Star Sapphire

Item Description

This is a classic Star Sapphire gem from Sri Lanka. Star gems are most commonly associated with Sapphires (though some other gems will produce the same effect). In order to properly cut a piece of Sapphire rough into a "star" gem, a skilled gem cutter must correctly orient the thin, fibrous inclusions inside of the Sapphire at the correct angle to properly show off the "legs" of the star when the piece is polished. When these inclusions are numerous enough, they allow light to be reflected in such a way that a six-ray star floats across the top of the stone when rotated in the light. It is an amazing phenomenon that is only seen in a few gems around the world. The actual "legs" of the star in this stone are fairly sharp, with very little in the way of breaks and excellent consistency throughout. The stone also has a soft silvery color with a slight purplish overtone. A nice example of these amazing gems, especially in a larger stone.