Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is one of the top star sapphire producing countries in the world. Star sapphires are found in various colors such as white, black, gray, blue, red, pink and purple. When the color is red, it is called a star ruby. Although star sapphires belong to the same corundum family like any other faceted sapphire, they exhibit a star-like phenomenon called asterism.  Intersecting needle-like inclusions within star sapphires cause the appearance of six-rayed or rarely 12-rayed star on the surface when examined under direct sunlight or a single light source such as a flashlight.  If the intensity of the star is high, you may somewhat see it even under natural daylight.

In lapidary, the rough material is formed into cabs by polishing the topside of the stone for the star to appear.  The bottom of the star sapphire is shaped to be flat and it is usually not polished. It will hide once the star sapphire is set into a piece of jewelry. Impurities inside the stones are quite normal and do not affect the outer appearance. A star sapphire with even color on the surface that is spotless would be a good choice. The ideal star should extend all the way down to the bottom of the stone on all six-rays.  Thin and sharp lines on the star are preferred over thick lines since they seem to be sharp and do not give a washed-up look under a light source.  Star sapphires are found all transparent, translucent and opaque forms.  Usually, when the transparency increases, the intensity of the star tends to decrease.

The value of a star sapphire depends on the weight, body color, visibility and intensity of the star.  Blue, red and pink varieties seem to have a higher demand thus an increased value.  Just as any other gemstone in the online market, star sapphiers are priced in a broad range starting from rediculously low to extreme high.  We cannot determine the quality of the gemstone by looking at the price.  However, it is common sense to look for gemstones that are priced reasonably to represent the value of them.  In modern days with the technology that connects buyers and sellers at every corner of the world, one should be able to buy a star sapphire for a decent price.  The best approach is to do your homework, research and improve your knowledge and make the best judgement on availability in the market, affordability to your budget and quality you expect.    It is important to find a source that has a fair and clear return policy, specially if you are buying online.