Star Sapphire

Item Description

Star Sapphire gems are among the most highly sought after of all the Sapphire varietals. These stones exist because thin, fibrous inclusions are oriented inside of the Sapphire crystal at the correct angle and then polished to properly show off the "legs" of the star. When these inclusions are numerous enough to make the stone translucent or opaque, they allow light to be reflected in such a way that a star floats across the top of the stone with movement. 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 no breaks and decent consistency. The stone also exhibits a unique bronze-silver color with a slight golden overtone. A cool Star Sapphire gem from one of the premier localities for the material in the world.
This stone is from the estate of former Phoenix area dealer Marvin Rockey. Rockey's Gems was a significant business in the early days of Arizona lapidary material, and he was a prominent dealer and buyer in the Arizona area of local lapidary and carving material from throughout the state, along with material from Mexican localities. This stone was kept back from the retail stock for its quality and beauty, in a tray of special gems, and was found in his estate (sold to us only recently). Today, these are not only rarely seen but of a highly desirable old quality, and sought after by collectors and gem / jewelry enthusiasts alike.