corundum, star sapphire, quality.9, gems

During 1986, newspaper reports told of a most Incredible gem find. Mr. Roy Whetstine of Longview, Texas, went to the 1986 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show hoping to find a few pretty rocks for his two sons. He returned home with what he claimed to be the world's largest rough star. sapphire, bought for $10 from a bowl full of agates, and later appraised at $2.28 million. It was an amazing story and one that warmed the hearts of thousands of readers around the.world -a little man strikes-a bonanza! Slowly, however, clouds began to form and before long they were pouring down rain on Mr. Whetstlne's parade. What occurred was the exposure of one of the most ambitious gem cons of the twentieth century.