Description
Science and beauty are rarely in conflict. Here they converge. The asterism in a star sapphire is caused by needle-like inclusions of rutile — titanium dioxide — arranged in three intersecting sets, following the hexagonal symmetry of corundum. When cut as a cabochon, these needles diffract light into a six-rayed star that moves as you tilt the stone. Mogok produces the finest: velvety blue with a sharp, centered star.
This specimen originates from Mogok, Myanmar, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.
Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.
