Specialty Stones11 min read
A Sri Lankan star sapphire shows a sharp six-rayed star because microscopic rutile silk inclusions align along three crystal axes. Here is how asterism forms, what separates a great Ceylon star from an average one, and why the Star of India still sits at the top of the category.
Specialty Stones10 min read
Spinel is a separate mineral from sapphire, but for centuries the two were confused in royal jewelry. Here is how to tell them apart, why spinel commands a fraction of sapphire's price, and why Sri Lankan red spinel is one of the most undervalued natural gemstones today.
Specialty Stones8 min read
The padparadscha is the rarest sapphire variety on earth, defined by a specific blend of pink and orange found almost exclusively in Sri Lanka. Here is what qualifies, what it costs, and what to watch for.
New stones and guides, straight from the source. Written rarely, and only when there is something worth saying.