Top 10 Most Expensive Pebbles on Earth

4. The Celestial Beauty of Pink Star Sapphires

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In the field of gemstones, pink star sapphires offer an intriguing junction of colour, optical phenomenon, and rarity. Though they are part of the corundum family—which consists of rubies and sapphires—these remarkable stones have an optical feature called asterism that distinguishes them from their more frequent relatives. Fine, needle-like inclusions of rutile that cross at precise angles inside the crystal structure produce the star effect in these sapphires. For millennia, gemstone aficionados have been enthralled by the phenomena whereby tiny inclusions reflect light in a manner that produces a six-rayed star pattern over the surface of the stone when cut into a cabochon form and lighted. Chromium in the crystal lattice is the reason star sapphires' pink hue; the same ingredient causes rubies' red colour. From gentle, pastel colours to deep, vivid tones almost bordering on red, the strength and tone of the pink can vary greatly. This colour and the star effect provide a gemstone of great rarity and beauty. With various elements influencing the value of pink star sapphires, the power and definition of the star effect becomes first importance. Highly regarded and able to greatly raise the value of the stone is a well-defined, centred star with sharp, straight rays. Other important elements are the size of the stone, its general clarity, and evenness of the pink colour. With great examples fetching even more, premium pink star sapphires can attract prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per carat. The value of fine pink star sapphires is much enhanced by their rarity as in nature the combination of good clarity, strong asterism, and desired colour is rare. Major sources of pink star sapphires are Tanzania, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, each noted for producing stones with somewhat varied qualities. Beyond its financial worth, pink star sapphires are widely seen as emblems of good fortune and protection in many civilisations, hence adding to their appeal. Because of their special optical qualities, which let collectors and jewellery aficioners enjoy the interaction of colour and light these gemstones provide.