Sapphires of the Stars!

Star sapphires were a great favorite among the movie stars of the 1920’s and 1930’s.  Silent-film actress Mary Pickford treasured a 182-carat star sapphire,  the Star of Bombay,  given to her by her husband Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.  She later donated this beautiful blue-violet gem to the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History.

Joan Crawford’s engagement ring,  from husband number two of five,  featured a 70-carat star sapphire.  Incidentally,  husband number two was Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.  Clearly the Fairbanks men knew the alluring power of a star sapphire.  To complement her betrothal bauble,  the star of "Grand Hotel" favored a bracelet set with three equally stunning star sapphires each weighing 73 carats,  64 carats and  58 carats.  Clearly she felt these gemstones had "Star Quality!"

On the other hand,  Jean Harlow was less fortunate.  In 1936,  leading man William Powell proposed to her with a beautiful,  but traditional,  diamond ring.  Harlow accepted the proposal,  but refused the ring.  The platinum blond actress felt a large star sapphire would better fit her glamorous life style.  Powell,  no doubt chagrinned that his first ring was rejected,  acquiesced and purchased a large star sapphire,  but one of lower quality.  This time the ring was accepted and Harlow proudly displayed the bauble in her final film,  Saratoga.  Tragically,  she died several months later at the age of 26.