BR0060 : 3.25ct Blue Star Sapphire – 9x7mm

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LEARN MORE ABOUT STAR SAPPHIRE

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• Identifying Star Sapphire
• Origin
• Color
• Clarity

The Real Star on Earth: Blue Star Sapphire

Blue Star Sapphire are a rare and beautiful type of sapphire. The star which shines...

18
May

TRADE NAME

SAPPHIRE

STAR SAPPHIRE

Mineral : Crystalline

Mohs Hardness : 9.0

Refractive Index : 1.76 – 1.77

Specific Gravity : 3.97 - 4.08

Identifying a Star Sapphire

The key feature that distinguishes a star sapphire from any other forms of sapphire is the asterism that gives the stone its name. Due to its hardness and durability, this gemstone is practically unmistakable, although there are several other gems that have been known to occur with similar luster and color. The most mistaken gemstones are Star Garnet and Star Diopside.

Origins and Sources

There are many star sapphire deposits around the world, in locations such as Africa and Brazil, but the most important deposits today are in Australia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Color

Star Sapphires are the same famous blue as regular sapphires. They can also be found in pink, yellow, orange, green, lavender and black. Iron and titanium make blue stones while vanadium creates violets to purple colored stones. Yellow and green hues and tones are created by a small amount of iron and pink-reddish tones are created by chromium. Blue is the most desired color, and the more vivid and intense, the more desired it becomes. Star sapphires from Thailand are famed for showing a golden star instead of the more common white.

Clarity

Star sapphire are commonly opaque, although there are some specimens which exhibit some translucency, but this are very fine specimens. The asterism is created by a perfectly aligned needle-like rutile inclusions. They become a vitreous to silky luster with the right cut and polish.