Gemstone shopping in Sri Lanka?

[ilovegemstones]

My parents are visiting Sri Lanka and are doing a gem tour in the next few days. Does anyone know of reliable stores or certificates to ask for there? I don't think they plan to spend a crazy amount but they do want to bring back gifts and my mom is excited to find me a natural gem. I would love an unheated blue sapphire but I did not know what to say. When they visited Thailand I was skeptical about a couple of things she brought back.

 

[Edward Bristol]

As soon as your parents show their noses anywhere in the mining areas they will be crowded by, no joke, one hundred guys selling 'all-natural' stones. It will be overwhelming to say the least.

The only way to get a unheated blue sapphire is to pay the correct price (perhaps 5 or 10% under what you would have to pay in Bangkok and perhaps 30% under what you see internationally) and MUST have a certificate done in Colombo. There are several OK-labs there, they all will not fool around with their shaky reputation. 'No heat and corundum' they can do fine.

Never forget: The locals know exactly what they doing and have done it for generations. They NEVER sell anything under value.

 

[chrono]

You already have doubts about gems your parents have brought back from Thailand and unfortunately, it will not be any different for Sri Lanka. The safest way is to get a blue sapphire is to make sure it is untreated and comes with a reputable lab report but there will be minimal cost savings so in the end, the hassle and savings may not be worth it. I cannot recall the name of one other local lab.

GRS Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd.
Address : Galle Road 471 2/1, Colombo -3, Srilanka.
Telephone : 94-11-2583326, 94-11-2582493
Email : [email protected]
Website : http://www.gemresearch.ch

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thanks so much Ed and Chrono. I passed the info on. I will see what I can find here for comparison. I am looking for a unheated bright medium blue sapphire for a ring, over a carat without a window but with inclusions so that it is affordable.