Star Sapphires – Are They Real Sapphires?

Star sapphire are extremely rare and stunning gems, but there are many myths about them. Some people claim that they’re fake sapphires, while others say that they’re the real deal and only have some flaws in them that make their star patterns so distinctive. This article will shed some light on the truth behind these mysterious gemstones and explain exactly what they are, where they come from, and whether they’re real sapphires or something else entirely.

What are star sapphires

The asterism in star sapphires is created by thin needle-like inclusions that are sometimes arranged in a six-rayed star pattern. The characteristic effect can be seen with the naked eye, and is often used as a marketing technique to sell imperfect stones at much higher prices than they otherwise would fetch. (After all, who doesn’t love a little magic?). Star sapphire and star ruby are essentially synonyms for corundum varietals whose inclusions display a unique asterism effect. However, note that some gemologists consider star to be a separate species of gemstone altogether. This distinction is important because it means you should use white sapphire when describing gems with an asterism effect and star ruby when describing gems displaying an asterism effect under red light.

For example, if you’re selling your engagement ring online, it’s best to label it as a ruby ring, not a sapphire ring. But if you’re selling your earrings on Etsy or eBay or another site where people will see them under different lighting conditions, then it’s fine to call them both star sapphires—and star rubies! —if that’s what you prefer. When searching for star sapphires, pay attention to cut:

Sapphires

Experts say that step cuts and cushion cuts bring out more of an asterism effect than other shapes like oval, emerald or round brilliant cuts. What do we mean by step cut? Well, think about a step cut stone like an amethyst: It has many facets which create flat surfaces perpendicular to its axis. Each facet acts like a tiny mirror reflecting back into space any incoming light ray that hits it perpendicularly; thus creating multiple reflections within one stone…which makes it look brighter and shinier! As far as cushion cuts go, experts say they provide more opportunities for needles to reflect back into space since their surface area is larger. More opportunity for reflection = more opportunity for star action.

Now that you know how to find star sapphires, here’s how to tell if they’re real: Check whether there are natural color variations throughout the stone. If there aren’t any color changes, then it may be a lab-created synthetic rather than an actual sapphire. Look at both sides of your jeweler’s loupe and make sure there aren’t any identical patterns on either side of your gemstone (these could indicate synthetic material). Be wary of star patterns with too many rays –it could just be needle-shaped inclusions rather than true asterisms.

Star Sapphire Color Meanings

In order to know whether a star sapphire is real or not, it is important to understand what color means in terms of gemstones. Star sapphires are named for their unique ‘star’ phenomenon (known as asterism) which occurs when light hits and reflects back from rutile needles within the gemstone. Star-appearing gems are considered good luck and worn as talismans, believed to help ward off evil forces. The color meanings associated with each shade are outlined below. To discover more about your own personal star sapphire color meaning, visit our Color Meanings page.

The most popular shades of star sapphires are blue and pink but you can also find yellow, green, orange, purple and white varieties. The rarest colors include black, red and violet; these stones tend to be highly prized because they’re so unusual! Black star sapphires have been known to sell for over $100k per carat! Red stars can command prices upwards of $30k per carat while violet stars may fetch up to $20k per carat. Violet stars were discovered quite recently (in 2002) so they remain extremely rare—and thus expensive! Once you’ve found a stone that catches your eye.

Star Sapphire

it’s important to check if it’s real or not. It is possible to find non-sapphire gems that display asterism—the only way to know for sure is by testing its refractive index with a refractometer. If it measures above 1.77, then it’s a sapphire (or other corundum). The higher its reading, the more valuable your stone will be! Other helpful tips: Look out for treatments like color diffusion and irradiation which could affect your gemstone’s clarity and color intensity/saturation; watch out for artificial coloring too as some sellers use dyes on their star sapphires instead of rutile needles in order to achieve their desired color effect! Also, keep an eye out for synthetic sapphires since they can be made to look just like natural ones. To learn more about how synthetic vs natural sapphires differ from each other, visit our Synthetic Sapphires page.

Where to buy star sapphire jewelry

Star sapphire jewelry is a real treat. But are star sapphires real sapphires? In short, yes, they’re real. Star sapphire gems look like conventional blue or violet sapphires but they have a six-pointed asterism. The star effect that gives them their name. The glow and shine of star sapphire gemstones are eye-catching, no doubt about it! And an added bonus: with high clarity ratings. You can get lots of sparkle without any inclusions (or flaws) to spoil your view. So if you’re looking for a unique stone with unique properties, take a closer look at what stars can offer! Here’s where to buy star sapphire jewelry.

Quality concerns with star sapphire rings

Star sapphire rings typically cost more than other gemstones. In part, that’s because of their incredible beauty. But, star sapphire rings are usually more expensive because they don’t come from a lab—they come from real stones. Star sapphires have been formed in nature over. Millions of years by pressure and other extreme conditions which are impossible to replicate in a lab; rather, star sapphires must be carefully hand-mined or found naturally in order to be included in a ring setting. So, if you’re looking for an affordable alternative. To a natural star sapphire ring, you may want to consider lab-created gems instead. Lab-created gems look just like.  Natural gems but can cost as little as 10% of what you’d pay for a similar quality stone. If you’re looking for something beautiful but on a budget, check out our collection of lab-created gemstone jewelry .