Sri Lanka, a small island nation located in the Indian Ocean, is known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and diverse wildlife. It is also home to some of the world’s most exquisite gemstones, which are highly prized by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts worldwide. Sri Lanka’s gemstone industry has a rich and fascinating history, dating back to ancient times when early traders and explorers sought the island’s valuable rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones.
Today, Sri Lanka remains a significant player in the global gemstone market, producing a wide range of beautiful gems that are sought after by collectors, jewelers, and enthusiasts. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular gemstones found in Sri Lanka.
- Sapphire
Sri Lanka is known for producing some of the world’s most exquisite sapphires, prized for their stunning blue color and exceptional clarity. The most famous of these is the Padparadscha sapphire, a rare and highly sought-after gemstone that is a delicate blend of pink and orange hues. This particular variety is often considered one of the most valuable sapphires in the world and is named after the lotus flower, which is known as padma in Sanskrit.
Other popular sapphire varieties found in Sri Lanka include the blue and yellow sapphires, which are equally prized for their exquisite beauty and fine quality. Many sapphires found in Sri Lanka are also heat-treated to enhance their color and clarity, a process that is accepted and widely used in the gemstone industry.
- Ruby
Rubies are another popular gemstone found in Sri Lanka, known for their rich red color and exceptional hardness. Sri Lankan rubies are often referred to as “Ceylon rubies,” named after the country’s former name, Ceylon. They are prized for their brilliant color, exceptional clarity, and remarkable durability, making them a favorite among collectors and jewelry designers.
Sri Lankan rubies are typically smaller in size compared to other ruby deposits worldwide, but their stunning beauty and fine quality make them highly sought after. The country is also home to a variety of pink sapphires that are sometimes marketed as pink rubies, which are highly prized for their unique color and excellent quality.
- Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a rare and highly prized gemstone that is coveted for its unique color-changing properties. Sri Lanka is one of the few places in the world where high-quality alexandrite is found, making it a sought-after destination for collectors and enthusiasts.
Alexandrite is named after the Russian tsar Alexander II, and its unique color-changing properties were discovered in 1834. It is a rare variety of chrysoberyl, with a distinctive green color that can change to a beautiful red under certain lighting conditions. The stone’s rarity and unique color properties make it highly valuable, with top-quality alexandrite fetching high prices in the global gemstone market.
- Topaz
Topaz is a popular gemstone found in Sri Lanka, prized for its stunning clarity and range of colors. The stone is known for its high hardness and durability, making it an ideal choice for jewelry that can withstand daily wear and tear.
Sri Lankan topaz comes in a wide range of colors, including blue, yellow, pink, and green. The most popular variety of topaz found in Sri Lanka is the imperial topaz, which is a deep golden yellow color and is highly prized for its rarity and beauty.
- Tourmaline
Tourmaline is another popular gemstone found in Sri Lanka, prized for its beautiful colors and excellent durability. The stone comes in a wide range of colors, including green, pink, blue, and yellow