We call cat's eye chrysoberyl's strange, shifting band of light "chatoyancy," a bastardization of the French term oeil de chat, or "eye of the cat". The effect is caused by tiny parallel inclusions in the store that reflect light, creating a luminous streak that seems to move across the surface. Here, the chrysoberyl cabochons are sandwiched between lines of pearls. A Halloweenish necklace wearable all year.
MATERIALS: 14k gold (tests), graduated seed pearls, graduated cat's eye chrysoberyl cabochons, new 14k gold chain
AGE: c. 1880
CONDITION: Very good - we've converted this piece from a brooch into a necklace
SIZE: 1 1/8" crescent, 16" chain