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About Sri Lanka
Gems & Jewellery
Historical Background
From time immemorial Sri Lanka has had a sparkling reputation for highly treasured gems. Sri Lanka’s mineral rich soils have been yielding a seemingly never ending supply of high quality precious and semi precious gem stones such as Sapphires, Star Sapphire, Rubies, Star Rubies, Alexandrites, Cat’s eyes, Garnets, Zircons, Tourmalines and Spinels. The gem industry in Sri Lanka is of great antiquity. Reference is made in the scriptures to gems being brought from Ceylon to the Court of Solomon. It is also said that ages ago Arab adventurers came to Ceylon in search of this. The Mahavansa, the great historical chronicle of Ceylon whose authority is undoubted, refers, to the singular reputation of this Island for it’s wealth in gems.
It is an accepted fact that Sri Lanka is one of the largest sources of some of the finest gemstones in the world. A few of the priceless, treasures., whose, origins are traceable to Sri Lanka are Blue Giant of Orient (466 cts) Logan Blue Sapphire (423cts), Blue Belle of Asia (400 cts) Rossar Reeves Star Ruby (138.7cts) and Star of Lanka (393 cts) and the Ray of Treasure (105 cts Cat’s Eye). The Star of Lanka and Ray of treasure are the proud possessions of the National Gem & Jewellery Authority.
| Gem Stones Found in Sri Lanka • Alexandrite • Alexandrite Cat's Eye • Almandine Garnet • Amethyst • Aquamarine • Beryl • Blue Sapphire • Chrysoberyl • Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye • Citrene • Hessonite Garnet • Moonstone • Orange Sapphire • Pathparaja Sapphire • Pink Sapphire • Pyrope Garnet • Rhodolite Garnet • Ruby • Spessartite Garnet • Spinel • Star Ruby • Star Sapphire • Tourmaline • Yellow Sapphire • Topaz • Zircon |
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| Blue Saphire |
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Star Ruby | Yellow Saphire | Cat's Eye | ||||
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| Star Saphire | Alexandrite |
Star of Lanka 393 Carats |
Ray of Treasure 105 Carats |
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Alexandrite Cat's Eye |
Alexandrite |
Zircon | Zircon | |||||
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| Pride of Sri Lanka
Weight : 850 Carats Two Kilometers off Ratnapura |
Corundum Crystals Homogeneous Parallel Growth |
Splendour of Sri Lanka |
Blue Sapphire found at Palmadulla in Sri Lanka Weight : 250 Carats Corn Flower Blue |
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Different Groupings of Gems |
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Corundum • Blue Saphire • Ruby • Star Saphire • Star Ruby • Yellow Saphire • Golden Saphire • Padparadscha • White Saphire uartz • Yellow • Brown • Rose • White • Purple(Amethyst) |
Chrysoberyl • Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye • Alexandrite • Alexandrite Cat's Eye • Chrysoberyl Spinel • Blue Spinel • Red Spinel, Mauve Spinel Topaz • White Topaz Garnet • Rose Red Colored • Red Mauve • Hessonite Garnet • Spessartite Garnet |
Beryl • Aquamarine • White Beryl • Pale Green Beryl Zircon • Green Zircon • Yellow Zircon • Brown Zircon • Red & Blue Zircon(very rare) Tourmaline • Green • Brown Varieties Feldspar • Moonstone
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Birth Stone |
| Month | Colour | Relevent Gem Stone |
| January | Dark Red | Garnet |
| February | Purple | Amethyst |
| March | Pale Blue | Aqua Marine |
| April | White | Diamond |
| May | Bright Green | Emarald |
| June | Cream | Pearl or Moonstone |
| July | Red | Ruby |
| August | Pale Blue | Peridot |
| September | Deep Blue | Blue Saphhire |
| October | Variegated | Opal or Tourmaline |
| November | Yellow | Topaz |
| December | Sky Blue | Turquise or Lapis Lazuli |
| Gem Buying Hints Always purchase gems from a reputable dealer licenced by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) As an additional service, N.G.J.A will test gems at the following locations free of charge – purchased from anywhere in the country |
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N.G.J.A.Head Office, 25, Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 03. |
| N.G.J.E.Office
Level – 5, East Low Block, World Trade Center, Echelon Square, Colombo 01. |
| N.G.J.A.Head Office
“Gem Centre” , Ratnapura. |
| Certificates are issued at Head Office and Colombo Office at a nominal fee of US.$.8.00 (approx.) per certificate |
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There are six key steps in examining a gemstone 1. When ever possible examine the stone unmounted against a white background. 2. Make sure the gem is clean |