Gemstone Detective Blog

Sri Lanka is not just a gem in the literal sense; it's a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be discovered!

Let’s embark on a journey through the Jewel Box of the Indian Ocean. Get ready to be inspired by Sri Lanka's gemstone legacy.

Continuing my exploration of Sri Lanka in 2017, the journey took a deeper dive into the art and craft that define the gemstone industry here

My journey began in Ratnapura, the City of Gems. As my vehicle wound its way through lush, green landscapes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Ratnapura, which means "City of Gems," is aptly named. The city is a bustling hub of gem mining, trading, and cutting. Stepping into a gem mine for the first time was like stepping back in time. The mines are a labyrinth of tunnels and pits, where miners work tirelessly, driven by the hope of unearthing a precious gem.

Once believed to be solidified moon beams, moonstone has been a favourite for thousands of years and it’s certainly one of mine!

As well as causing the floating star effect, the rutile gives the star sapphire its milky, opaque appearance.

For a relatively short book, it covers the basics of sourcing and buying gemstones and jewellery in Sri Lanka. The author describes the methods and basic etiquette involved to hopefully help the tourist buyer avoid the worst and most costly pitfalls.

Being at World Travel Market 2018, it also made sense to connect with other Tourism Boards and Airlines from countries to be included in the Gemstone Detective book series – Vietnam, South Africa, Tanzania and India to name a few.

This spectacular ancient rock fortress in Sri Lanka’s northern Matale District is one of the island’s six UNESCO world heritages sites.  If you’re up for the steep climb of 1200 steps, you’ll see 1600 year old bathing sites, wall paintings and carvings, including one of a lion near the top that gives Sigiriya its name. 

The surprises didn’t stop there either… when a member of the audience asked where the book was on sale, Chris reeled off a number of countries around the world including Moscow, Poland, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, UK,  South Korea, Australia, Brazil, USA (15 locations), Canada, India and China to mention a few!  So Gemstone Detective’s ‘Buying Gemstones and Jewellery’ series really is global!

The Navaratna, for example, is a piece of jewellery significant to many followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism, among others.  Meaning “Nine Gems” the Navaratna links each of the planets in our solar system with a gemstone and divine force.