Sapphires in Sri Lanka



Posted: Wednesday, December 31, 2008

by
All That Glitters Is

Sri Lanka is a tropical island located in the Indian Ocean . Surrounded by white sandy beaches and lush tropics, Sri Lanka tourism offers a wide range of activities such as elephant safaris, deep sea diving to rock climbing. This tropical island is also known as "Isle of Gems". Sapphires are one of the biggest industries on the island of Sri Lanka . Sapphires come in different colors, go through treatments, are cut into many different shapes before they are set and designed into jewelery.

Most often when we think of Sapphires the color blue comes to mind but Sapphires are available in different colors. Padparadscha, otherwise known as Pink Sapphire, imitates the islands national flower, the Lotus.

If you're looking for a high quality Pink Sapphire, pick one that has a deep intense pink that leads into the color of Rubies. Sapphires also come in yellow, purple, orange, or a greenish color. Pushparaga is a Yellow Sapphire. Blue Sapphire is the most common. A fine Blue Sapphire will be in an intense violet shade. Another Sapphire is the Star Sapphire. An inclusion is what causes the six point star effect that is more prominent in the light.

As most gemstones go through a heat treatment that is permanent to enhance colors, so does the Sapphire. It is quite a natural process for gems to go through because without being heated it wouldn't be pretty to look at and expensive. Gems are cut into the different shapes and set into gold, silver and platinum

So when you are in Sri Lanka be sure to go to the gemstone market. There you will find Sapphires galore.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Nancy Daniels
 3 years 38 days ago.
65 fans.
Interesting article. You've piqued my curiousity about by sapphires and Sri Lanka.
» left by Jo-Ann Keith from Kelowna, BC 3 years 36 days ago.
I can only imagine how lovely it must be there.  Sri Lanka not only offers white sandy beaches, exquisite Sapphires but another industry is clothing. That could be a whole other topic. 

I enjoyed researching the information to write this article and found that their national flower is a blue water lily.  I wonder if it represents the beautiful Cornflower Blue Sapphire.
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