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Kerrie Ann McNaughton
22nd October 2007 16:06

Star Sapphires

 

Hello there,

Rebecca one of our designers here and I have been working on a commission lately which involved some beautiful blue/grey star sapphires. I just wanted to share with you a little bit of information I had found out about these stunning stones.

Star sapphires are such an amazing stone and every single one is so different to look at. No two are ever exactly the same which makes them such a valued stone. Star sapphires are only possible to produce when cut into a cabochon to allow the 6 pointed star to be created. The star within the stone is created by several microscopic needles/inclusions found within the structure running at different degrees where light is then passed through to create such a beauty. Star sapphires just like facetted sapphires are the hardest out of all the coloured stones with a MOH's scale rating of 9 one just behind diamond. So there durability is perfect for a ring which will be worn everyday. As you can see from the images below our designers love to work with very different and unusual stones, so here are just a few we have found within our commission and ready to wear collections.

The star sapphires used in both Marie and Stuarts engagement ring (shown below) are completely natural and both have good stars which are lovely and unusually clear, it was very challenging to find such a good pair of natural star sapphires in the same shade of soft grey-blue but we managed it! The colour is so versatile and will go with any other colour worn so a perfect choice.

Star sapphires like the ones above can vary in price quite considerably and are influenced by many things such as the intensity and attractiveness of the body color and the strength and sharpness of the star, and all of the six legs should be straight and equally prominent. Theses stones are becoming such a popular choice for our customers now due to the natural beauty they show. However Star sapphires are becoming rarer as most rough today is cut into faceted stones after heating instead of being cut into cabochons to display the star which is making them a very collectible stone as a result.

Other facts

  • Not only do star sapphires display six rays within the stone but twelve have also been known too.
  • Quite rarely when sapphires are cut into a cabochon, they can demonstrate a cat's eye effect. This effect displays a thin band of light down the center of the stone and is known as chatoyancy.
  • Sapphires are the birthstone of September.
  • Colours are thought to protect the wearer from evil, illness, stress and general harm.
  • The finest specimens are mined in Sri Lanka; both the Logan sapphire and the Star of Bombay originate from Sri Lankan mines.
  • Sapphires are also mined in Madagascar, Thailand and Myanmar. Australia which leads the world in sapphire production (as of 1987) specifically from basalt derived placer deposits in Queensland and New South Wales. Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tanzania and Kenya also produce sapphires. The US state of Montana has produced sapphires from both the El Dorado Bar and Spokane Bar deposit near Helena. Well-known for their intense, pure blue color, yogo sapphires are found in Yogo Gulch, near Utica, Montana. Gem grade sapphires and rubies are also found in and around Franklin, North Carolina, USA. Several mines are open to the public.

Here are a couple of websites I found interesting, so take a look for some more information!

Best wishes,

Kerrie Ann McNaughton
 

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  • Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design, North Barn, Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, Weston, Hertfordshire, SG4 7DP, England
    Phone: +44 (0)1462 790565 Fax: +44 (0)1462 790140 enquiries@hkjewellery.co.uk
  • Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design, 6/7 Green Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3JU, England.
    Phone: +44 (0)1223 461333 Fax: +44 (0)1223 365269 cambridge@hkjewellery.co.uk

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