 The 182-carat (36.4-g) Star of Bombay | |
| Weight | 182 carats (36.4 g) |
|---|---|
| Color | Violet-blue |
| Cut | Cabochon |
| Country of origin | Sri Lanka |
| Owner | Smithsonian Institution |
| Current location | National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution |
TheStar of Bombay is a 182-carat (36.4-g)cabochon-cut starsapphire originating inSri Lanka. The violet-blue gem was given tosilent film actressMary Pickford by her husband,Douglas Fairbanks. She bequeathed it to theSmithsonian Institution. It is the namesake of the popular alcoholic beverageBombay Sapphire, a British-manufacturedgin.[1]
TheStar of Bombay is a 182carat (36.4-g)cabochon-cut starsapphire. According to Southern Jewelry News, "The Star of Bombay sapphire belongs to the mineral speciescorundum. Pure corundum is colorless, but trace amounts of transition elements likevanadium orchromium result in different colors in the crystal. The Star of Bombay’s violet-blue color is caused by the presence oftitanium andiron giving the blue tint, and vanadium contributing to its violet back color."[2]
TheStar of Bombay originates fromSri Lanka and is one of the largest star sapphires which have names unrelated to their origin, the other being theStar of India.[3]It is the namesake of the popular alcoholic beverageBombay Sapphire, a British-manufacturedgin.[1] The gem was first acquired byTrabert & Hoeffer Inc. of Park Avenue inNew York City and was set in a platinum ring. It is believed that the ring was purchased byDouglas Fairbanks, a famoussilent film movie star and that he gave the ring toMary Pickford. A 1935 advertisement for theStar of Bombay had it listed at 60 carats and did not include information on its origins and described it as "In all the world the only one".[4]
In 1979, Mary Pickford died and bequeathed theStar of Bombay to the Smithsonian Museum. Edward Stotsenberg of the Mary Pickford Foundation called the Smithsonian and a representative was sent out to examine the stone. According to Stotsenberg, the representative stated that theStar of Bombay was much brighter than other stones and pried it from the clasps and returned to the Smithsonian with it.[5] The gem is currently displayed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals.[3]