Asterism
Asterism is a special visual effect seen in certain gemstones where a star-like pattern appears on the surface when light hits it. This quality makes gems more valuable and unique. The most common example is the "Star Sapphire," but it can also appear in rubies and other stones. When reviewing resumes in the gemology field, this term indicates that the candidate has experience in identifying and working with these rare and valuable star-effect stones. It's similar to identifying other special effects in gems like color change or cat's eye effect.
Examples in Resumes
Specialized in identifying and grading Asterism in star sapphires and rubies
Conducted customer education sessions about Star Effect and Asterism in precious stones
Developed pricing strategies for gems displaying Asterism effects
Typical job title: "Gemologists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Gemologists
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you determine if an asterism effect in a sapphire is natural or synthetic?
Expected Answer: A senior gemologist should explain the process of examining inclusion patterns, using different lighting conditions, and checking for specific structural indicators that distinguish natural from lab-created star effects.
Q: How do you price a star sapphire compared to a regular sapphire?
Expected Answer: Should discuss factors like the sharpness of the star rays, centering of the star, body color, transparency, and market demand impact on pricing decisions.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What causes asterism in gemstones?
Expected Answer: Should explain how tiny needle-like inclusions create the star effect when arranged in specific patterns, and name common stones where this occurs.
Q: How do you properly display a star stone to customers?
Expected Answer: Should describe lighting techniques, handling methods, and how to demonstrate the star effect to maximize its appeal to customers.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is asterism and in which gems can you commonly find it?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that asterism is a star-like effect and list common stones like star sapphires and rubies where it appears.
Q: What basic tools do you use to examine asterism?
Expected Answer: Should mention basic equipment like proper lighting sources and loupe, and explain the importance of examining stones under different angles.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic gem identification
- Understanding of asterism phenomenon
- Use of basic gemological tools
- Customer service skills
Mid (2-5 years)
- Detailed quality assessment
- Pricing knowledge
- Advanced stone identification
- Customer education
Senior (5+ years)
- Expert authentication
- Market value assessment
- Training and mentoring
- Advanced technical analysis
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to identify basic star stones
- Lack of hands-on experience with gem testing equipment
- No knowledge of industry standard grading systems
- Poor understanding of gem pricing factors
Related Terms
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