The facts
What cat's Eye Apatite actually is
The species behind cat's Eye Apatite is apatite group, Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH); it forms in the hexagonal system.
Rare-earth and Mn chromophores give the blue-green to yellow body; the eye comes from parallel hollow tubes or fibrous inclusions is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.632–1.648 and a specific gravity of about 3.16–3.23, with poor basal cleavage.
Where cat's Eye Apatite comes from
Commercial material comes from Mogok, Myanmar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka and Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How cat's Eye Apatite is treated
Generally untreated because heating would spoil the inclusions. At hardness 5 it is a soft stone that scratches in daily wear — pendants and earrings suit it better than rings.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What cat's Eye Apatite is confused with
Watch for Cat's eye chrysoberyl, Cat's eye tourmaline, Cat's eye scapolite and Green cat's eye glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.632–1.648 and specific gravity 3.16–3.23 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What cat's Eye Apatite is used for
The trades that buy cat's Eye Apatite are jewellery and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Cat's Eye Apatite is 5 on the Mohs scale, with poor basal cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What cat's Eye Apatite costs
Expect roughly 20–200 USD/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is cat's Eye Apatite treated, and how?
Generally untreated because heating would spoil the inclusions. At hardness 5 it is a soft stone that scratches in daily wear — pendants and earrings suit it better than rings.
Where does cat's Eye Apatite come from?
Mogok, Myanmar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka and Minas Gerais, Brazil. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is cat's Eye Apatite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does cat's Eye Apatite cost?
Indicatively 20–200 USD/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is cat's Eye Apatite confused with?
Most often Cat's eye chrysoberyl, Cat's eye tourmaline, Cat's eye scapolite and Green cat's eye glass. A refractive index of 1.632–1.648 and a specific gravity near 3.16–3.23 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for cat's eye apatite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about cat's eye apatite