Blue Star
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 Blue Two Star Pin 2 Family in Service Pin US Military NEW $4.50 Time Remaining: 5d 14h 39m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW UNITED STATES SERVICE BLUE STAR MILITARY LAPEL HAT PIN $6.00 Time Remaining: 11h 22m Buy It Now for only: $7.00 |
 MILITARY INSIGNIA US NAVY 1 STAR ANCHOR SEW ON BLUE AND YELLOW $2.99 Time Remaining: 29d 22h 1m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
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 3 Blue Star Son in the Service Decal $4.95 Time Remaining: 24d 15h 57m Buy It Now for only: $4.95 |
 Blue Star Son in Service Decal $4.95 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 51m Buy It Now for only: $4.95 |
 ONE BLUE STAR LOVED ONE SERVING MILITARY DECAL STICKER $12.34 Time Remaining: 23d 23h 7m Buy It Now for only: $12.34 |
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 Blue Star Son in the Service Patch $5.95 Time Remaining: 29d 23h 48m Buy It Now for only: $5.95 |
 USMILITARY BLUE STAR BANNER FLAG 3X5 LIGHTWEIGHT $13.99 Time Remaining: 16d 14h 15m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
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 2 Two Blue Star Service Banner Window Flag Mom US Military Patriotic Gift $22.24 Time Remaining: 20d 17h 42m Buy It Now for only: $22.24 |
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 3 Three Blue Star Service Banner Window Flag Mom US Military Patriotic Gift $22.24 Time Remaining: 20d 20h 31m Buy It Now for only: $22.24 |
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 Three Blue Star Pin $7.95 Time Remaining: 13d 22h 40m Buy It Now for only: $7.95 |
 Three Blue Star Service Banner $13.99 Time Remaining: 14d 21h 57m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
 TWO BLUE STAR LOVED ONE SERVING MILITARY DECAL STICKER $12.34 Time Remaining: 23d 23h 9m Buy It Now for only: $12.34 |
 USA Army Navy Marine Military Sew on 13 Star Beret Flash 1998 now Blue White $2.49 Time Remaining: 4d 11h 37m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
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 Two Blue Star Service Ribbon Decal Sticker $4.95 Time Remaining: 24d 15h 57m Buy It Now for only: $4.95 |
 BLUE STAR FAMILY US ARMY CHALLENGE COIN 687 D 217 s $9.70 Time Remaining: 28d 15h 18m Buy It Now for only: $9.70 |
 Two Blue Star Service Banner $19.99 Time Remaining: 5d 21h 40m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
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 BLUE STAR FAMILY USCG CHALLENGE COIN 684 D 220 s $9.70 Time Remaining: 28d 15h 15m Buy It Now for only: $9.70 |
 BLUE STAR FAMILY US NAVY CHALLENGE COIN 689 D 219 s $9.70 Time Remaining: 28d 15h 25m Buy It Now for only: $9.70 |
 1 Blue Star Mother Military Service Flag Vinyl Sticker $5.99 Time Remaining: 23d 23h 37m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 BLUE STAR FAMILY USMC CHALLENGE COIN 685 D 221 s $9.70 Time Remaining: 28d 15h 20m Buy It Now for only: $9.70 |
 THREE BLUE STAR FAMILY LOVED ONE SERVING DECAL STICKER $12.34 Time Remaining: 23d 23h 13m Buy It Now for only: $12.34 |
 Lot of Blue Star Pins Mini Banner Window Sticker $19.99 Time Remaining: 3d 17h 48m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 Blue Star Service Banner Flag Military Gift Wood Brass Keychain Key Ring AK594 $8.50 Time Remaining: 5d 23h 32m Buy It Now for only: $8.50 |
 LOVED ONE PROUDLY SERVING BLUE STAR PIN $4.99 Time Remaining: 18d 1h 53m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 Double Blue Star Service Banner Flag Military Wood Brass Keychain Key Ring AK595 $8.50 Time Remaining: 8d 14h 37m Buy It Now for only: $8.50 |
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Star Sapphire Gemstones
In the gemstone world there are a special group of gems known as phenomenal gemstones. These are gems which exhibit special optical phenomena, including asterism (the star effect), chatoyancy (the cat's eye effect), adularescence (shimmering light) and iridescence (the rainbow effect).
Since these phenomenal gems are fairly rare, they naturally attract the attention of collectors. In some cases all or most of the gems belonging to a particular variety display the phenomenon, in the way that most moonstone exhibit adularesence. But in other cases the optical effect is found only occasionally in a particular type of gem, and it is the rare cases that are of special interest to collectors.
Asterism or the star effect is an example of an optical effect found very rarely in a small number of gem types cut as cabochons. The most famous examples are star sapphire and star ruby. But asterism may also be exhibited by moonstone, quartz, spinel, citrine, diopside, emerald, garnet and chrysoberyl.
The reason that asterism is so rare is that it requires the gem to have inclusions of rutile needles, and for the needles to be aligned in such a way as to reflect light in a multi-ray pattern forming a star. The usual rule of thumb in gemstones is the fewer inclusions the better. But this is a case where the value is enhanced by the right sort of inclusions.
The value of a star gemstone depends on the clarity and distinctness of the star. Generally the star must be evaluated using a single source light such as a penlight; it is usually very difficult to see the star under diffused light. Moving the light back and forth should cause the star to move across the stone's surface. The rays of the star should be evenly distributed and the rays should be relatively straight. The most common stars are 4-ray and 6-ray, though 12-ray stars have been seen.
Color is also very important in a star gemstone. Ideally the color should be equivalent to a non-star specimen of the gem, but the presence of rutile in the stone tends to weaken the color. So in the best case there is enough rutile to create a distinct star while minimizing the effect on the color.
Burma and Sri Lanka are the most important sources for star ruby and star sapphire, though Thailand is famous for the black and gold star sapphires found only in Chanthaburi province. Some star sapphires are produced using a diffusion treatment, where the sapphire is heated with a coating of titanium dioxide which diffuses into the corundum and creates rutile needles.
Synthetic star sapphires were first produced in the late 1940's by Linde, a division of Union Carbide. They are currently produced in Japan by Nakazumi Earth Crystals. The synthetic gems tend to have perfect color and star so vivid and straight that it appears painted on the stone.
About the Author
GemSelect is a leading online dealer in fine gemstones, including star sapphire, spinel, tourmaline and zircon. Star Sapphire Photos
Blue Star - Linda Scott