chatoyment

English

Etymology

From French chatoiement. See chatoyant.

Noun

chatoyment (uncountable)

1. Changeableness of color, as in a mineral; play of colors.
   • 1941, J. Bolman, The Mystery of the Pearl:

     The colour of these "black pearls" is black by incident light; by rolling the pearls in a certain direction brownish coloured bands with chatoyment are shown the same as can be observed in cabochon ground Cat's eyes (quartz).