Famous Sapphire and Possibilities for Confusion

Large sapphires are rare. They are sometime named in the same way as famous diamonds. The American Museum of Natural History ( New York) owns the "Star of India" perhaps the largest cut star sapphire (536ct); also the "Midnight Star" a black star sapphire (116ct). The "Star of Asia" a star sapphire weighing 330ct, is owned by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
Two famous sapphires (St. Edward's and the Stuart sapphire) are part of the Lincoln, and Eisenhower have been carved out of three large sapphire, each weighing roughly 2000ct.

Sapphire can be confused with various stones. The blue sapphire looks similar to benitoite, indicolite, iolite, kyanite, spinel, tanzanite, topaz, and zircon, as well as blue glass.
Some imitation are made from doublets-blue cobalt glass with a crown of garnet or crown of green sapphire and a pavilion of synthetic blue sapphire. Lately, doublets have appeared using two small natural sapphire. Star sapphire is imitated by using star rose quartz with blue enamel on a flat back; alternatively the star is engraved on the flat back of a synthetic cabochon or on glass.
Synthetic sapphire was produced with properties identical to the natural stone at the beginning of this century. Since 1947 synthetic star sapphire of gem quality have been sold.