Star of Asia

Adding to its aesthetic value are its rich blue colour and clear star, formed from three intersecting rutile striations.

By 1958, it was for sale through consignment in London, and was eventually purchased by a Swiss-American named Jack Mason.

In 1961, it was resold to the Smithsonian Institution in exchange for a parcel of small faceted diamonds.

The seller, a mineral dealer named Martin Ehrmann acting on behalf of Jack Mason, invented a history for the stone to increase the sale value.

This story was repeated by the curators of the Smithsonian for decades,[1] until the true history was discovered through contacting the family of the original owners.