Gems of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s gem industry has a very long and colorful history. Sri Lanka is affectionately known as Ratna Deepa which means Gem Island has the best sapphires Topazes Amethysts and other gems.

The second century astronomer recorded that Beryl and sapphire were the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s gem industry. Records from sailors visited the island states that them brought back Jewels of Serendib. The gems form in sedimentary residual gem deposits, eluvial deposits, metamorphic deposits and calcium rich rocks.

Nearly all the gem formations in Sri Lanka are located in the central high grade metamorphic terrain of the High Land Complex. The minerology of gems deposits varies widely with, among others, Corundum (sapphire/rubies) Chrysoberyl, Beryl , Spinel , Topaz , Zircon, Tourmaline, Garnet being common.

The blue sapphire is known for its beauty passing the glorious cornflower blue shade as well as for being one of the few sapphires in the world that can be sold as a completely a natural stone. Ceylon sapphires also come in beautiful hues including Pink- Yellow- Orange- Green- Purple Lavender.

The most valuable sapphires have a medium intense, vivid blue color. The best sapphires hold the brightness of their color under all different types of lightening . One of earth’s most common minerals though only a small portion is considered gem quality.

Famous gem stones

1. Giant blue sapphire

Found in 1902,more than 600 carat. The local cutter worked the rough which went under cutting and polishing transforms into 466 carat.

2. Logan blue sapphire

423 carat, perhaps the second largest blue sapphire in the world.

3. Blue bell of Asia

400 carat, lightly desirable cornflower blue sapphire found in Rathnapura in 1926 and sold for US Dollars 17.29 million . Highst price ever for a sapphire at an auction in 2014.

4. Star of Lanka

Blue milky sapphire with distinct sixed rayed stars. A Sri Lankan origin 100 carat and 60% visibility.

5. Pride of Sri Lanka

Deep blue sapphire 856 carat found in Ratnapura in 1998.

6. Naleem Alexandrite

Be the largest in the world 112 carat valued US Dollars 100 million.

7. Rosen Reeves Star Ruby

One of the world’s largest and finest star rubies found in Sri Lanka. Combines the rare feature of excellent color with good transparency and well defined star of 138 carat.

8. Star of Adam

Blue star sapphire 1395 carat.

9. British Royal Jewel

Chrysoberyl cat’s Eye with excellent quality of 105 carat.

10. Blue star of India

563 carat , one of the largest greyish blue star sapphire.

The first gemological museum to have been found in 1960 with the aim of studying gems and the cutting of stones. This private institution is a testament to its creator P. Badra Marapana a highly skilled gemologist with an erudite personality and a passion for the traditional arts of the island. The minerology section contain an impressive number of gems mined in Sri Lanka and the rest of the world. The sher variety and quality of certain stones delight stone enthusiasts.

In Ratnapura most of the sellers on the street are miners come from the gem belt sell the “surplus” in their raw state that the quality of the stones which is judged to be insufficient for the stone cutters. The stone and gem enthusiasts will be delighted by the minerals with unusual crystals which are being discovered by chance during the sifting process.

There are several museums of gemology have been commenced operation as the same manner and standard of the first gemological museum.