WORLD FAMOUS GEMSTONES FROM SRI LANKA

Gem History

Unveiling the History of Gems

Sri Lanka has a long and illustrious history as a source of some of the world's most precious and beautiful gemstones. The island nation's reputation for large, exceptional blue sapphires is unmatched, with many of these sapphires gracing the crown jewels and museum collections around the world. But Sri Lanka's gem wealth extends far beyond sapphires, encompassing a wide variety of other stunning stones.

A Tradition of Gems

For centuries, Sri Lanka has been a center of the gem trade. The island's rich alluvial deposits and gem-bearing rocks have yielded a continuous supply of precious stones for millennia. Early Sri Lankan kings were renowned for their collections of gems, and the island nation played a key role in the gem trade routes of Asia.

Sri Lanka has produced some of the most famous and coveted gemstones in history.

Sri Lanka's Famous Gems

Princess Diana Sapphire Engagement Ring

This iconic ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Prince Charles gave the ring to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 as a proposal, and Prince William later gave it to Kate Middleton before their engagement in 2010.

Queen Elizabeth Sapphire Jubilee Necklace and Earrings

This stunning set was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee. The necklace features a central sapphire pendant surrounded by diamonds, and the earrings feature pear-shaped sapphires. All the sapphires in the set are from Sri Lanka.

Queen Mary Sapphire Cluster Brooch

This beautiful brooch was made in 1915 for Queen Mary, wife of King George V. It features a large cushion-cut sapphire surrounded by a cluster of smaller diamonds. The sapphire is believed to be from Sri Lanka.

The Logan Sapphire Brooch

This brooch features a flawless
422.99-carat cushion-cut Ceylon sapphire, believed to be the second-largest blue sapphire globally. It's part of the Smithsonian Institution collection.

The Bismarck Sapphire Necklace

This exquisite necklace contains 36 matching cushion-cut Ceylon sapphires totaling 195 carats. The rich blue stones are set in platinum and surrounded by 435 diamonds. It's also part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection.

The Star of India

This legendary gem is a 563-carat star sapphire housed in the Smithsonian Institution. Mined in Sri Lanka, it was once the world's largest cut sapphire!