Star of Artaban
The Star of Artaban is a 287-carat star sapphire with a smooth, rounded cut. It is at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Its origin is unclear, but many believe it came from Sri Lanka. The gem is opaque and milky blue, not transparent. It was donated by an anonymous member of the Georgia Mineral Society around 1941–1943. The name comes from The Other Wise Man, a 1895 story by Henry van Dyke. In the tale, Artaban, a Persian wise man, buys three large gems, including a sapphire, to give to the newborn Jesus. He never reaches the baby and ends up giving the gems to people in need instead.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 04:05 (CET).