Blue sapphire gemstones from Sri Lanka have been prized for their deep, rich colour and exceptional clarity for centuries. Known for their stunning beauty and high quality, these gemstones have become synonymous with the island of Sri Lanka, which is renowned for producing some of the finest sapphires in the world.
Sri Lanka, located in the Indian Ocean, is famous for its gemstones and has a long history of gem mining. The island is home to a variety of gemstones, including rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. However, it is the blue sapphire that has gained the most attention, and Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the world’s leading producers of this precious stone.
The blue sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum and gets its blue colour from the presence of trace amounts of titanium and iron. The intensity of the blue colour can vary from light to dark, and the value of the stone is determined by its colour, clarity, and size. Sri Lankan sapphires are renowned for their vivid, deep blue colour, and the high quality of the stones has made them a popular choice for jewellery and investment.
The sapphire mines in Sri Lanka are located in the southwestern part of the country, near the town of Ratnapura. The gemstones are extracted from alluvial deposits in the rivers and streams of the region. The mining process is labor-intensive and involves traditional methods such as panning and hand-digging. Despite the difficult conditions, the mining of blue sapphires has been a major industry in Sri Lanka for generations.
One of the most famous Sri Lankan blue sapphires is the “Blue Belle of Asia,” which is a 400-carat stone that was discovered in the Ratnapura mines in 1926. The stone is considered to be one of the finest examples of a blue sapphire and has a rich, deep blue colour that is highly prized by collectors.
In addition to their beauty and rarity, blue sapphires are also believed to have metaphysical properties. In many cultures, sapphires are thought to promote wisdom, inner peace, and spiritual growth. The blue sapphire, in particular, is associated with truth, sincerity, and faithfulness.
Today, Sri Lanka remains one of the top producers of blue sapphires, and the gemstone continues to be a major source of income for the country. The high quality of Sri Lankan sapphires has made them a popular choice among jewellery designers and collectors around the world, and the demand for these exquisite gems shows no sign of slowing down.
