Natural Blue Star Sapphire Dragon Ring, top September Birthstone, Recycled Sterling Silver, handmade Chinese dragon ring, mined in Thailand

* Blue Star Sapphire, Sterling silver Dragon ring
* Please read the entire description before ordering:

This hand crafted Sterling Silver Dragon Ring will be set with a natural blue star sapphire from the same lot as the stone pictured. The ring is a Chinese dragon which wraps around your finger and the stone. It weighs 5.73 grams. The ring shank at the thinnest place in the back measures about 3.3 mm wide x 1.2 mm thick. This ring will be handmade when you order it. The last picture is for visual size and scale reference, so you can see exactly what size the ring is. It shows the silver ring without the stone next to a US dime coin and 1" on a ruler. The sterling silver I use to craft my rings is made using newly refined recycled silver. The only difference between recycled sterling silver and silver not identified as recycled is the source of the pure silver. Recycled silver has less impact on the environment than newly mined silver. Otherwise, it is exactly the same. I believe that if we all work together towards positive change, we can make the world a better, healthier place. That's why I use recycled where I can. The Navy blue jewelry box it will be sent in is also made with 100% recycled materials. This star sapphire is an "Ethically Mined Gemstone", which means it was extracted from the ground with minimal environmental damage by miners who are not exploited or suffering terrible working conditions and the profits are not used to fund war, terrorism or political corruption.

The star sapphire will measure about 8 mm x 6 mm and weigh about 1.5 to 2 carats. These stones were mined from the earth in Thailand. These stones have been diffusion treated as described below to create the rich vibrant blue color and sharp bright star. There are some minor flaws on the surface that you can see in the pictures when you click on them. Blue sapphire is the traditional birthstone for those born in September.

The star in a star sapphire always shows up best when viewed under a single point light source like sunlight or a spotlight. It will not show up well under diffused light sources, such as fluorescent lights indoors. The first 2 pictures above were shot under a halogen spotlight to show the star in the sapphire. The last 3 were shot under diffused light conditions to best show the detail of the ring design.

To truly appreciate the quality of a star stone, you need to see it move in the light. I have a video of this ring and a typical star sapphire on YouTube so you can see that:

https://youtu.be/UUChIL8gfqg

To see the video, copy the above address link, open a new browser window, and paste in that address. It will take you straight to the video of this ring.

I will make your ring in the size you specify when you order it; sizes 5 through 13 in full, half, or quarter sizes. For reference, the ring pictured is a size 7 1/2. I can usually have the ring made and ready to ship within 3 to 5 business days.

PROPER FINGER SIZING:

There is no way to accurately guess or estimate the finger size you need for a ring to fit properly. The only way to obtain an accurate measurement is to use the METAL finger gauges used by jewelers. Go to a store that sells rings, and get the finger measured. They will be happy to do this for you. Finger size is totally unrelated to body size or shoe size. Using string or ribbon to measure the finger is not accurate. Printing a paper off the internet and wrapping it around your finger probably won't yield accurate results. You remember that she used to say she wore about a size 7 ring? It probably has changed or you remember wrong. Again, the only reliably accurate way is to use metal finger gauges graduated in 1/2 sizes, until you find the one that fits best. Also keep in mind that fingers are smaller when you are very cold, and larger when it is hot and humid. Receiving a new ring that is too large or small is quite disappointing. You will be far happier if you take the time to obtain an accurate size before ordering. I can re-size a ring for you when you order the wrong size. But you will be paying an additional $20.00 to $30.00 to have me re-size it and send it back to you; and then there is the time it will take (could be 2+ weeks). My return policy specifically prohibits a refund for ordering a ring custom made to a size that does not fit (you ordered the wrong size). Why not just measure the finger and get it ordered right the first time?

However, in this time of the Covid-19 Pandemic, a trip to a jewelry store to have your finger measured may be difficult and potentially dangerous. Thus, I am offering this MULTISIZER ring finger gauge to be sent to you with free shipping to an address in the USA. While not quite as accurate as metal finger gauges, if used properly this will give you a more accurate size than a string, or a ribbon, or a guess. You can purchase one with free shipping here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/876114033/multisizer-ring-sizing-gague-for

If you like the dragon design, but would prefer a different gem, I can probably make one for you. I have more of these listed in my Etsy shop with different stones, and I have thousands of gems to choose from. Please write me if you would like to discuss making something different.

Gemologically Speaking; This is the educational part:

Did you know that Sapphire and Ruby are the same mineral? The mineral is called corundum. Historically, transparent red to red-purple corundum is called ruby, and any other color of transparent gem corundum is called sapphire. Blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, clear, white, gray, black and pink corundum are all called sapphire. More latitude is given to color when describing a stone as star ruby than is given to transparent ruby. Any shade of pink, red, or purple is usually called a star ruby. All other colors are called star sapphires. Star rubys or star sapphires are cut from corundum crystals which have tiny needle like rutile crystal inclusions that are lined up with the hexagonal faces of the corundum crystal. Star ruby and sapphire are always cut as cabochons, not faceted stones. The star which seems to float across the surface of the stone is an optical phenomenon called "asterism". Light is reflected off the tiny parallel rows of rutile crystals at the top of the curved surface of the cabochon. The rutile crystals are arranged in 3 plains, at angles of 120 degrees to each other. This forms 3 lines of light crossing in the middle of the stone, forming a 6 ray star. The star is always best seen in a single point light source like sunlight or a spotlight. It does not show up well under diffused light sources, such a fluorescent lights indoors. You can observe the asterism affect by looking at the side of a spool of thread under a bright single point light source. Notice the line of light running along the center of the spool perpendicular to the threads. This line of light is like one of the 3 lines of light that cross at 120 degree angles and form the star in a star sapphire.

Corundum is crystalline aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The various stone colors come from very small quantities of some other metal in the crystal lattice. In the case of ruby, chromium is the metal that makes it red. Titanium by itself makes sapphire clear, and Iron by itself makes sapphire yellow. Iron and Titanium together make sapphire blue. All the other colors come from mixtures of 2 or 3 of these metals and others in the crystal lattice. Corundum is actually fairly common in low silica igneous and metamorphic rock, but as gray or brown grains, not in translucent gem quality crystals. It takes very special conditions to form transparent gem corundum or star corundum crystals. Corundum is usually formed in metamorphic rocks such as marble, schist, and gneiss. It is very hard, having a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale. Common corundum is used as an abrasive, such as in sandpaper. Being hard and heavy, with a specific gravity of 3.95 to 4.1, as large amounts of corundum bearing rocks are eroded and weathered away over time, corundum crystals become concentrated in placer deposits in drainages below the corundum containing rock strata; just like gold nuggets in gold placer deposits. Since gem crystals are few and far between in the rock, it is usually not possible to mine the rock in the mountains to find the crystals, and make a profit. But the corundum crystals become concentrated by gravity in the placer deposits formed below. Thus almost all ruby and sapphire mines in the world are placer mines where miners "pan" through the dirt and sand in stream basins to find the rubies and sapphires. The color of a Star Sapphire can be enhanced by heating it in a furnace with the right metal powders. The metal atoms diffuse into the crystal lattice changing or deepening the color of the stone. The star can be enhanced if there is titanium oxide (rutile) in the metal mix. This also diffuses into the stone and will make the star sharper and stronger. This stone has been diffusion treated as described here. There are untreated natural blue sapphires that look this good, but be prepared to pay A LOT (over $500.00 to thousands) for one. If you see a deep blue star sapphire with a strong star and it is not priced at several hundred to thousands of dollars per carat, it is a diffusion treated stone whether the seller identifies it as such or not.

Metaphysically Speaking:

Sapphires powers are psychism, love, meditation, peace, and healing. Historically sapphire has been associated with alignment with and realization of an individual's destiny. It has been said to promote mental clarity, clear perception, and wisdom because it has the ability to draw out knowledge and wisdom buried deep within the sub-conscious mind. It can assist the wearer in finding and accomplishing their purpose here in life. It is a powerful stone to be used in meditation to increase the flow of wisdom. It has had a position of importance in all historical religions throughout the world, due to this connection with divine wisdom. It is also a stone to facilitate and help all human relationships; love relationships, business, friends, extended family, and everyone else you connect with in your life. As the guardian of love, it attunes the feelings of lovers for each other, and promotes fidelity. It works the same for you in business dealings or any other dealings with people. It just makes the relationship flow and work. Physically it is said to strengthen the eyes, halt fever, and stop nose bleeds. It can aid communication, ameliorate depression, and increase mental clarity top, intuition, clairvoyance, and calm. Star Sapphire is thought to be far more powerful in all of these attributes than translucent sapphire.

** The free shipping offered to an address within the United States is by First Class US Post. An upgrade to faster Priority or Priority Express US shipping is available at checkout.

*INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: I no longer ship to countries outside the USA.