Show your Star sapphires and rubies

[Odyssey44]

Ditto!

Profile is so important bc you want a nice dome and a moderate belly.

The star looks nice, but would want video in natural sun and also video in diffuse daylight to assess transparency. There are multiple stars bc there are multiple pot lights is all. Normal star behavior. For future reference. This stone and seller are OUT.

Ah, I did not realize lights could make multiple stars. Oh, do not worry--both were out as soon as I saw that muffin!

 

[Odyssey44]

My 1942 ebay star sapphire ring arrived today. The sapphire is lovely and ethereal, much more transparent than it looked in the photos. The color is a very pale silvery lavender blue. Through a loupe I can see several prominent internal features, mostly feathers (and silk, of course), but they aren't intrusive to the naked eye. The star is very sharp and well centered, with the 3D effect that transparent stones have, but a little weak--I guess that's also because of the transparency? The setting is delicate and very well made. E. must have been so pleased to get this ring from A. on that June day in 1942.



Here it is with my art nouveau stickpin conversion ring:




In indirect light with the converted stickpin and a pair of star sapphire cufflinks:




Close-ups showing the inclusions (and reflections of my phone:





It's so hard to convey what these stones look like with photos. These four sapphires look very similar to one another in photos, but in person they have distinct personalities.

I really like it! There is a big difference to me between silver and gray. I like silver very much. It is like a storm cloud. The setting is just perfect. Congratulations! My favorite picture is of it alone after the picture of you wearing it and the art nouveau (my favorite design period) stick pin ring. The star looks so bright! And wow, I can't believe how your star sapphires pretty much match!!

 

[glitterata]

I really like it! There is a big difference to me between silver and gray. I like silver very much. It is like a storm cloud. The setting is just perfect. Congratulations! My favorite picture is of it alone after the picture of you wearing it and the art nouveau (my favorite design period) stick pin ring. The star looks so bright! And wow, I can't believe how your star sapphires pretty much match!!

Thank you!

A lot of star sapphires in jewelry from the 1930s to 1950s seem to be this pale silvery blue. I wonder if they came from the same area. Does anyone know?

Mine don't match as perfectly in person as they do in photos. They're close, but it's more like a strong family resemblance than quadruplets. Even the cufflinks aren't a perfect match for each other. And as you can see, the colors shift a lot depending on the lighting and viewing angle. This new one is probably the shiftiest. It's icy.

I also had an opaque white star sapphire ring that REALLY looked like a storm cloud, but I gave it to my mom.

 

[Odyssey44]

Vendor sent me another star sapphire video. It is still a muffin, which I told him I would not consider. (There is someone out there cutting this way on purpose!) But for my education I am posting it here. I love the color. Star looks crisp too. Is there anything wrong with the face up side of this stone? I am missing it if there is and would like to learn.

https://imgur.com/stB1hI4

 

[glitterata]

Vendor sent me another star sapphire video. It is still a muffin, which I told him I would not consider. (There is someone out there cutting this way on purpose!) But for my education I am posting it here. I love the color. Star looks crisp too. Is there anything wrong with the face up side of this stone? I am missing it if there is and would like to learn.

https://imgur.com/stB1hI4

Pretty color, pretty star, not as horrifyingly tall as the previous one (though still a muffin). I wonder what flaws the seller has managed to hide, and how?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Vendor sent me another star sapphire video. It is still a muffin, which I told him I would not consider. (There is someone out there cutting this way on purpose!) But for my education I am posting it here. I love the color. Star looks crisp too. Is there anything wrong with the face up side of this stone? I am missing it if there is and would like to learn.

https://imgur.com/stB1hI4

This is a nice looking stone BUT you need video and pictures is diffuse daylight and indoor. No spot lights. You cannot assess the transparency otherwise and you cannot assess how it will look in 95% of lighting. The star is actually rarely present in daily wear so you need to like the appearance when it’s not present, too.

This is a common shape for stars. My first was like this. The higher dome ones are actually less common.

I don’t have a loose profile shot of my star anymore but here you can kind of see the dome is about 50% of the depth and the unpolished base the other 50%. That’s about as good as it gets.

 

[Odyssey44]

Pretty color, pretty star, not as horrifyingly tall as the previous one (though still a muffin). I wonder what flaws the seller has managed to hide, and how?

Oh, good point. No way would I trust them for anything. And the prices seem outrages, tough he did not say how much this one would be. I have been looking and I have seen more then one of these muffin shapes on Asian Instagrams. Odd. I mean, I know they cut for weight but they must see how awkward this makes setting the stone.

This is a nice looking stone BUT you need video and pictures is diffuse daylight and indoor. No spot lights. You cannot assess the transparency otherwise and you cannot assess how it will look in 95% of lighting. The star is actually rarely present in daily wear so you need to like the appearance when it’s not present, too.

This is a common shape for stars. My first was like this. The higher dome ones are actually less common.

I don’t have a loose profile shot of my star anymore but here you can kind of see the dome is about 50% of the depth and the unpolished base the other 50%. That’s about as good as it gets.

Thanks Dreamer. Gorgeous colors on your stones here! Is it ok for a star sapphire to have its top weight over to one side, like I think I am seeing in yours? It could just be the angle. I have definitely seen this. Half and half ratio above and below the girdle is super helpful. It gives me a target! Thank!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Thanks Dreamer. Gorgeous colors on your stones here! Is it ok for a star sapphire to have its top weight over to one side, like I think I am seeing in yours? It could just be the angle. I have definitely seen this. Half and half ratio above and below the girdle is super helpful. It gives me a target! Thank!

Optical illusion though mine certainly isn’t perfectly oval, to the naked eye it looks symmetrical. I would prefer a symmetrical dome.

Here you can see the silk at its most apparent and how it looks when the star isn’t present. You can also see the weird illusion where the star legs look broken in monocular photography but in person they are perfect. Very important to assess that appearance bc it’s how it will look 95% of the time.



And videos loose and set

She’s 4ct AGL graded purple-pink, unheated (I got the report after purchase). You can see silk, there are better quality stones where the silk is less apparent but this was in budget and I’m fully satisfied. Was about $900 per ct in 2023. It was very hard to source, Yvonne found it for me from her supplier but I had no luck on my own prior. Stars are very rare and most are bought in Asia before making it to NAm market. I was not willing to buy direct from Sri Lanka even if it would have saved money bc of the importance of seeing in person before committing. Photography really is inaccurate with stars and can misrepresent the asterism and also how apparent the silk is. Mine looks quite different in person and the silk is less obvious and the star more perfect. But pictures and video can also make a flat top stone look domes and an opaque stone look translucent.

 

[Odyssey44]

Optical illusion though mine certainly isn’t perfectly oval, to the naked eye it looks symmetrical. I would prefer a symmetrical dome.

Here you can see the silk at its most apparent and how it looks when the star isn’t present. You can also see the weird illusion where the star legs look broken in monocular photography but in person they are perfect. Very important to assess that appearance bc it’s how it will look 95% of the time.



And videos loose and set

She’s 4ct AGL graded purple-pink, unheated (I got the report after purchase). You can see silk, there are better quality stones where the silk is less apparent but this was in budget and I’m fully satisfied. Was about $900 per ct in 2023. It was very hard to source, Yvonne found it for me from her supplier but I had no luck on my own prior. Stars are very rare and most are bought in Asia before making it to NAm market. I was not willing to buy direct from Sri Lanka even if it would have saved money bc of the importance of seeing in person before committing. Photography really is inaccurate with stars and can misrepresent the asterism and also how apparent the silk is. Mine looks quite different in person and the silk is less obvious and the star more perfect. But pictures and video can also make a flat top stone look domes and an opaque stone look translucent.

Thanks so much for all the pictures! Having them helps tremendously and I can clearly see all the points you are making. I have definitely seem some star sapphires on ebay with the silk in low light, and honestly was not sure what it was until your pictures. Instagram vendors are coming in at 2000-2500 per ct! I would have though gems would have become cheaper when necessities are so much more expensive. I understand how gold goes up in value because it is seen as safer than paper money. But I did not think it would work that way for gems.
I adore the floral look of you setting btw!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Thanks so much for all the pictures! Having them helps tremendously and I can clearly see all the points you are making. I have definitely seem some star sapphires on ebay with the silk in low light, and honestly was not sure what it was until your pictures. Instagram vendors are coming in at 2000-2500 per ct! I would have though gems would have become cheaper when necessities are so much more expensive. I understand how gold goes up in value because it is seen as safer than paper money. But I did not think it would work that way for gems.
I adore the floral look of you setting btw!!

You are looking for a larger stone and per carat prices will be higher at higher weights… but yeah, prices have increased at least 20% plus in the last few years. Yvonne has written some great blogs about it. She’s a former academic so her analysis is really interesting on the subject. You might enjoy! You can access the blog from her website.

 

[Odyssey44]

You are looking for a larger stone and per carat prices will be higher at higher weights… but yeah, prices have increased at least 20% plus in the last few years. Yvonne has written some great blogs about it. She’s a former academic so her analysis is really interesting on the subject. You might enjoy! You can access the blog from her website.

Oh that is pretty cool. I have some melee I have bought from her.
Just browsing around with no particular purpose and saw this! This muffin cutting style seems to be a thing. I wonder if this is standard in a certain part of the world.

AIGS Certified SRI LANKA Fancy Star Sapphire 11.33 Cts Natural Untreated Oval | eBay

Paraiba Tourmaline. Certified By:AIGS (Scan Provided Below). Star Sapphire. Faceted Sapphire. Cabochon Sapphire. Trapiche Sapphire. Padparadscha Sapphire. Faceted Ruby.

www.ebay.com

 

[Dreamer_D]

Oh that is pretty cool. I have some melee I have bought from her.
Just browsing around with no particular purpose and saw this! This muffin cutting style seems to be a thing. I wonder if this is standard in a certain part of the world.

AIGS Certified SRI LANKA Fancy Star Sapphire 11.33 Cts Natural Untreated Oval | eBay

Paraiba Tourmaline. Certified By:AIGS (Scan Provided Below). Star Sapphire. Faceted Sapphire. Cabochon Sapphire. Trapiche Sapphire. Padparadscha Sapphire. Faceted Ruby.

www.ebay.com

I’d say it’s the norm in modern stars to cut that way. Also just for edumacation that is a very opaque stone. Look for a glistening water appearance with some minimal silk, ideally. It’s hard to capture with a camera unfortunately, but opaque stones look flat and transparent ones with minimal silk (like mine) look watery and have intense depth in person. I can’t capture it with my camera.

 

[glitterata]

Adding my latest, a deco/retro star ruby by F&F Felger. The ruby is probably between 2 and 2.5 ct. It has a nicely centered star.



Video:

https://imgur.com/a/1ZXeiTC

It has its own thread:

Thread 'Another vintage star ruby ring'

Aug 27, 2025

This delicate platinum star ruby ring was made by the Newark, N.J. jewelry manufacturer F&F Felger. They were a well-regarded firm that supplied jewelry to retailers like Cartier, Tiffany, and J.E. Caldwell. This was one of their popular settings--I've seen it with other star rubies, star sapphires, and faceted stones. I'm guessing it's from the 1930s-40s.

Mine was listed on ebay as a cabochon ruby, but I suspected it might turn out to be a star. Indeed it is--a nice, clean, well-centered one. The ruby a modest size, about 2 1/4 carats by my measurements. It's an even color, nicely...

• glitterata
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Colored Gemstones

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[RRfromR]

I just got this today, and, despite the fact that I LOVE the color and transparency, it's too small I got bitten by the bug from the large stone thread. I'd love something like this but 3 times larger :/ or maybe keep it and beef it up with diamonds? Is this a hard color and transparency to find?

 

[Dreamer_D]

I just got this today, and, despite the fact that I LOVE the color and transparency, it's too small I got bitten by the bug from the large stone thread. I'd love something like this but 3 times larger :/ or maybe keep it and beef it up with diamonds? Is this a hard color and transparency to find?

It’s a very pretty raspberry color! It looks a lot like mine which AGL called “purple-pink”. I think this is a more rare color compared to greyish blue, which I see most often on the vintage market. But all star sapphires are very rare in an absolute sense. The gem material that produces stars is hard to find. They have also become hard to source in North America in the past few years.

The transparency looks good. Some visible silk but not too much. It’s not a top specimen in that regard but that’s $$ obviously. There is what appears to be some zoning, a stripe in one side a slightly different color. It is probably not desirable per trade ideal but it looks interesting to me. Does it have nice water in sunlight? Does it feel like you sort of fall into the stone when you gaze into it? Does the star seem to permeate into the gem? I think it looks very pretty.

Overall I really like the ring. But I totally understand wanting larger. Mine is 4ct and some day I’d really like a 10+ ct.

 

[Starstruck8]

That's exceptional and magical colour and transparency! Yes, it's hard to find.

The star is bright and straight, but it looks a bit interrupted. There seems to be a strip of star-free zoning at the right (see picture):


Does this worry you? Or maybe you think it adds interest! These things are often less noticeable in real life than in still pictures.

Does it have nice water in sunlight? Does it feel like you sort of fall into the stone when you gaze into it? Does the star seem to permeate into the gem?

+1. Also, check it in soft even light (e.g. under a grey sky) - for star stones, the more even the light, the less saturated the colour.

As for size, only you can say. But a big stone with this colour saturation and transparency will cost $$$, if you can find one at all.

 

[RRfromR]

@Dreamer_D and @Starstruck8 argh you are so right, I'm looking for juicy pink stars with good transparency and the $$$$ omg. This one is 2 5 ct, why does it look so tiny. Seller thinks it's unheated but doesn't have certification
Is this better? It's bigger

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/pink-sapphires/5.02ct-burma-myanmar-oval-pink-star-sapphire-s3168/

 

[Odyssey44]

@Dreamer_D and @Starstruck8 argh you are so right, I'm looking for juicy pink stars with good transparency and the $$$$ omg. This one is 2 5 ct, why does it look so tiny. Seller thinks it's unheated but doesn't have certification
Is this better? It's bigger

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/pink-sapphires/5.02ct-burma-myanmar-oval-pink-star-sapphire-s3168/

This muffin style of cutting really bothers me. So much weight beneath the girdle that you will never see once it is set.

 

[Dreamer_D]

@Dreamer_D and @Starstruck8 argh you are so right, I'm looking for juicy pink stars with good transparency and the $$$$ omg. This one is 2 5 ct, why does it look so tiny. Seller thinks it's unheated but doesn't have certification
Is this better? It's bigger

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/pink-sapphires/5.02ct-burma-myanmar-oval-pink-star-sapphire-s3168/

Heat destroys the silk so stars are always unheated. So that’s sort of neither here nor there IMO.

The price on that NSC stone is really low for the size and color. Makes me think there is a flaw. The star is pretty hard to see in the videos for example.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I just got this today, and, despite the fact that I LOVE the color and transparency, it's too small I got bitten by the bug from the large stone thread. I'd love something like this but 3 times larger :/ or maybe keep it and beef it up with diamonds? Is this a hard color and transparency to find?

can you get it resized as a pinky ring
it sure is pretty

 

[RRfromR]

More pics: dark spot in the house and outside, and outside in the morning sun.

 

[Garnet Gimlet]

More pics: dark spot in the house and outside, and outside in the morning sun.

Honestly, I like it. It's charming. It's got a great color and the transparency is wonderful! So it's got a little silk and the arm might be a little off - that's the fun of natural stones. In my search for the star sapphire of my dreams, I bought two with far worse transparency than your little one. One of them is in a setting I love. The stone has a little spot in it, but I always think of it like the Red Spot in Jupiter. It's far from perfect, but it's fun and I'll still keep it in my rotation even though I got The One. Keep searching, but hopefully you'll enjoy this one in the meantime. Or you'll sell it and get funds for your next one!

 

[Lentibulariaceae]

More pics: dark spot in the house and outside, and outside in the morning sun.

I love this, honestly. Gemmy, good color, sharp star, and charmingly small. I could understand if you wanted something different but I think this is absolutely lovely, even in the dark.

 

[ArielleB]

Not sure if I added my James Meyer star sapphire.