What is a star sapphire: unique properties, colors and enchanting patterns

Star sapphire is a rare variety of sapphire with an unusual optical effect.
It’s as if a star is painted on the surface of the gem. Even the most unremarkable specimens of this species are incredibly expensive, let alone the ideal, bright specimens with a twelve-pointed star! Nature has endowed star sapphire with magical properties that were noticed many centuries ago. The mineral is considered a strong talisman: it protects against witchcraft and leads to success.

History and origin

Star sapphire is a gemstone that has a dense, opaque color and a special asterism (star) effect. That is, a six-pointed star is clearly visible on its surface, the rays of which form rutile inclusions. In other words, it is crystallized titanium oxide, having a needle shape. In cross-section, each of the crystals has the shape of a triangle.

Blue Star Stone

Due to the fact that the rutile needles are located at an angle relative to each other, a six-pointed star is formed. There are three intersecting axes in the stone.

In the Middle Ages in Russia, sapphire, along with rubies, was called yakhont . It’s not for nothing that the affectionate expression “my yacht” is known. At the same time, the sapphire was called the azure yakhont, and the ruby ​​was called the scarlet yakhont.

In order for the optical effect on the surface of the stone and the color of the star sapphire to appear in all its glory, jewelry craftsmen prefer to give the gem a cabochon shape. On the one hand, this is a method of jewelry processing of a mineral, and on the other hand, this is a stone with a rounded convex shape. Due to its roundness, all the optical effects of the mineral are more pronounced in the rays of daylight and artificial light.

Basic rules for caring for star sapphire

To restore the original shine and beauty of the gem, soak a soft cloth in warm water and simply wipe the stone. Eliminate the possibility of contact between sapphire and acid, including food acid. It is better to store it in special cases lined with silk and velvet.

A star sapphire can become your talisman and inspiration. Take a close look at its beauty and, if possible, treat yourself to a precious gift.

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Physicochemical characteristics

Star sapphire is endowed with certain physical and chemical properties, for which master jewelers love it. Weight, density, color and other parameters are taken into account.

Application in jewelry

Sapphires are one of the favorite jewelry making tools. An inexperienced craftsman can make a mistake and make an asymmetrical sapphire. But this is not considered a significant error. The main task of a jeweler is to create a bright and beautiful star.

Important! Artificial sapphires are sometimes heated to increase color contrast and make the star more expressive and clear.

Varieties and colors

The specific shade of sapphire gemstones depends on the impurities of various metals in it. The following stones are found in nature:

1. Blue star sapphire. The shade is obtained due to impurities of iron and titanium. This color of stone is considered classic and the most common. Moreover, a stone can be accurately called blue only if the level of other shades in it is no more than 15%. In other cases, sapphire is rarely fully blue. The color range often varies from almost white or pale blue to deep blue (almost black). The most expensive blue sapphire is considered to be the one that has a cornflower blue or heavenly color.. If a mineral contains a large number of iridescences of other shades, it is called fancy. It is sometimes difficult to find a good match for such a mineral.

   
   Sky Blue Star Stone

2. Black. Black gemstones are more common in nature because they contain atomic impurities. The largest sapphire was black in color. Upon examination, the mineral has a dense color and a low level of transparency. The edges give reflections of light and shimmer. Jewelry with black stone is laconic and strict.

   
   Gold ring with black star stone

3. Yellow. This shade of stone is given by an admixture of iron without the inclusion of titanium. Yellow sapphire can be compared in cost to expensive cornflower blue stones. The color of the mineral varies from almost transparent or pale yellow to rich amber. The yellow yacht is of particular importance in the cultures of Hindus and Eastern peoples. It is believed that if a yellow sapphire has even the slightest defect, it is prohibited to wear it.

   
   Yellow gold ring with yellow star stone

   Read also:  Malachite. History, origin and properties of the mineral
4. Pink. A stone of this color predominates in the sapphire deposits of Sri Lanka and Madagascar. The color is affected by the chromium admixture in it. The hue of the yacht is soft and delicate. Sapphire is often compared to a diamond. However, the price of the stone is several times lower than that of a precious stone. That's why pink sapphire is so popular.

   
   Pink star stone

5. Violet (aka lilac or lilac). The color and its intensity depend on the concentration of vanadium in the mineral.

   
   Lilac Star Stone

6. Green. Upon closer inspection through a microscope, you can see that the shade of green sapphire comes from stripes of blue and yellow, superimposed on each other.

   
   Green Star Stone

7. Colorless. A stone with high transparency. The shine is similar to that of a real diamond. Jewelers often use diamonds as the main stone and colorless sapphires as additional stones. Such a product will cost slightly less than jewelry encrusted only with diamonds.

   
   White Star Stone

8. Padparadscha. One of the sapphire hybrids. Its shade is compared to a pink sunset or molten gold - the yellow, orange and pink-red shades shimmer in it in such an original way. Padparadscha means "delicate lotus flower" in Sinhala.

   
   The unusually colored star stone Padparadscha
   Padparadscha is the least likely to have natural defects. You can appreciate the depth of sapphire color in calm morning or evening sunlight.

The cost of the mineral and the right choice

Star sapphire is a rather original specimen of a precious stone, but jewelers prefer pure minerals, without impurities, so this variety is sold somewhat cheaper. For one carat you can pay from 50 to 100 dollars.

In this case, the stone will be of natural origin, since it is not yet possible to produce such a design in laboratories. It’s also worth knowing that fakes are still sold on black markets, so you shouldn’t buy a stone from private individuals, or without checking documents that confirm authenticity.

If you check the authenticity in a laboratory, then jewelers do this using a refractometer. In this way, they study the angle of refraction of rays in the stone and compare it with the indicators for sapphire. In this case, it is desirable that the stone is not in a frame.

The stone is suitable for almost everyone. But since stars come in large sizes, the size of the whole mineral is therefore also rather large. And it is not suitable for miniature jewelry. If you want to get a beautiful composition, sapphire can be combined with gold or silver and worn as a pendant or large earrings.

Place of extraction

Jewelry with star sapphires has different prices. And it depends not only on the type of metal in which the yacht is framed, but also on the deposit of the gem. Placers of sapphires are found in the following places:

• Sri Lanka;
• USA;
• Vietnam;
• Madagascar;
• Australia;
• Thailand;
• China;
• Burma.

In Russia, sapphire is found only together with blue corundum. Transparent yachts are found in it. There are corundum deposits on the Kola Peninsula and in the Urals.

Raw Blue Star Yakhont

Important: the price per carat of star sapphire depends on its deposit. The most expensive stones are those from Burma and Sri Lanka. However, you can also buy less “famous” yachts that have a lower cost but decent quality.

Sapphire storage

Natural or man-made star sapphire is hard but fragile. This is a consequence of the invasion of rutile inclusions into the strong crystal lattice of the mineral. Therefore, delicacy is required when handling.

1. Products are washed with warm water in which mild soap is dissolved. Wipe with a soft cloth.
2. Hardware cleaning will destroy the star or stone.
3. Interaction with acids, including citric or other food acids, is contraindicated.

Star stones are stored in boxes, boxes or cases, lined with soft fabric on the inside. They need to be protected from direct sunlight and chemical exposure. Sapphires are cleaned using salt, sea, soap or salt water.

Periodically, the stone is cleaned of negative energy - washed with red wine and placed overnight on the windowsill.

Magic properties

The magical properties of star sapphire have always aroused genuine interest among scientists and gemologists, magicians and astrologers. It is believed that the gem contains the magic of the cosmos. Some even claimed that the six-pointed star on the sapphire was nothing more than a hexagram. Therefore, the star yacht is given special magical significance. It manifests itself in the following:

1. Strengthening memory and passion for new knowledge. The gem is especially suitable for students and teachers.
2. Achieving goals and overall personal development. As a male amulet with this effect, you need to wear the stone on your left hand.
3. Extinguishing passions and bringing emotions into a calm channel.
4. Harmonization of relations.
5. Neutralizing laziness and revealing some persistence.
6. In addition, the star stone determines true friends, or rather, over time, weeds out the insincere clingers that have wormed their way around.

In ancient times in Africa, it was believed that the rays of crystals in stone are symbols of Faith, Hope and Love intersecting. That is, a star sapphire brings only the best to the owner’s life.

Lantern Corps: Star Sapphires/Love

Sapphire is a character with a complicated history who has acted as both an enemy and an ally of earthly heroes. The character appeared in DC comics back in 1947, but later, as in the case of Green Lantern, the entire cosmic Corps of Star Sapphires was invented. The first to bear the nickname “Star Sapphire” was a strange lady who introduced herself as the “Queen from the Seventh Dimension.” She tried to destroy all vegetation on Earth to kill humanity, but was stopped by the Flash, Jay Garrick.

Before we talk about the rest of the Sapphires, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the Corpus. The Star Sapphire Corps was founded by the Zamarons, who were offended by the female Guardians of the Universe (blue dwarfs who lord it over the Green Lantern Corps). All bodies of multi-colored Lanterns work on one emotion or another. For the Greens it is willpower, for the Reds it is rage, for the Sinestro Corps it is fear, and the strength of the Star Sapphires is love. All Star Sapphires are armed with special crystals embedded in their rings or clothing. Crystals allow you to create structures of solid light and fly, as well as awaken love in the hearts of opponents and enclose them in strong crystals. Oath of the Sapphires:

Your heart is broken, there is silence all around, It seems as if you are alone in the night The ring will flash with violet light again Know everything - love rules the world!

The most famous bearer of the title is Carol Ferris, the lover of Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern. She was chosen as Queen of the Zamaron, and they hypnotized her into believing that the Green Lantern was her enemy. Carol had numerous encounters with the Lantern, but Hal defeated her each time and brought her to her senses.

Most of the time Carol wasn't all that outright evil. However, after several battles with Hal, she went crazy, and an additional personality appeared in her mind - the Predator. The Predator separated from Carol and began to look after her, protect her and help her. Carol had no idea that he was part of her consciousness. As a result, the Predator fought with Hal Jordan and lost, moved back into Carol's body, and she again became Star Sapphire, and this time she was already a completely evil and crazy lady. Even the Zamaronki left her - after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, they went to Oa (temporarily) in order to increase the population of Guardians.

Over time, after numerous reboots and retcons, it was revealed that Star Sapphire is not a changed Carol, but a separate personality within Carol. Hal "cleansed" her soul, after which she was able to use Sapphire's powers without going crazy. And later the Zamaronki presented her with a ring with the same powers, but without brainwashing. It turned out that Carol became the most powerful Star Sapphire in the universe as she constantly sacrificed her feelings and interests to help others.

Carol provided valuable assistance to the heroes during the Blackest Night, when fallen heroes and villains began to be reborn as the evil dead with black rings. She reunited with Hal after his return from the Dead Zone (essentially a world of Death), but after that she became attached to Kyle Rayner, another Lantern from Earth, and Kyle gave Carol one of the White Rings (life rings).

After one of Carol's first defeats in a battle with the Green Lantern, the Zamaronks chose her replacement, Dela Faron of Zanador. Dela fought Carol, but lost (not without the participation of the Green Lantern) and returned to Zanador, where she fooled and killed the local Green Lantern, after which she chained the entire planet in sapphire crystals.

Gillian Perlman, Hal Jordan's employee, a brave pilot girl with whom he had many adventures and with whom he eventually fell in love, also managed to be Sapphire. She was possessed by the essence of Star Sapphire (a psychic essence, of course), and Hal had to fight Jill, sharing power with Carol, who had lost Sapphire's power at that time. As a result, Jill was defeated and depowered, and she and Hal lived together for quite a long time in Coast City.

There were also real criminals in the ranks of the Sapphires. For example, Prixiam Nol-Anj is a murderer, robber, smuggler and racketeer who was held in a prison (the so-called "Scientific Cells") on Oa. She fooled the Green Lantern (Cossit) who was guarding her, and persuaded him to free her, just when the ring of Sapphire, killed in one of the battles, flew up to her. Freed, Nol-Anj killed Kossit and returned to her home planet, where she led a clan of robbers.

The Zamaronks and Star Sapphires are commanded by Queen Agapo. She, in fact, created the building. Initially, the goal of the Corps was to spread love throughout the universe through radical and aggressive methods - the Star Sapphires captured the bodies of those with whom the Green Lanterns were in love, after which they fooled and defeated the Lanterns, and then shackled the planets in sapphire crystals. However, over time, Agapo realized that she had gone a little too far and took a less aggressive position.

Do not assume that only women can join the Sapphires. They just usually fit better. Men were also members of the Corps (usually temporarily). For some time, Guy Gardner wore Sapphire's ring, fueling it with his love for the Corps of Green Lanterns; for literally a few moments, Superboy-Prime joined the Corps, who in a few moments managed to become a Lantern of all the colors of the rainbow. Abraham Pointe from Earth did not possess the ring, but was temporarily the host of the Predator. And in recent comics, the ring chose John Stewart.

Star Sapphire appeared in several episodes of the Justice League, fought with Hal Jordan and Batman in the animated series "Batman: The Brave and the Bold", appeared in the cartoon "Justice League: Death", but the theme of the Sapphires is best explored in the animated series "Green Lantern", where the Sapphires The Lanterns are shackled in crystals, and the bully Kilowog falls in love with a charming hippopotamus.

Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?

The gemstone is suitable for almost all zodiac signs, but to a greater or lesser extent. The meaning for the signs is almost neutral, so each of the representatives of the astrological circle can safely wear a star yacht.

(“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated)

Brief description of black sapphire

Black sapphire is a rare gemstone.
The color of corundum depends on inclusions - iron oxide, titanium and rutile. Each chemical compound gives its own color. When iron oxide predominates in the chemical composition, in the light the mineral becomes dark green or brown, and in the sun it becomes dark blue, with a purple tint, almost black.

A characteristic feature of the gemstone is the optical effect of asterism. It is achieved through inclusions of rutile (a type of quartz). In bright light, the crystals refract light rays, forming stars. The more rays, the more expensive the cabochon.

Compatibility with other stones

If a natural sapphire is an amulet or a favorite everyday decoration that you don’t want to take off, then you can organically combine the gem with the following stones:

Silver long earrings with blue star yakhont and topaz

• diamond;
• aventurine;
• amethyst;
• aquamarine;
• turquoise;
• rock crystal;
• Moonstone;
• jasper;
• chrysoprase;
• ruby;
• pomegranate.

It is important that the shade of the leading sapphire matches the secondary stone. It is highly undesirable to combine the gem with sardonyx, agate and jade.

Charms, talismans and amulets

To make magical attributes, only unprocessed gems or stones are used, after cutting, six-pointed stars appear in them. When inserted into a silver frame, they bestow wisdom and composure - such talismans are suitable for people in high positions. Gold enhances protective properties, stimulates a surge of energy, and sets you up for victory. Enhanced amulets are recommended to be worn by athletes, military personnel, and MTS employees.

The magical properties of sapphire amulets do not apply to women.

Where is it used?

Star stones are used only for caboching. That is, they give the gem a round, convex and smooth shape. Jewelers themselves call it a high domed stone. Moreover, the master often violates the geometry of the proportions of the yacht in order to preserve the beauty of the six-pointed star in its depths.

Depending on the size of the gem, it is used as an insert in rings and especially large rings, earrings, and pendants. The higher the cost of the precious metal and the larger the size of the mineral, the higher the cost of the product. Cool shades of sapphire look ideal in silver and platinum, while warm shades of the stone are ideally combined with gold. Both men and women should wear jewelry with it. But it is worth remembering that these are often large products.

Stylish silver set with a purple star yacht

In addition to jewelry, the gem is usually used for inlaying mirror frames, boxes and other personal and interior items.

Historical background on black sapphires

The main deposits of black sapphires are located on the Australian continent. It was there in 1938 that a twelve-year-old boy discovered a gigantic crystal (its mass was 1156 carats) in one of the deposits.

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The baby's parents did not see anything surprising in this find, but, fortunately, they did not throw it away, coming up with a very original use: they began to prop up the front door with a stone. The gem remained in this role for almost a decade.

And only then was it recognized as a sapphire, which was later sold for eighteen thousand dollars. Jewelers gave it an oval shape, known as a cabochon. As a result of cutting, the weight of the gem decreased to 733 carats, and its price increased to one million dollars.

The giant black sapphire is called the "Black Star of Queensland". In its central part you can see a bright star with six rays, and thanks to small white inclusions the mineral looks even more impressive.

Today, the Queensland black sapphire is the largest representative of this species in the world that has been cut. Now its value is 88 million dollars. It is impossible to establish the exact price at which it was last sold, because the transaction took place in secret.

The “Black Star” was put on display twice - the first time the event was held at the Museum of Natural History (located in Washington), and the second time the stone was shown to the public at the Royal Museum (in Ontario).

Now the black sapphire giant is located at the Smithsonian University in America.

How to spot a fake

When purchasing, it is important to distinguish a synthetic gem from a genuine one. And although they have not yet learned how to artificially grow a stone with a star pattern, experienced scammers in street stalls manage to pass off a fake plastic stone as a sapphire with an optical pattern. The main distinguishing features of a genuine yacht are:

1. Hardness. Even if the surface of a real stone is scratched with metal, it will remain smooth.
2. Density. Real stone has a higher density than water. Therefore, when immersed in water, it immediately falls to the bottom. The fake will stick to the surface.
3. The presence of inclusions in the cavity of the gem. They can be seen with a magnifying glass.

It is unlikely that you will be allowed to do all the manipulations with the stone in the store. Therefore, to assess its authenticity, it is better to use the services of a professional jeweler.

Artificial star stones

They learned to obtain the effect of asterism artificially. Such stones are easily distinguished by their impeccable star geometry.

The second sign is that the rays of a man-made star are motionless, regardless of the angle of the incident light. In the natural original they are dynamic.

Production is difficult and expensive, so there are few such stones on the market. A synthetic fake with impeccable asterism can be more expensive than a lower-quality natural analogue. However, it has no healing or magical properties.

Favorable time to buy

It is better to buy a precious yacht in the first phase of the Moon. During this period, the mineral has less (increasing) energy, and therefore will enter into a relationship with a new host. That is, it will be saturated with the energy of the new owner. Favorable numbers for buying sapphire are from the 8th to the 22nd.

When purchasing a stone separately, it is not recommended to place it on your palm. They look at the gems only by holding them in their fingers. And remember, “your” stone will wear perfectly. Energetically, it is not your gem that will constantly interfere, strain, subside or crush.

physical characteristics

According to the chemical formula of the mineral (AL2O3), it is considered to be aluminum oxide containing titanium dioxide. The structure is homogeneous, it can be either completely transparent or completely opaque. In its natural state, the rock is a kind of pyramid, barrel.

Hardness on the Mohs scale reaches 8 units, density fluctuates within 4. The light refractive index ranges between 1.762-1.778 units. The natural material has a fluorescent effect. If the material is of high quality, then it has clear rays, the quantity of which is excellent.