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3.40 carat oval cabochon violet star sapphire, unheated, measuring 8.64 × 6.76 × 5.69 mm. The stone displays a sharp, six-rayed silver star across its domed surface under directional light — the asterism phenomenon produced by microscopic rutile needle inclusions aligned within the crystal. Violet body color with a well-centered, fully formed star. Unheated and untreated: the color and asterism are entirely natural. Accompanied by GIA Report #1236950499 confirming weight, dimensions, and unheated status. Geographic origin was not requested as part of this GIA report; the Sri Lanka (Ceylon) origin noted below reflects our own sourcing documentation rather than a GIA origin determination.
Note: The star is visible only under a single directional light source — direct sunlight, a flashlight, or a spotlight. It will not appear under diffuse or overhead ambient lighting.
Expert Opinion
"What stops you on this stone is the star itself — a sharp, well-centered six-ray asterism sitting squarely on a violet body color, at a substantial 3.40 carats. That combination is uncommon on its own, and it's entirely natural: unheated, untreated, nothing done to produce or enhance the effect you're seeing. Fine asterism like this is delicate; it's easily disrupted by heat treatment, which is exactly why an unheated star of this quality stands out to me." — Ahmed Shareek
Rarity Analysis
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The phenomenon itself: Asterism requires a very specific internal structure — fine, densely packed rutile needles ("silk") aligned along the crystal's growth directions during formation. Most corundum never develops this structure at all, and among the fraction that does, few produce a star as sharp, well-centered, and fully formed across all six rays as this one. That alone puts phenomenon stones in a different rarity tier from standard faceted sapphires.
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Violet body color: Star sapphires are overwhelmingly blue, gray, or black; violet is a distinctly uncommon body color for asterism to appear in, making this stone a smaller niche within an already-niche category of gemstone.
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Unheated status: Heat treatment is standard practice in the sapphire trade and frequently disrupts or destroys fine silk, which is what produces asterism in the first place — so this stone's unheated status is independently significant, and pairing it with a star this well-formed is notable.
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Size: At 3.40 carats, this is a substantial star sapphire; large stones with strong, centered asterism become progressively harder to source as size increases.
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Documentation: Accompanied by GIA Report #1236950499, confirming weight, dimensions, and unheated status. Note that geographic origin was not requested as part of this GIA report — the Sri Lanka (Ceylon) origin is seller-stated, based on our own sourcing documentation, not a GIA origin determination.
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Combined effect: A sharp, well-centered six-ray star, in an uncommon violet body color, fully natural and unheated, at 3.40 carats with GIA documentation — each factor compounds the others, making this a genuinely uncommon stone rather than merely a good example of a common type.
Buying Guidance
- As noted above, the star is only visible under a single directional light source — direct sunlight, a flashlight, or a spotlight. Under diffuse or overhead ambient lighting it will not appear; view the stone under a point light source to see the asterism at its best.
- When judging star quality, look for sharpness (crisp, thin rays rather than fuzzy or diffuse ones), centering (the star's axis point sitting in the middle of the dome), and completeness (all six rays fully formed and reaching the edge of the dome, not broken or partial).
- An opaque body with a translucent dome at the star's apex is characteristic of star sapphire and should not be read as a clarity defect — it's the normal optical structure that allows the asterism to display.
- Origin is seller-stated: the Sri Lanka (Ceylon) attribution reflects our own sourcing documentation, not a GIA origin determination, since origin was not requested as part of the GIA report on this stone.
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Try Before You Buy: Because asterism is a lighting-dependent phenomenon, we recommend viewing the stone under a single directional light source yourself before making a final decision — reach out with any questions about viewing conditions.
Learn More About This Gemstone
Gemstone Data — At a Glance
| Item # |
CG8293 |
| Carat Weight |
3.40 ct |
| Species / Variety |
Natural Violet Star Sapphire (Corundum) |
| Shape / Cut |
Oval, Double Cabochon |
| Dimensions |
8.64 × 6.76 × 5.69 mm |
| Color / Intensity |
Violet |
| Phenomenon |
Six-ray asterism |
| Treatment |
None — unheated and untreated |
| Origin |
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) — seller-stated, GIA origin not requested |
| Clarity |
Opaque body with translucent asterism dome (characteristic of star sapphire) |
| Transparency |
Translucent |
| Hardness |
9 (Mohs) |
| Certification |
GIA Report #1236950499 |
Features
- SKU: CG8293
- Carat Weight: 3.40 carats
- Variety: Violet Star Sapphire
- Shape: Oval
- Cutting Style: Double Cabochon
- Dimensions: 8.64 × 6.76 × 5.69 mm
- Gem Type: Natural Violet Star Sapphire
- Origin: Sri Lanka (Ceylon) — per seller sourcing documentation, not a GIA origin determination
- Phenomenon: Six-ray asterism
- Treatment: None — unheated and untreated
- Color: Violet
- Transparency: Translucent
- Clarity: Opaque body with translucent asterism dome (characteristic of star sapphire)
- Certification: GIA Report #1236950499
- Hardness: 9 on the Mohs scale
Care
- Clean with lukewarm water and mild soap using a soft brush
- Store separately to avoid surface contact
- Remove before heavy physical activity
- Avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaners
One of a Kind
This is a single natural gemstone, not a manufactured or lab-created replica — no two star sapphires form with identical color, asterism pattern, and internal character. Once this stone sells, it's gone; there is no duplicate. What you see documented on the GIA report is the exact, individual stone you receive.
What's included with this Violet Star Sapphire
- GIA Report #1236950499
- Gemstone packed in a gem sleeve
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