| Hello I am Going to tell you about a place | | | | to a pinkish orange Sapphire found only in |
| that has the higest quality gemstone jewelry | | | | Sri Lanka. These terms were also used by the |
| also a little history and some of the famous | | | | early Moor traders who were the descendants |
| gems that have been mined there. this place | | | | of Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka in |
| has a lot of history the info below is from | | | | the eighth century AD |
| the site that you will get to see later that | | | | |
| tells of the rich history and how they make | | | | (1)Hopes cats eye- over 500 carats. |
| handmade gemstone jewelry. | | | | |
| | | | It is the largest chrysoberyl Cats Eye in the |
| Manufacture of handmade gemstone jewelry in | | | | world previously owned by Thomas P.Hope,the |
| intricate designs is a craft that has been | | | | wealthy British banker and gem investor. This |
| around in different parts of the world for | | | | enormous cats eye is carved to represent an |
| over a thousand years. This technology has | | | | altar surmounted by a torch. It is |
| been passed down from generation to | | | | hemispherical in shape and measures about one |
| generation and is preserved and practiced in | | | | and a half inches in diameter. |
| many different countries, including Sri | | | | |
| Lanka. | | | | (2)Blue giant of the orient-466 carats |
| | | | |
| Sri Lanka has been renowned for its gem | | | | This is the largest blue sapphire in the |
| stones and gem studded jewelry since ancient | | | | world-466 carats. Is was mined in the |
| times. | | | | Ratnapura (Gem City) District of Sri Lanka in |
| | | | 1907.It is a treasured possession of a famous |
| The gem stones of Sri Lanka have adorned the | | | | American Gem Collector. |
| crowns and jewelry of royalty around the | | | | |
| world for many centuries. | | | | (3)Logan Blue Sapphire-423 carats |
| | | | |
| The wedding ring given to princess Diana by | | | | It is the second largest blue sapphire in the |
| prince Charles was set with a large blue star | | | | world. It has a rich deep blue colour and is |
| sapphire from Sri Lanka. | | | | completely flawless. It was gifted to the |
| | | | Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC by |
| A Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye of Sri Lankan origin, | | | | Mrs. John A Logan. |
| weighing 105 carats was purchased for the | | | | |
| British Royalty from a reputed London Jeweler | | | | (4)Rosser Reeves Star Ruby-138 carats |
| around 1900.This Cats eye was cherished by | | | | |
| four British Monarchs-Edward VI, George V, | | | | This is the world's largest star ruby, and it |
| Edward VII and Queen Elizabeth II-due to its | | | | combines the rare features of excellent |
| exceptionally fine quality. | | | | colour,good transparency and a well defined |
| | | | star. It is one of the outstanding exhibits |
| The Great Aqua of Sri Lanka, with a weight of | | | | of the U.S National Gem collection at the |
| roughly 1,890 carats is the largest gem found | | | | Smithsonian Institute. |
| in Sri Lanka. This aquamarine yielded a | | | | |
| sparkling gem of 946 carats, which became | | | | As you can see the people here know what they |
| part of Saudi Prince's royal collection. | | | | are doing and offer the best handmade |
| | | | gemstone jewelry that you will find. all |
| The antiquity of the gem trade in Sri Lanka | | | | natural gemstones are of course the best |
| is clearly established by the fact that two | | | | they are getting more popular by the day. |
| technical terms used for two popular gem | | | | |
| stones, Tourmaline and Padparascha are of Sri | | | | So whether you are a serious collector or |
| Lankan origin. Tourmaline is derived from the | | | | just want quality handmade gemstone jewelry |
| Sinhala and Tamil word "Toramalli' and | | | | that you can bragg to your friends about . |
| 'Padparascha" is a Tamil word used to refer | | | | Now you know where to look for the best. |