The Star of India Sapphire: Glamour, Geology, and Grand Larceny
The Star of India might sound like a royal title (or a fancy cruise ship), but this gem has a real-life story that’s part geological marvel, part museum drama, and part true crime caper.
At 563.35 carats, it’s one of the largest star sapphires ever found, but there’s much more to it than meets the eye. This shimmering blue stone has seen scientific acclaim, global exhibitions, and even a headline-making jewel heist, so lets explore it's past.
An Ancient Gem with a Modern Spotlight
Although it’s estimated to be over two billion years old, the Star of India rose to fame in the late 1800s thanks to George F. Kunz, a legendary gemologist with a taste for the extraordinary. Working on behalf of financier J.P. Morgan, Kunz acquired the sapphire (most likely from the Ratnapura mines in Sri Lanka) for Morgan’s personal gem collection.
The collection made its debut at the 1900 Paris Exposition before finding a permanent home at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where the Star of India still resides today (after a brief and rather eventful absence…).
Why It’s So Special
Most star sapphires (like the one pictured above, which is not the Star of India as I couldn't find a picture of that I'm allowed to use) only show a six-rayed star on one side. The Star of India? It shows asterism on both sides, which is super rare.
The star effect is caused by rutile inclusions, fine, needle-like crystals that grow in different directions inside the stone. When light hits them just right, it reflects in a way that creates a soft, floating star on the surface.
The Star of Indias colour is another part of its charm. This sapphire isn’t the deep royal blue many of us picture, it’s a silvery, greyish-blue that almost seems to glow from within. Under natural light, it gives off a quiet shimmer that feels more moonlight than spotlight.
The 1964 Museum Heist
On 29th October 1964, the Star of India was stolen in what became one of the most infamous jewel thefts in American history.
Three young men from Miami Beach, Jack Murphy (aka Murph the Surf), and his friends Allan Kuhn, and Roger Clark, scoped out the museum during the day and found a bathroom window on an upper floor that wasn’t alarmed.
That night, they climbed in through the window and found many of the gemstone display cases were unlocked. This made it even easier for them to help themselves to several of the gems, including the Star of India. It was one of those stories that sounds too ridiculous to be true, but it happened.
And they got away clean… for a little while.
Recovered (and Far More Secure)
The investigation into the theft quickly led to the trio, and within two months, authorities had recovered most of the stolen gems. Turned out they were being stored inside a bus station locker in Miami!
Today, the sapphire is safely back at the museum, now housed behind much better security. There’s even a small plaque nodding to its adventure.
As for Murph the Surf? His story didn’t end with just a bit of burglary. He was later convicted of murder (an unrelated case), served prison time, and eventually became an evangelist.
From Stardust to Spotlight
The Star of India has it all: ancient origins, fascinating science, a touch of glamour, and a brush with jewel-thieves. Whether you love it for its one-in-a-million star pattern or its wild journey through history, it’s a gemstone that knows how to turn heads.
So if you’re ever in New York, pop into the American Museum of Natural History and admire this stunning gemstone. Just don’t try anything dodgy, they keep the cabinet locked now!