Sri Lanka Sapphires: The Big Shots of the Blue Stones

One of the most iconic jewelry pieces in history is the engagement ring chosen by Princess Diana when she became engaged to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne. Designed by the esteemed royal jeweler Garrard, the cluster-style ring features a stunning 12-carat, oval-shaped, unheated blue sapphire surrounded by a halo of diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold. According to Sara Prentice, Garrard’s creative director, the sapphire’s intense blue color and exceptional luster are “astonishingly beautiful.” Its origin? The island of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka.

For thousands of years, Sri Lanka has been the world’s most significant producer of the finest blue sapphires, including some of the largest fine-quality blue sapphires ever found. Historical records show that sapphire mines on the island—affectionately called “Ratna-Dweepa,” meaning “Gem Island” in Sinhalese—were known as early as the second century, with an active trade by the fourth and fifth centuries. Even explorer Marco Polo mentioned Sri Lanka’s sapphires during his travels, describing them as the best on Earth.

The Special Qualities of Sri Lankan Blue Sapphires

What makes the blue sapphires from Sri Lanka so special is undoubtedly their color. It’s most often described as a vibrant blue that’s lighter and brighter than blue sapphires from other sources. Some call it a “peacock blue”; others call it an “electric blue.” This color in Sri Lankan sapphires is also often concentrated close to the surface of the crystal giving them marvelous face-up appeal.

This variation of blue color in sapphires results from the type and amount of color-causing trace elements, such as iron and titanium, present during the gem’s formation. Sapphire belongs to the mineral corundum, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide, which is colorless in its purest state. When the trace elements iron and titanium are present at the time the corundum is developed, the corundum is blue sapphire. The more iron present in the region of the sapphire deposit, the darker the blue.

Sapphires also have their own unique inclusions, or internal characteristics, depending on the region they’re formed in. For instance, the hallmark inclusion characteristic of Sri Lankan sapphires is long, slender rutile needles. These inclusions are often sparsely and evenly distributed, with single needles sometimes crossing an entire stone.

World Famous Sri Lankan Blue Sapphires

Considering the outstanding color of Sri Lankan blue sapphires and the sizes that have been discovered there, it’s no wonder the country has produced some of the most celebrated blue sapphires in the world.

In addition to Princess Diana’s engagement ring, now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales, there’s the Prince Albert Sapphire Brooch. Given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert on the eve of their wedding, it features a stunning deep-blue Sri Lankan sapphire of significant size in an oval shape surrounded by 12 large round diamonds. This treasured piece then passed from Victoria to the queen consorts—Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and the Queen Mother—and then to Queen Elizabeth II on her accession to the throne. The brooch was undoubtedly the Queen’s signature piece of jewelry and perhaps her most cherished.

Another famous Sri Lankan sapphire is the exceptional 423-carat “Logan Sapphire,” one of the largest faceted blue sapphires in the world. It has a blue color with very slight violet overtones, certified without heat treatment by the Gemological Institute of America. It’s fashioned into a cushion shape with a mixed cut and set in a gold and silver brooch framed by 20 round brilliant-cut diamonds totaling approximately 16 carats. Part of the National Gem Collection of the Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., it is their heaviest mounted gem.

The 423-carat “Logan Sapphire” from Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest faceted blue sapphires. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Perhaps one of the finest Sri Lankan blue sapphires is the “Blue Belle of Asia.” Weighing approximately 392.52 carats, the cushion-shaped blue sapphire is extraordinary, with no indications of heat treatment as certified by the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute. The gem is the focal point of a spectacular brilliant-cut diamond neck chain that suspends a brilliant-cut diamond tassel pendant with oval-shaped diamond terminals, all mounted in gold. The necklace sold at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction on Nov. 11, 2014, for a world-record price of $18 million. It’s been said that there will never be a gemstone to replace it, as it was a masterpiece created by Mother Nature millions of years ago.

A necklace featuring the 392.52-carat “Blue Belle of Asia” from Sri Lanka sold for a world-record price of $18 million at Christie's in November 2014. Photo courtesy of Christie's.

Perhaps there are still blue sapphire treasures such as this in Sri Lanka waiting to be unearthed. The country is still producing a quality and quantity of blue sapphires rivaled only by new deposits found in Madagascar, which are in many cases almost identical. Here at Jogani, we’re delighted to have a collection of splendid blue sapphires from Sri Lanka, as well as fancy color sapphires from the region. Their striking hues are utterly desirable, enlivening any jewel or gem collection with an unbounded spirit.