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Blue Sapphires. While sapphires account for 85% of the 130 precious gemstone varieties mined in Sri Lanka, none of the Ceylon Sapphire varieties is as popular around the world as Ceylon Blue Sapphires, gem corundum that displays a celebrated shade of blue comparable with the hue of cornflowers.
Ceylon Blue Sapphires are mostly mined from primarily alluvial deposits located in the highland complex of Sri Lanka. Rough sapphire from the Elahera region is reputed to be the best of quality while new rich deposits were found in the Kataragama klippe in the Thammannawa, Kataragama area.
A Ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red coloured gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (Aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewellery gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires.
Tourmaline is a name applied to a family of related minerals with widely varying properties. Tourmalines make very popular jewellery stones and come in an amazing range of colours, including multi-colour zones. Tourmaline is the modern October birthstone, and green and pink in particular is a very popular colour.
Ceylon Moonstone, or the Ceylon Opal, is a widely popular semi-precious stone known for its texture and colouration that resembles the moonlight shining through a bed of clouds. Considered to be the jeweller’s best friend, it is widely used in jewellery designing thanks to its lustre and mystic beauty that adds depth and dimension to any ensemble.
Tsavorite is a name given by the jewellery trade, but scientifically tsavorites are recognised as a type of grossular garnet with trace amounts of vanadium and chromium which give them their distinctive green colour. Tsavorites are a type of green garnet only bought to the world’s attention in the mid 20th century.
There is nothing quite as cheerful and breathtaking as a stunning yellow sapphire. Their bright, crisp brilliance sparkles endlessly and is growing in popularity alongside pink sapphires. Yellow sapphires are recognized as being the bearers of wisdom and prosperity, also considered to bring good luck and good energy.
Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin for seawater and it was said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. March’s birthstone was also thought to enhance the happiness of marriages. The best gems combine high clarity with limpid transparency and blue to slightly greenish blue hues.
Pink Sapphires are vibrant and eye catching variety of the mineral corundum gaining their colour from traces of chromium. Often considered a more affordable alternative to pink diamonds, these offer a unique blend of beauty and durability. The shade of pink can range from light to dark pink, with the most valued shades being vibrant and pure.
For more than 100 years, reference has been made to a unique sapphire, the colour of a lotus blossom, the padparadscha among the global gem community. According to mineralogy literature, Padparadscha or King Sapphire blends pink and gold to produce a stunningly beautiful sapphire.