Stone Guide
Star Sapphire
Origin: Burma, Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
What Makes It Special
Asterism in sapphire is magical. The 6-ray star is caused by the exact same microscopic rutile needle inclusions that give the legendary Kashmir sapphires their velvety glow. When these needles align perfectly in a cabochon cut, the star glides across the surface as you move it in the light. Finding one with a sharp star over a truly vivid blue body color is exceptionally difficult.
Required Documentation
SSEF or AGL reports are very helpful for significant stones to confirm natural unheated status. Note that many exceptional examples reside in Victorian and Edwardian estate mountings and may predate testing.
Price Guide 2026
⚠️ Heating generally dissolves the rutile silk, destroying the star. Therefore, nearly all natural star sapphires are unheated, which inherently commands a premium.
Notable Auction Records
The Black Star of Queensland (733ct)
Private Valuation
Estimated $80M+
N/A
Dealer's Notes
Evaluate the star first: you want 6 straight, distinct rays that intersect perfectly at center and glide smoothly under a single light source.
Body color is crucial. A sharp star on a washed-out greyish stone is worth far less than an internally strong star on a vivid Ceylon blue.
Look at the cabochon profile. It needs enough dome to project the star, but if the bottom is flat or excessively deep to retain dead weight, be careful.
Beware of synthetic Linde stars. Those stars look 'painted on', too sharp, and lack the organic internal glow of natural rutile.
Estate pieces from the Edwardian or Art Deco eras often feature phenomenal unheated Burmese star sapphires set beautifully in gold or platinum.
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