Khaberni - A group of gemstone owners in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, revealed a rare purple star sapphire, weighing 3.563 carats, amid estimates indicating that it is the largest of its kind in the world.
The owning team, who prefer to remain anonymous for security reasons, announced their readiness to sell this unique gem estimated to be worth at least $300 million.
Rare technical and geological specifications
The consulting gemologist, Ashan Amarasinghe, explained that the gem named "Star of Pure Land" is considered the largest documented natural purple star sapphire in the world.
Amarasinghe confirmed that the stone distinctly exhibits the "star" phenomenon, where six crossing light rays appear, which gives it an exceptional uniqueness distinguishing it from other gemstones discovered previously.
The journey of discovery from Ratnapura to international laboratories
The stone was found in 2023, extracted from a mine located near the remote city of "Ratnapura," globally known as "City of Gems," according to the "Independent".
One of the owners reported that the stone was bought as part of a collection of other stones that year, and the owners did not realize its special nature until about two years of examination and study.
The sapphire underwent meticulous polishing and received official certification from two specialized laboratories to prove its quality and authenticity.
The global stature of Sri Lankan sapphire
Amarasinghe mentioned that international appraisal experts have placed a price estimate for the stone ranging between $300 million to $400 million.
The gemstones extracted from Sri Lanka are renowned for their purity quality, unique colors, and special luster which grant them high competitiveness in international auctions, making this discovery a significant addition to the country's natural wealth record.
