Just two days later, they were captured, and the precious gem was returned to the museum unharmed. The Star of India was protected by an alarm, but unfortunately, the batteries had run dead, allowing the thieves to escape with their prize.

They stole the Star of India as well as over $400,000 worth of gems (about $3 million in today’s money). In 1964, while at the American Museum of Natural History, a gang of themes crawled into an unlocked bathroom window.

Weighing in at 563 carats, it’s one of the largest sapphires ever discovered. One of the most famous heists in history featured a sapphire known as the Star of India. The base of the tree is made of diamonds, the roots are made of sapphires and the fruit of the tree is rubies: a jewelry-lover’s dream come true! A Famous Heist And in Hindu mythology, there is the belief of a divine tree called the Kalpavriksha that grants wishes. When these chips would fall, their reflections were believed to color the sky blue. In ancient Persia, it was believed that blue sapphires were pieces of a massive pedestal that held up the earth. The name sapphire even comes from the Greek word sappheiros, meaning blue. In ancient Greece, they were associated with the god Apollo and were believed to connect his priests to the spirit world. In ancient times sapphires were worn as amulets of protection by royalty. Princess Diana’s famous engagement ring was a Ceylon sapphire. Sapphires are often associated with the British Royal Family. Although the geographic origin of a sapphire doesn’t necessarily guarantee its level of quality, the sapphires that fetch the highest premiums often come from the Kashmir, as well as Sri Landa and Madagascar. These beautiful gems are far-reaching and have been found everywhere from Australia to Vietnam. Sapphire itself is one of two gem varieties of corundum, the other being ruby. There are even colorless sapphires and a pinkish orange version called padparadscha. Although most people know sapphire as a gorgeous blue color, there are a variety of other colors, including pink, black and gray. The lustrous beauty of sapphire has been a popular staple in the jewelry world since at least the Middle Ages.

Sapphire birth stone