A sapphire that has the color of its star visible to the naked eye is known as the black star sapphire. If you’re thinking of buying a star sapphire, you probably know that some star sapphires are black, and others are blue, purple or some other color. Why do they look black? Let’s take a closer look at this gem variety and find out.
The Black Star Sapphire Is A Type Of Sapphire That Exhibits A Star-Like Reflection
The star sapphire is a type of sapphire that exhibits a star-like reflection. It’s often confused with other gems like the London Blue Topaz. This is because they are both cut with faceting to create a star or star-like reflection. The difference between these two gems is where their color comes from, and how much clarity they have.
The London Blue Topaz has a blue hue because it absorbs all other colors but blue, whereas the star sapphire has an orange hue because it reflects all colors of light except for red. The star sapphire also has more clarity than the London Blue Topaz due to its inclusions being typically lighter in color and less noticeable than those seen on most London Blue Topaz stones. As a result, it is priced higher than the London Blue Topaz.
The Cause Of This Reflection Is Due To An Optical Phenomenon Called Asterism
The inclusion of rutile needles in sapphires can cause a phenomenon called asterism. This is where light reflects off the needles in a way that causes light to disperse and creates a star-like effect. The most coveted type of this phenomenon is black asterism. Which is created by london blue topaz inclusions that are only found in Sri Lanka and Madagascar. It’s also called Star of Africa or Black Star. These Sapphires are so rare they make up less than one percent of all colored sapphire.
With origins in Sri Lanka and Madagascar. London Blue Topaz was used as an example due to their prevalence on those two continents. However, it should be noted that these examples were not even considered star sapphires. Until well into the 20th century when Gemologist C J Six tackled classification of stones with asterisms. He saw a correlation between high hardness (8) London Blue Topazs being placed in high pressure zones close. To large bodies of molten rock, making them more resistant to external forces such as heat and pressure from heavy usage over time.
Asterism Is Caused By Inclusions Of Rutile Needles In The Sapphire
Most people think a sapphire is blue, but there are also green, yellow, orange and pink sapphires. The most prized color is a deep blue called London blue topaz. Some of these stones have inclusions that cause them to change color when they are exposed to different light. A star sapphire will be mostly dark purple with an occasional flash of bright orange. This asterism is caused by inclusions of rutile needles in the sapphire (seven sentences). London Blue Topaz is not related to the more common light-blue London-cut gemstones. It is found in parts of India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Burma. Most production comes from Sri Lanka where it was first discovered.
The Reflection Of Light Off Of These Needles Creates The Illusion Of A Star
Sapphire is a gemstone that can come in many colors, including blue, orange and purple. However, there is a specific type of sapphire known as a black star sapphire. These stones are often mistaken for black topaz because of their similar hue. They are also often confused with London Blue Topaz due to their similarly dark coloration. But these two gems have very different origins.
London Blue Topaz, which originates from Sri Lanka. Was discovered long ago by English explorers looking for precious gems on the island during colonial rule. The stones they found were not actually sapphires but rather London Blue Topaz-a semiprecious stone closely related to quartz. The first example of London Blue Topaz was documented around 1790. When it arrived in Europe-making it the youngest member of the beryl family (along with emeralds).
Black Star Sapphires Are Found In Many Different Locations Around The World
Black Star Sapphires are also known as a London Blue Topaz. They have their own unique way of looking. They can sometimes appear to be black, but this is because they don’t reflect much light. What you’re really seeing is the mineral rutile. Which has a brownish-gold sheen to it that changes with the angle of light. The rough cut of these stones often makes them less expensive than other gems such as diamonds and rubies.
There’s a special type of Black Star Sapphire called London Blue Topaz that come from all over the world. Some people like them for the rarity, others like them for how rare they are seen in jewelry stores. It seems like only one store might carry the gem, but there are many online options available. In general, London Blue Topaz is not hard to find when you compare it to other types of blue sapphire.
When shopping for London Blue Topaz, it’s important not to get confused by the similar sounding name with regular blue topaz or London blue topaz quartz. These two gemstones may share a similar hue and color palette. But they differ in composition: London Blue Topaz does not include any copper. Or titanium whereas regular blue topazes often contain copper or titanium for a metallic flash effect.
London Blue Topazes can be found in many locations around the world. Colombia, Russia and Australia are just three examples where this stone is mined.
