7 Star Sapphire Facts

Posted on Wednesday, May 10th, 2017 in Gemstones, Informational.


blue star sapphire

  1. A rare variety of sapphire, star sapphires feature an unusual star-like optical phenomenon caused by tiny, needle like inclusions.
  2. The star-like pattern found within these gemstones is referred to as asterism, which comes from the Latin word for star. The most common star sapphires have 6 rays, while those with 12 rays represent some of the rarest star sapphires ever discovered.
  3. Sri Lanka is one of the most well-known locations for star sapphire deposits. Other notable locations include Myanmar, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, and India.
  4. Unlike other more common gemstones, star sapphires are usually shaped and polished instead of faceted. It must be cut in this manor in order to properly display the appealing star formation.
  5. The largest known star sapphire is called the Star of Adam and weighs approximately 1404 carats. It’s estimated worth is somewhere between 100-300 million dollars.
  6. Star sapphires were once considered powerful talismans for protecting travelers.
  7. Like other sapphires, star sapphires can be found in a variety of different colors including orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black. The most sought after star sapphire features a lightly colored distinct star set against a saturated blue sapphire.