Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Known to the ancient world as Ceylon, the island of Sri Lanka has been a source of fine gemstones for more than two thousand years. The alluvial gem gravels around Ratnapura — the "City of Gems" — and Elahera yield an extraordinary range of sapphires in every hue, from the pale "geuda" rough that transforms into cornflower blue, to the legendary pinkish-orange padparadscha. Ceylon sapphires are prized for their bright, lively color and exceptional clarity, and the country remains the spiritual home of the world's sapphire trade.