The Lester and Sue Smith Gem Vault in Houston, Texas has been open since November 17th, 2006. They have a great collection of gemstones and are well worth the visit.

The picture is of the Star Sapphire Ring in their collection. A star sapphire is created when microscopic slivers of rutile, another mineral, are trapped inside the sapphire during its formation. The resulting intersecting, needle-like deposits cause the appearance of a six-rayed star pattern when viewed under a single, overhead light source. The value of a star sapphire depends not only on the carat weight of the stone, but also on the stone’s body color, intensity and the visibility of the star. The ring was designed and created by Ernesto Moreira. Photo courtesy of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Here are some select images from the Gem Vault & Ernesto’s Collection:

• The gem carvings of Gerd Dreher, a Fabergé legacy
• Sapphire brooch
• Kremlin gold: 1000 years of Russian gems & jewels
• Rhodochrosite
• Emerald tiara
• Unique diamond ring from the Alianza Collection
• Matching earrings and pendant from the Alianza Collection
• Lovely pearl earrings, Akoya or Chinese from the Alianza Collection
• Matching Tahitian pearl and diamond pendant & earrings from the Adora Collection
• Akoya pearls and rubies from the Adora Collection
• Stunning Akoya pearls & diamonds from the West Collection
• 6.7 carat emerald ring from the Dahli Collection