In the world of gemstones, there is a small but special group of gems known to exhibit chatoyancy, either in the form of 'simple' chatoyancy, cat's eye chatoyancy or asterism (star chatoyancy). Gems that display the star effect are rare and fascinating. Chatoyancy is one of several forms of optical phenomena; other forms of optical phenomena include (but are not limited to) color-change, iridescence (the rainbow effect) and adularescence (shimmering light).
Gems which display chatoyancy are known as 'phenomenal gemstones' and are heavily prized by jewelers and collectors for their rare and unique visible traits. The star phenomena is known to occur in only a handful of different gem types, such as star sapphire, star ruby, star garnet, star quartz, star moonstone and star diopside.
What are some of the properties of Star Gemstones?
The value of star gemstones usually depends on the clarity of the 'star'. Gems which display sharp, clear and well-centered stars are generally considered to be of higher quality. In addition, gems which show stars from wider angles and under all different types of lighting are valued the most.
Most star gemstones will often show their chatoyancy only when viewed under a single strong and focused light source; it is usually very difficult to see any asterism under diffused light.
What are good ways to use Star Gemstones?
When viewing a star gemstone, it is best to use a flashlight or penlight while tilting the gem and light back and forth. This should cause the star to appear to glide across the stone's surface. Star gemstones are always cut en cabochon, as this is the best way to maximize chatoyancy.
Gem cutters must be careful when working with star gemstones, as it requires great skill to shape and orient the stones correctly. For these reasons, it is best to display star gemstones under intense light or in direct-light when wearing them.
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