Cher and the Black Star of Queensland: How the Icon Made This Gem a Legend
The star wore over a million dollars’ worth of diamond jewels and the Black Star of Queensland sapphire on the ‘Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour’ in 1971.
“The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour”, featuring Cher wearing diamonds and the Black Star of Queensland on July 18, 1971. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
Cher has always possessed an innate flair for the razzle-dazzle. From her legendary Bob Mackie sequined gowns to her sumptuous natural diamond jewels, glamour is simply what Cher does best.
The fashion icon has always been known for her bombastic sartorial choices, along with her diamond jewels from the likes of Loree Rodkin, Messika—among others. Even early in her career in the 1970s, Cher modeled for Vogue, photographed by Richard Avedon, wearing diamonds from designers such as David Webb and Bulgari.
2025 has been a big year for the superstar. After finally being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cher has also released the first volume of her autobiography, Cher: The Memoir. The new book details her tumultuous childhood, her complex relationship with her ex-husband Sonny Bono, and their rise to fame.
Meet the Author
- Hannah Militano covers diamond jewelry trends, the fashion industry, pop culture, and celebrity news.
- She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
- As a journalist, her work has been featured in publications such as Editorialist, Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book, L’Officiel USA, Grazia USA, Coveteur, and more.
By the mid-1960s, Sonny & Cher had soared to the top of the charts with their #1 hit “I Got You Babe,” ultimately landing five tracks in the Top 50 at the same time, according to CBS. Thanks to The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, the pair became the ultimate A-list it-couple, performing funny sketches and playful tunes in fantastic Bob Mackie creations. Cher told the news outlet, “When they started to realize that people were tuning in because of what I was wearing, they just gave us all the money we needed. It was so much fun.”
Ahead, discover the fascinating history of the Black Star of Queensland—and the surprising role Cher played in its lore.
The Black Star of Queensland’s Appearance on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
In 1971, Cher wore one of the world’s largest gem-quality star sapphires on the CBS television network series, along with a plentiful assortment of natural diamonds. Aside from a few rare public appearances, the Black Star of Queensland sapphire remained largely obscure until Cher introduced the jewel to her worldwide audience of adoring fans.
When the episode aired in August, Cher wore a royal-purple, long-sleeved mock-neck gown that skimmed the floor. The silhouette was simpler than her usual showstoppers, but she amped up the look with more than a million dollars’ worth of natural diamond jewels, plus the historic sapphire itself.
With lavish stacks of diamond rings, Cher paired two large Art Deco–style diamond bracelets on one wrist and three on the other. She completed the look with diamond cluster drop earrings and a spectacular tiered diamond necklace, from which the Black Star of Queensland sapphire hung as a striking pendant.
Ironically, Cher launched into a cover of The Carpenters’ 1970 hit “Close to You” while surrounded by a flock of security guards. As they dutifully protected her trove of precious jewels throughout the musical skit, Sonny kept trying to get close to his wife, only to be repeatedly blocked by the ever-vigilant guards.
When Sonny introduced the segment, he explained, “Well here it is, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Cher is wearing the fabulous jewel, the Star of Queensland. It was given to us by the Kazanjian Foundation. And you know, all this jewelry cost more than a million dollars, and she’s never looked lovelier: my beautiful wife, and that beautiful jewel.”
The heavy sapphire dangled from a string of about 100 carats of natural diamonds during the taping. Harry Kazanjian, who owned the jewel, had his nephew, Michael, in attendance to oversee the care of the stone on set.
As the story goes, Michael suddenly panicked that the sapphire might slip from Cher’s neck as she moved through her dance routine. Worried it could be damaged, he rushed onto the stage mid-performance to secure the stone. Fortunately, CBS had already captured plenty of footage of the jewel throughout the sketch before the unexpected interruption.
The History Behind the Black Star of Queensland
Known as one of the largest black sapphires in the world, the Black Star of Queensland carries a history as outrageous as its size.
In 1938, a 12-year-old boy named Roy Spencer accidentally discovered an unusual half-pound stone in its namesake Queensland, Australia. When he ran home to show his father, the family thought it to be a large black crystal and used it as a doorstop for about nine years. Eventually, the Spencer family realized it was a rough 1,156-carat black star sapphire and sold it to construct a new home.
A decade after its serendipitous discovery, the gem was sold to Armenian-born jeweler Harry Kazanjian for a reported $18,000. The sapphire was expertly cut into 733-carat oval stone with a dome-like silhouette to reveal the six-pointed star detail within. At the time, Kazanjian told the Los Angeles Times, “I could have ruined it a hundred times during the cutting.”
Although they sacrificed over 400 carats during the cutting process, The Black Star of Queensland was still considered the world’s largest gem-quality star sapphire until the discovery of The Star of Adam in 2015.
The Black Star of Queensland went on display at the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in 1961, joining the likes of the Hope Diamond.
Where Is the Black Star of Queensland Now?
So, where is the Black Star of Queensland now? After several offers, the Kazanjian family sold the cabochon-cut sapphire in 2002 to fund a scholarship at the Gemological Institute of America.
Artist Jack Armstrong and his wealthy girlfriend Gabrielle Grohe purchased the stone together. But after the relationship soured, a bitter legal dispute ensued over the ownership of the sapphire. The New York Post even ran a story with the headline, “Heavyweight Gem $cuffle,” detailing the legal battle.
In 2007, the Black Star of Queensland went on display at the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada for six months. It marked the first public appearance since Cher’s televised debut of the jewel in 1971. Showcased in a new setting, the sapphire was surrounded by a halo of 35 pear-shaped natural diamonds. The sapphire was purchased by an anonymous private party and now resides in Switzerland and is owned by an anonymous private party.
