Sapphire Jewelry
The Appeal Of Star Sapphires
Star sapphires have a long and fascinating history of being highly coveted and prized as very special and unique gemstones. Their special feature called asterism lends an added mystical element, and many throughout time have felt a special connection to these stones.
Many of the largest sapphires ever discovered have been star sapphires, and they are often used to create large statement pieces of jewelry that are worn to show-stopping effect. A prominent feature of the “Golden Era” of Hollywood, star sapphires seem to be more reminiscent of the earth they came from and easy to be a fan of.
Star Sapphires in 2020
The return to nature-inspired design and jewelry pieces that are reminders of the earth they came from are strong trends that have been building over the last few years. As the draw of this style keeps building, star sapphires in 2020 will continue gaining in popularity for all types of jewelry pieces. They have always been a lovely choice for natural-style jewelry, and as interest increases for pieces that reflect a connection to nature, star sapphires offer that perfect connection.
Raw, natural stones are also becoming more and more popular as standout stones for engagement rings. For many, this type of stone is a truly rare and original stone to be the centerpiece of their unique love story. There is something incredibly special about a gemstone that retains so much of its earthly characteristics. Star sapphires also hold a unique appeal to a set of old-Hollywood screen legends who coveted star sapphires set in every type of jewelry.
The Standard For Star Sapphires
Ideally, the star in a star sapphire should be perfectly centered when viewed from directly above, with each ray of equal length. The rays should be bright, sharp, and clearly defined–not blurry or fuzzy–and they should reach from the crown of the cabochon to the base without interruption.
Star sapphires occur in almost every color seen in transparent sapphires, although yellow, orange, and green star sapphires are very uncommon. The optical phenomenon responsible for the star sapphire’s shimmering rays is called asterism, from the Latin word astrum, for “star.” Asterism is caused by small needle-like inclusions of the mineral rutile. Black star sapphires owe their stars and their dark color to included crystals of the shiny mineral hematite.
Clarity in star sapphires is a complicated issue. The ideal star sapphire would be entirely transparent , but the rutile silk that causes the star phenomenon ensures that every star sapphire is to some degree included. Fine star sapphires must have enough silk for a bright, well-defined star, without compromising the stone’s transparency.
How Does Cut Affect A Star Sapphire?
Proper cutting is critical for star sapphires, not only for their overall appearance, but to ensure a well-defined and properly oriented star. Be wary however, if you encounter an absolutely “perfect” star—many man-made star sapphires exist on the market and this is one of their telltale signs. Many refer to it as the star appearing to be “painted on.”
While most star sapphires remain untreated, they may be subjected to treatments to improve their color or artificially induce the star phenomenon. Star sapphires can be heated to intensify their color, but this must be done at modest temperatures and with extreme care, so as not to obliterate the star-inducing rutile silk.
What Is The Availability of These Stones?
Since the price of transparent rough has escalated in recent times, most star sapphires are subjected to extreme heat and sold instead as transparent stones. For this reason, fine star sapphires are increasingly more rare and difficult to find.
The best stones are translucent to semi-transparent. Color saturation decreases as opacity increases, so while opaque star sapphires may have very bright, well-defined stars, their color can be dull and unattractive. The most common stars have 6 rays, and 12-rayed stars are considered exceptionally rare.
Where Can They Be Found?
As mentioned above, it is rare that an exceptional rough star sapphire crystal isn’t subjected to heat treatment to turn it into a more valuable transparent stone. When they are unearthed and stay in their original state, star sapphires are found predominantly in Sri Lanka, but also fine blue star sapphires have come from Burma. Black star sapphires have been found in Cambodia and India.
These beautiful star sapphires are ideal stones to mount in all types of jewelry. From engagement rings perfect for nature-inspired 2020 and beyond trends, to earrings, pendant necklaces, and bracelets, star sapphires
In our next section, we’ll take a deeper look at the long history and unique world of Cabochon Sapphires.
