Help please/star sapphire identification rough pics

[Varts]

Can any one help and explain with pics what a rough star saph looks like,and how you cab it,cab top,cab bottom?how do I spot the star to get it in the centre..

Cheers varts...

 

[Keen Ken]

Star Sapphires look the same as regular sapphires and can be transparent to opaque in a variety of colours.
The "star" is caused by very fine rutile inclusions running across the three horizontal axis of the gem.

The "cloudy" looking sapphire will generally cut a "star sapphire" however too much rutile and you will end up with a gem that you find difficult to polish.
I have not cut any real good star sapphires and I find then hard on my cutting gear, I'm sure there will be someone who specializes in cutting them who may be able to help further on this forum.

 

[joe]

Hi Varts, here is a good
http://www.mindat.org/photo-214005.html