The whole eye of a dead aak dog, minus the optic nerve and attached eye muscles, this trophy resembles a perfectly smooth crystal marble varying in size from five centimetres to twenty five centimetres in diameter depending on the age of the aak dog that involuntarily donated it. The aak dog eye has a unique property in that, while it is in place in the skull of a living dog, the contents of the eye remain in a gelatinous state, similar to the eye contents of most living creatures, albeit surrounded by an outer layer, or sclera, that resembles a thin sheet of crystal or glass. Once an aak dog dies though, the cooling temperature of the carcass triggers a chemical reaction within the vitreous body that causes it to swiftly harden into a clear, crystalline substance and fuse with the purple sclera. The resulting gem-like orb then comprises two distinct, yet inseparable layers – the outer layer being purple – varying from lavender to indigo – and a clear inner core. While not a common adornment, there are cultures in which the aak eye is treated with the same deference as the rarest of gems, and worn proudly by warriors and rich ladies alike, mounted in a precious metal setting, or set into a showpiece sculpture for display for all to see.