Star Of Asia
The Star of Asia is a large, cabochon A cabochon (; ) is a gemstone that has been shaped and polished, as opposed to faceted. The resulting form is usually a convex (rounded) obverse with a flat reverse. Cabochon was the default method of preparing gemstones before gemstone cutt ...-cut star sapphire currently located at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It is noted for its significant size and is considered to be one of the largest of its type. Adding to its aesthetic value are its rich blue colour and Asterism (gemology), clear star, formed from three intersecting rutile striations. The stone was mined in Sri Lanka and was co-owned by the Kohinoor Trading Company and King’s Jewelers of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was brought to the U.S. in 1950 for display at the first United States International Trade Fair in Chicago. By 1958, it was for sale through consignment in London, and was eventually purchased by a Swiss-American named Jack Mason. In 1961, i ...
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