Largest star sapphires in the world 1

 

Midnight star saphhire

     The Midnight Star Sapphire is a 116.75 carat is large deep purple-violet star sapphire. It was discovered in Sri Lanka in the 19th century. The term "midnight" is used to refer to black star sapphires as well as Mogok blue sapphires. However the origin of the name for this deep purple sapphire as midnight black is still mystifying.
     The cutting of polishing of the midnight sapphire has probably taken place in Sri Lanka. The cutter must first decide whether the rough is a suitable candidate to be a star sapphire when he look into it which requires extensive experience. However the cutter who cut this midnight has known it with precision how the rough should be cut and polished to exhibit perfect asterism.
    This stone was initially believed to be acquired by the George Fredrick Kunz towards the end of that century and sold to J.P. Morgan. Where he donated the Midnight Star to the American Museum of Natural History in New York in the 1900s.


Midnight star saphhire real gemstone
                    
Photo - Midnight star saphhire 


Star of Bombay

     The Star of Bombay is a 182 carat violet-blue star sapphire discovered in Sri Lanka. Given as a gift to Mary Pickford by her husband Douglas Fairbanks in the 1920's. She bequeathed the gemstone to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., sometime before her death in 1979. Although the stone caries the name of a city in India this stone is discovered in Sri Lanka during the time of British rule where British East Indian Company exercised full control over the commerce of Sri Lanka. Due to this reason it stone obtained the name of British proudly ruled city in India.
     The name itself make confusion among the visitors as the origin and the name differs. India has not produced blue sapphire of this caliber in a long period of time and Sri Lanka being producer of large sapphire is well known for centuries, where 17 out of 30 largest sapphires are of Sri Lankan origin.
     Probability of a large blue sapphire weighing over 100 carats will have 60% chance that is from Sri Lanka are the arguments presented by the experts those believe this is as a proud treasure of Sri Lanka.

Star of Bombay blue star sapphire gemstone
                
Photo - Star of Bombay blue star sapphire


Star of Lanka

     The name resembles both the type and country of origin of the stone. The gemstone is blue milky sapphire with distinct sixed rayed stars. There is 60% possibility any blue sapphire weight over 100 carats will have Sri Lankan Origin. Authorities of Royal Ontario museum has accurately named the stone as Star of Lanka to avoid confusion among the visitors unlike in Smithsonian Museum of natural history where Sri Lankan origin star sapphire is named as star of India. This grayish-blue star sapphire is 193 carats and was discovered in the 20th century in Sri Lanka. This star of Lanka sapphire opaque and milky concealing the blue tone and displaying grayish blue color. The stone has oval, cabochon- cut high domed cut which parade six distinct pattern of rays that extend its arm down to the base. It was originally owned by Allan Kaplan who sold the gemstone to the Royal Ontario Museum in 1958.


Star of Lanka blue star sapphire gemstone
                 
Photo -  Star of Lanka blue star saphhire 




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