Sri Lanka is famous the Island of Jewels because of its geological history that provides many colored gemstones. The island has a gem culture that mixes old mining methods with a busy trading environment. This guide will help you understand how to navigate Sri Lankas gem industry find the markets learn about the different stones and buy them safely.
The Treasures of Ceylon
Sri Lanka is famous for producing high-quality corundum the Ceylon Blue Sapphire, which is the national gemstone. These sapphires are very sought after for their blue color and clarity. Sri Lanka is also a source of rare Padparadscha sapphires, which have a delicate pinkish-orange color.
You can find other gemstones in Sri Lanka including rubies, alexandrites, spinels, tourmalines and garnets. The southern coast is known for its moonstones, which have a translucent body and blue sheen.
Essential Gem Destinations
To experience the gem trade visit Ratnapura, which is called the City of Gems. It is in four to five hours from Colombo and is the center of traditional mining and trading. In Ratnapura you can visit the Ambagaha Yata street market, where miners and brokers trade rough gemstones.
If you prefer a journey visit Meetiyagoda near Hikkaduwa, which is famous for its high-quality blue-flash moonstones. You can also visit Kandy and Colombo which have refined showrooms, gem museums and lapidary workshops where you can watch gemstones cut and polished.
The Buying and Bargaining Process
Buying gemstones in Sri Lanka can exciting. It requires careful observation and patience. Street markets like those in Ratnapura or Pelmedulla can challenging, for inexperienced buyers. Sellers may seem nonchalant. It can be hard to tell synthetic stones or treated “pit glass” from real gemstones.
When evaluating a stone inspect it in daylight to see its true color, clarity and inclusions. Bargaining is common in Sri Lanka. Be wary of unrealistically low prices, which may indicate a counterfeit or treated stone.
Verification and Safe Export
To ensure your gemstone is authentic buy from dealers registered with the National Gem and Jewellery Authority. High-value purchases should come with a laboratory certificate verifying the stones weight origin and treatment status.
The National Gem and Jewellery Authority offers testing services to give buyers peace of mind. When leaving the country make sure you have an invoice and export clearance documentation from the authority to avoid any issues, with customs.
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