Star Ruby

Item Description

India has produced a large amount of Ruby crystals and gems over the year, but the vast majority of the material is not top gem quality, like those from Mogok, Myanmar. They are however, often much larger than their counterparts from Southeast Asia, and can sometimes be cut into highly desirable "Star Ruby" gems. When it comes to "star" gems, the most commonly known examples are Star Corundum. The Indian stones often have a rich red-plum hue and when they are properly oriented and polished, the "star" shows up beautifully and the internal color really comes through. This phenomenon that produces "star" gems is known as asterism which occurs when these stones are polished into cabochons and oriented perpendicular to the "C" axis in a manner that reflects tiny silk-like inclusions that are inside the gem. The inclusions bend light entering the stone and create the six-legged star-like pattern. A six-rayed white star appears in bright lighting and the quality is judged by sharpness of star, symmetry of the rays, and the body color. This stone is a wonderful example of this material with a saturated purple-red hue and a sharp "star" with well-defined "legs" that show up well when viewed under a strong light source. I think it looks best in sunlight, but a nice concentrated beam from a flashlight will also allow the "star" to show up well.