The Star of Adam

The Star of Adam is an oval-shaped blue star sapphire, currently the largest star sapphire in the world.[1][2][3] It weighs 1,404.49 carats (280.898 g; 9.9084 oz).[4] Prior to its discovery, the Black Star of Queensland, weighing 733 carats (146.6 g), was the largest star sapphire gem in the world.[5]

The Star of Adam
Type of stoneSapphire
Weightca. 1,404.49 carats (280.898 g)
ColorBlue (exact colour grade unknown)
CutOval
Country of originSri Lanka
Estimated valueEst. US$100-300 million

Description

The blue-colored gemstone has a six-pointed star-shaped reflection or distinctive mark in the center.[6]

This very large star sapphire was discovered in Ratnapura (known by the nickname "City of Gems"), in southern Sri Lanka, in August 2015.[7] It was named "The Star of Adam" by the current owner, as a reference to Muslim beliefs that Adam arrived in Sri Lanka and lived on Adam's Peak after leaving the Garden of Eden.[1]

The owner of the gem, preferring anonymity, told the BBC World Service's Newsday radio programme that "The moment I saw it, I decided to buy", and added "this was not a piece of jewellery but an exhibition piece".[8][2]

The blue star sapphire's weight of 1,404.49 carats (280.898 g; 9.9084 oz) was certified by the Gemmological Institute of Colombo; the institute said that it had never issued a report on a gemstone larger than "The Star of Adam".[2] However, size means little when it comes to fine gems. Corundum crystals weighing tens of kilograms have been unearthed.[9]:374–375 A leading gem and jewelry dealer in the country confirmed to the BBC that it was the largest blue star sapphire in the world.[2] In an interview to BBC Earth, Simon Redfern, mineral scientist from the University of Cambridge, said "the stone could have formed within the granite rocks of Sri Lanka's highlands. It was able to grow so big because of constant but slow change in temperatures and pressures within the rocks for millions of years".[10]

Later, the gemstone was valued at over $300 million,[11] but this is a fantasy valuation, having no basis in reality.[12] Bangkok-based Lotus Gemology maintains an updated listing of world auction records of ruby, sapphire and spinel. As of November 2019, no sapphire has ever sold at auction for more than $17,295,796.[13]

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References
  1. Sivaramakrishnan, P. (4 January 2016). "World's largest blue star sapphire 'found in Sri Lanka'". BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  2. "World's largest blue sapphire found in Sri Lanka". Daily Mirror. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. Crilly, Rob (5 January 2016). "World's largest blue star sapphire 'found in Sri Lanka'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  4. Ramiah Mohan, Sulochana (3 January 2016). "World's biggest blue sapphire found in SL". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  5. Victoria, Kim (5 January 2010). "For some, a sapphire has not been their best friend". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  6. "World's largest blue star sapphire worth $100 million found in Sri Lanka's 'City of Gems'". Daily News and Analysis. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  7. Taylor, Lin (5 January 2016). "World's largest blue star sapphire – worth $100M – discovered". CNN. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  8. Gibbs, Alexandra (5 January 2016). "World's largest blue star sapphire worth up to $175M found". CNBC. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  9. Hughes, Richard W. (2017). Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. RWH Publishing/Lotus Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9645097-1-9.
  10. Sinha, Sanskrity (5 January 2016). "World's largest blue star sapphire stone worth £119m found in Sri Lanka". International Business Times. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  11. Nace, Trevor (10 January 2016). "World's Largest Blue Star Sapphire Found – Worth $300 Million". Forbes. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  12. Hughes, Richard W. (March 2001). "Digital Devil: Big Time". GK Magazine. 3 (4). Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  13. Hughes, Richard W. (5 January 2016). "Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel Auction Records". Lotus Gemology. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
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