Question....anyone know anything about star ruby sapphire?

[curious kat]

....we've had this for years now, was bought in Viet Nam by hubby for about 25.00. Don't really know much about them, is the color good? Is it worth more now?....anything? thanks

 

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[Brian T. Booth]

....we've had this for years now, was bought in Viet Nam by hubby for about 25.00. Don't really know much about them, is the color good? Is it worth more now?....anything? thanks <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=919387"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=919388"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=919389"/>

Love star ruby and sapphires. If I remember right from mineralogy, the star is produced by rutile crystals within the corundum crystal structure. Awesome specimen.

 

[gunsil]

You need to take it to a certified gemologist. They have been able to synthesize rubies since the 1920s, star stones included.

 

[Eu_citzen]

gunsil is right. No professional would in their mind say so or so so from a picture.
If the colour is right, I'd say it is a little so so, to much purple as a secondary mixed in for my liking and it's only translucent.
The best ones are close to transparent.

 

[curious kat]

...Thanks for the info everyone. The "star" does move with the flashlight, does that help in knowing if it's real, I guess that's what you guys are suspecting?

 

[Eu_citzen]

Brain is right, the "star" is showing due to rutile crystals that grew in a similar fashion as the crystal itself - following the trigonal crystal system.
If cut right the star will always move with the light. Only a microscope and someone with experience in gemmology can help you.

There is no way around this I'm afraid.
The signs of synthetics, treatments and such are best seen under a microscope most of the time.

 

[TeAra]

Unless they have gotten good at synthetics the star will move with light if it is real

 

[curious kat]

..Thanks everyone on the info. Yes TeAra, I had read that the star only moves with the light on real ones, thanks for backing that up. Or like you say, can the fakes do that now...anyone know? This stone was bought in a little village in about 1965.

 

[TeAra]

From what I could see the fake ones do not do that. The stars on them seem to be almost perfect where a real one some will be longer than others.

 

[curious kat]

Yes, the star on this one has longer ones than others. I think it is real, just don't know much about them. This one has been stored away for quite awhile and only just took it out and started to look it up. Eu said the color isn't that great, has more blue in it for "ruby". But I'm thankful for all the help from you all!

 

[TeAra]

I can't tell from the photo but does it have a "L" on it anywhere?

 

[Eu_citzen]

Synthetics are just that - lab made "copies" of the real deal. They are next to the same - a to perfect star might be an indication it is synthetic but nothing more.
I've seen several in person - albeit quite a while ago. They both move in the light if a true synthetic.

I can suggest a little read: (download the PDF)
A Gemological Look at Kyocera's New Synthetic Star Ruby | Gems & Gemology

 

[curious kat]

...no TeAra, there's no marking on it at all. Eu thanks for the site, interesting...but they said it's "new"...ours was bought in back in 1965 when my husband was in VNam. So guess it could be syn. if they made them back then and in that small village in VN....here's more pic's incase it helps?

 

[Eu_citzen]

Kyocera's star ruby is new, but the older ones go back to the early 1900's. (1913 I believe Verneuil made his breakthrough)
Verneuil process - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[curious kat]

Thanks for the site Eu, interesting! So there's no way to tell real or synthetics for the layperson? I was wondering if ours wasn't real, why would they make it that color instead of the preferred red?

 

[Eu_citzen]

There is no 100% sure way. Most tips you can find for the average person are only "suggesting" it might be natural - but they don't prove anything.
I'm trying to refrain saying it might be natural or synthetic due to that and not seeing it in person. People can to easily get their hopes up.

As for your question on why they would make that colour; they could have had an "oops" moment where other impurities added to the colour.
it doesn't always go perfectly right.

 

[loco oro]

nice saphire CT, with the inclusions and imperfections,i would lean towards being real,the color is a lil suspect tho, perhaps it was treated to enhance since it was a (star). i like it!

 

[curious kat]

Yes Eu....I understand about being careful in stating an opinion about it being real or not, don't worry though I can take it! lol It's been tucked away for so long, was just curious about it. I do have something new to say on it though....looked at it through a jewelers glass and there are many small dark specks all through it...maybe that will tell something? So, don't be afraid to speak your mind!

 

[curious kat]

....thank you loco oro....don't know what those dark specks in it mean, do you?

 

[loco oro]

uv light, it should flouresce a red color,traces of chromium is what makes the saphires and rubys pink and red,and also makes them flouresce a red. maybe this will help a lil.