Purple Reigns

Gems are amazing, but some kick it up a notch and star sapphires are rock stars indeed.

This totally natural phenomenon, known as asterism, is a six-rayed star that appears when a light source shines on the gem. Not every gem variety exhibits asterism; sapphire is among a very select group. Take one outside on a sunny day and watch as a beautiful star dances across the gem’s horizon.

So how does this occur? Very simplistically, during its formation, microscopic, threadlike inclusions within a sapphire crystal orient themselves in three horizontal bands at 120 degrees from each other, ultimately displaying the six-rayed star pattern. Star sapphires are cut as cabochons with the dome oriented to coincide with the intersection of the bands. Sounds effortless, right? Wrong—this is nothing short of astounding. Not only does the orientation of these bands have to be precise, but the gem has to survive the tremendously volatile geologic environment deep within the earth as it is formed. Consider how remarkable a star sapphire—or any gem for that matter—truly is to survive such a tumultuous genesis. This is absolute proof of star sapphire’s extraordinary rarity, beauty and durability.

The first thing we notice when buying any gem is its color. This sapphire’s rich, royal purple hue immediately had us intrigued. But with all stars, proof positive comes when we shine a pen light (small flashlight) on them. We look for stars that are bright, centered and with six even rays. This particular star exploded like a supernova! We knew it had to be added to our collection.

Right now, our designer is imagining a new ring for this 25-carat stunner. Will it be surrounded with diamonds? Will it have accent gems to add other colors? We’re excited to see what is proposed. Check back with us to see what we chose for this amazing gem.

We’re certain the end result will be…phenomenal.