It is said that Solomon sent emissaries to the City of Gems in the Orient (Ratnapura) to procure the precious stones that won him the hand, and then the heart of Queen Sheba. Since, and even before, Sri Lanka's priceless gems have dazzles kings and rulers. In the Adventures of Sindbad Serendib (Sri Lanka) became a household word among the Arabs and Jazirat Kakut or Island of Gems became equally known.
Sri Lankan Precious Stones
The story of Sri Lanka's precious stones is as old as its civilization itselft. We rank with Myanmar, Brazil, South Africa and Thailand as one of the world's most important gem bearing nations.
We have earned its nameshake as the 'Island of Gems' (Ratna Dweepa), with its abundance of alexandrite, garnet, moonstone, topaz, tourmaline, and zircon.
Some of the rarest of our gemstones of exquisite beauty have taken pride of place in the Crown jewels of Kings and Queens from time of Great Roman Emperors.
A well-known legend says that in Biblical times, King Solomon in his wisdom used precious stones from the paradise isle to woo the Queen of Sheba.
Over seven centuries ago, Marco Polo said, "I want you to understand that the island of Seylan is, for its size, the finest island in the world, and from its streams come rubies, sapphires, topazes, amethyst and garnet".
Ptolemy, the second century astronomer recorded that beryl and sapphires were the mainstay of Sri Lanka's gem industry. Records from sailors that visited the island state that they bought back "jewels of serendib". (Serendib was the ancient name given to the island by the Mideast traders who crossed the Indian Ocean to trade gem) During the 16th century, portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama said of Sri Lanka: "Lanka has all the fine cinnamon of the Indies and the best sapphires."
Our Industry
Sri Lanka is home to 40 varieties of Gems out of 85 varieties available in the whole world.
Among them, Ceylon Blue Sapphire is known for its beauty - possessing the glorious cornflower blue shade - as well as for being one of the few sapphires in the world that can be sold as a completely natural stone without heat treatment.
The blues aside, our sapphires also come in beautiful hues including pink, yellow, orange, green, purple, lavender and of course, the inimitable pathmaparadscha sapphire - named after the lotus flower.
Although the most popular precious stones in Sri Lanka are sapphires and rubies, one will also find exquisite cat's eyes, spinels, aquamarines, blue topaz, garnets, tourmalines, amethysts, zircons, moonstones and alexandrites.
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