-rich liquid, it seeped into sedimentary layers and settled within clays at depths of 20–30 metres. Over millions of years, this silica slurry gradually solidified into the rare and beautiful Cat’s Eye Opal.

Unique Properties

Cat’s Eye Opalite is a rare form of opal distinguished by its chatoyancy. When light hits the stone, fine internal inclusions create a sharp, moving band of light—known as the “cat’s eye effect.” This effect can occur in green, yellow, red, white, or even black opals.

The gemstone’s internal structure is made up of tiny silica spheres arranged in a three-dimensional grid interspersed with water. Natural variations in this structure scatter and refract light, producing both the cat’s eye effect and the vibrant play-of-colour unique to opal. Depending on the size and arrangement of these spheres, the stone can display a stunning range of shifting hues.