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Apatite originates from the Greek word for "cheat." Apatite earned that unfair title from its possibility for confusion with amblygonite, andalusite, brazilianite, precious beryl, sphene, topaz or tourmaline. Apatite, a stone seldom found in jewelry stores and virtually unknown to the general public, is beloved by collectors for its many different colors and forms.

The cat's eye effect, a valued rarity, adds to the glamour of the gemstone. Chatoyancy, the cat's eye effect, is a reflection of light by parallel fibers, needles, or channels, which resemble the slit eye of a cat. When the stone is rotated, the cat's eye glides over the surface. The cabochon cut, commonly used for cat's eye effect, is excellent for a unique brooch or pendant, if its base is parallel to the fibers. With a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale the gemstone is slightly too soft to be recommended for rings. Since large stones are quite inexpensive, cat's eye apatite makes an affordable and attractive piece of jewelry. Apatite is said to help in communication with nature and the spirit of plants.

For more information see our Cat's Eye Apatite Info Page