Black Star of Queensland
black star of queens·land | ˈblak stär əv kwēnz-ˌland
noun
A 733 carat black sapphire, previously thought to be the world's largest gem quality star sapphire
The Black Star of Queensland is a famous black sapphire. This 733-carat, oval-shaped black sapphire was once believed to be the world’s largest gem-quality star sapphire. Today, that honor belongs to the Star of Adam, a blue star sapphire that is 1,404.49 carats large. The Black Star of Queensland was discovered in Queensland, Australia in the 1930s. It has been on famous exhibits for the world to see, including a stay at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. in the 1960’s - where it was co-displayed with the Hope Diamond - and a residency at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada in 2007. Though it is no longer the largest star sapphire discovered, the Black Star of Queensland is quite beautiful and majestic. It is a bright, six-ray star set in a completely black background. Its beauty is enhanced by its elegant white gold setting. Finishing off the look, the Black Star of Queensland is surrounded by 35 pear-shaped, smaller white diamonds.