If you own a star sapphire, you may be wondering how much it’s worth, and if you should keep it or sell it. But figuring out whether or not your gemstone actually contains stars requires more than just a cursory glance. Here are some steps to help you determine whether or not your stone is truly valuable and worthy of keeping in your collection or selling to a buyer who will appreciate its special properties.

How do you know if the star in your stone is natural?

 

The stars in natural star sapphires are aligned, while those in lab-created stones are not. Natural star sapphires also have a six-rayed star; man-made gemstones often have five or seven rays. The colors in natural sapphires tend to be more vibrant than those of synthetic stones. However, neither color nor alignment will reveal whether or not your stone is real—you’ll need advanced equipment for that. There are two tests you can use if you want to identify your stone by hand: asterism and refraction.

 

What does it mean if my stone doesn’t have star lines or rays?

If you’re shopping for star sapphires and your stone doesn’t have any visible rays, there’s still reason to hope. Rarely, if ever, do stones with visible lines also have rayed stars; it's either one or the other. So be careful not to jump ahead and assume that if your stone lacks star lines that it can't have a rayed star. It just means you'll need to look harder with an eye loupe. If you don't see any discernible lines in your stone, keep on looking until you've exhausted all possible angles of view.

 

Is there any other way to determine if my stone is a genuine star sapphire?

Size is an important factor when it comes to identifying a star sapphire, but it’s not everything. A natural blue star sapphire has similar physical characteristics as one that has been treated. The deeper and more saturated its color, for example, or its level of transparency and brightness are all factors in determining value. If you're hoping to get top dollar for your stone, make sure it displays these signs of high quality. An expert jeweler or gemologist should be able to identify if your stone is worth its weight in gold, but even then there's no guarantee. Demand ultimately determines price—and if there's no market for white sapphire then there's no market for your investment.

Does size matter when it comes to determining authenticity?

Topaz is one of those gemstones that anyone would be proud to have. However, topaz is not as rare as it once was and because of that, some companies may try to sell you something they claim is authentic when it isn’t. So how can you tell if a topaz stone is real or if it’s just glass or plastic that has been colored? There are a few things you can do to make sure what you are buying is an authentic, natural topaz stone instead of just another imitation. First, take a look at the price.

While there are plenty of imitations out there on places like eBay and Etsy, most people aren’t going to pay thousands of dollars for something that isn’t worth much more than $10-$20. If you see a topaz for sale online for hundreds or even thousands of dollars (especially with no other stones included), it might be fake. Next, check for coloring inconsistencies. Genuine topaz will usually show some sort of imperfection in its coloring so if your stone looks perfect all over with no visible flaws, it might not be genuine. Finally, examine your stone under magnification—if you see any bubbles in your stone then it is likely fake because real topaz never contains bubbles within its matrix structure.

 

Can lab created blue star sapphires be identified as such?

So now that I have all this information at my fingertips, what do I do with it – where do I start shopping for genuine Star Sapphires like those found in Pandora Jewelry collections and other major jewelry manufacturers offerings?

 

If I am buying online, what should I look for in terms of quality, authenticity, etc.?

Jewelry purchased online can be an attractive option for people who don’t have local shops, but it is also important to take your time and do some research before making a purchase. It’s easy to look up average prices for different gemstones and get some background information about topaz. Once you’ve got that information in hand, make sure you know what you are buying – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! As always, if something seems too good to be true, then walk away. It really could just be a scam...there is no such thing as a free lunch!