Black Sapphire- Shuǐshǒu

Black Sapphire is a variety of Corundum, an aluminum oxide mineral that forms in prismatic tabular, bipyramidal or rhombohedral crystals, as well as granular or massive habits, and may be translucent to opaque. It most often forms as black or brownish-black, though sometimes may be dark green, dark brown, or gray in color. The name Corundum is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit korund and applied to opaque massive gems, generally of a dull color. With the exception of Red Corundum, which is Ruby, all other colors of Corundum are Sapphires.

Black sapphire is exceptionally durable. Like other sapphires, it scores a 9 on the Moh's hardness scale.

Worn throughout the ages for protection, good fortune and spiritual insight, Sapphires are not only symbols of power and strength, but also of kindness and wise judgment.

Star Sapphires are created when Corundum is intergrown with fibrous inclusions of Rutile, called “silk,” that reflects light in stones cut en cabochon as a six-rayed, sometimes twelve-rayed star that appears to glide across the face of the gem as it is moved. This effect is called asterism and increases the rarity and value of the stone.