Many Indian gems are produced using low-cost labor and less expensive materials, which allow them to price their items at more affordable rates. It also means that these gems do not meet all of today's standards for cut, color, and clarity but can still be beautiful pieces with unique histories behind them.

In fact, the Indian subcontinent is home to some of the world's oldest and most prolific gemstone mines, including those for diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Though the Golconda mines are waning, gems of like quality are compared to this standard before consideration and appraisal.

The Star of India is a 563.35-carat (112.67 g) star sapphire, one of the largest such gems in the world. It is almost flawless and is unusual in that it has stars on both sides of the stone.

Star sapphire is the national gemstone of India. The Star of India is a 563.35-carat (112.67 g) star sapphire, one of the largest such gems in the world. It is almost flawless and is unusual in that it has stars on both sides of the stone.