The star ruby, classified as a form of ruby, displays a magical feature called asterism, making star ruby one of the most appealing stones. The striking star like pattern on its surface has made the star ruby gemstone an illuminating addition to admiration of gemstone collectors and enthusiasts. This red ruby is not only liked due to the beauty it has, but also due to the qualifications of being spiritual and healer. In this article, it is all about the information on the so-called star ruby gemstone, its history, its characteristics and its importance in the world of gems.
What is the Star Ruby Gemstone
On the first instance, one may be excused for considering the star ruby gemstone as just another ruby gemstone but as one will come to find out there is a lot about this gemstone that sets it apart from every other ruby gemstone. Like the regular rubies, star rubies are a type of corundum that also contains needle-like inclusions of rutile within the gem. These rutile inclusions form a star pattern on the surface of the stone provided the stone is placed under a source of direct light. This phenomenon is known as asterism and is usually observed in the form of a six rayed star while some have four rays and some twelve.
Evolution of the Star Ruby Gemstone
Star ruby is also found deep within the crust of the earth as is the other type of rubies known in the market. It is credited by heat and pressure that leads to formation of corundum and make up the gems. The extraordinary star effect on the other hand is gotten from the positioning of rutile inclusions within the stone. These inclusions bear such an orientation that they appear to reflect light in the way that they form a star pattern.
Star rubies are mainly mined in Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, India and some parts in East Africa. More specifically Burmese star rubies exhibit what gemologists refer to as the ‘pigeon blood red’ color while Sri Lankan star rubies have more of a pinkish tinge to their red color. The star ruby gemstone which may be of synthetic or natural origin is famous for its unique appearance.
Features to Consider When Buying
In this world, especially when one is buying a star ruby gemstone, it is crucial to be very careful in order to gain the right and quality star ruby gemstone out there.
The Star Effect (Asterism)
In the case of star ruby the most important facet is the visibility of the star in the center of it. Everything within the sphere of the star should be clear, clean, and most importantly they should be perfect straight lines and be perfectly symmetrical. If the star is weak or blurry, then the value of the stone will drop noticeably. The star is appropriate when viewed under direct light and therefore before buying the stone, make sure you observe it under a strong light source.
Color
As is the same with regular rubies, the color of a Star Ruby gemstone is an important factor of the value. The best quality star rubies are the ones which are deep red or also referred to as “pigeon blood”. Those which have a pink red color are also pretty but they are not as valuable as others.
Clarity
Though some inclusions are probably required for a star effect, when there is an excess inclusions, the stone becomes cloudy or dull in appearance. Optically the high clarity star ruby gemstone exhibits the correct combination of the percentage of translucence and amount of rutile needles.
Cut
It is significant to stress that the particular focus should be made on the star and its clarification and the cabochon cut contributes to that. Ideally cut star ruby with a round shape will have a top that is domed to allow observation of stars from multiple directions.
Spiritual uses of the Star Ruby gemstone
But the star ruby gemstone in feng shui is more than just eye-popping, it is said to present several spiritual uses. To the practitioners of crystal healing, the stone is believed to work well in the issues to do with enhancing intuition over fear and mental clarity. It is also of believers that it has the power of drawing more wealth, or success to the owner.
The star ruby gemstone is also used in meditation because the gem is believed to help the user achieve vast inner peace, and get in touch with his/her spiritual mission on earth. Its association with the heart chakra enhances its function as a healer for the emotional body as well as nurturing the experience of love.
Conclusion
Star ruby is one of the most beautiful and valuable gemstones with extraordinary star like patterns and deep spiritual connotations. Despite the fact that some people are interested in its beauty while others believe that star rubies have powers, it is one of the most beautiful creations of nature. This gives it a great aesthetic value and meaning and makes it one of the best gems for anyone who is looking for good aesthetic value and metaphysical properties. When choosing a star ruby, it is necessary to pay attention to quality of the star pattern, color and clarity to get a superb piece that would serve for years.
