Buying Gemstones in Sri Lanka: What You Need to Know Before You Walk Into Any Shop

Sri Lanka has been producing gemstones for over two thousand years. The ancient texts refer to the island as Ratna Dweepa: the island of gems. The sapphires, rubies, cat's eyes, alexandrites, spinels, and moonstones that come from the alluvial deposits of the central and southern zones are among the finest in the world, and the gem cutting and trading traditions here are centuries deep.

Ratnapura, whose name literally means City of Gems, is the centre of the trade. The area around the town is dotted with gem pits where miners work in hand-dug shafts, sieving alluvial gravel for rough stones. Some of these operations welcome visitors and watching a gem pit in operation gives you a physical understanding of where these stones actually come from and what it takes to find them.

Buying gemstones in Sri Lanka: the golden rule is to buy from licensed dealers only, and to get a certificate from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority for any significant purchase. The NGJA certifies stones and provides documentation that is recognised internationally. Without this, a stone has no verifiable provenance regardless of what the seller tells you.

The blue sapphire is the stone most associated with Sri Lanka and the cornflower blue variety from the Ratnapura area is among the most prized in the world. The moonstone, a variety of feldspar with the distinctive adularescence that makes it appear to glow from within, is equally iconic and available in beautiful quality at accessible prices. Both make extraordinary purchases if you approach the process with patience and the right dealer.