Star Sapphire

Item Description

The classic Star Sapphire gems are among the most highly sought after of all the Sapphire varieties. These stones are created when thin, fibrous inclusions are oriented inside of the Sapphire crystal at the correct angle and 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-gold color with a VERY slight green overtone (but the green color is not as strong in person as the photos might indicate). 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, including Bisbee, the Ray Mine, Miami mines, and the Peridot finds on Indian lands in the 1950s-1970s. This stone was kept back from the retail stock for its quality and beauty, in a tray of special material, 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.