Sri Lanka was known as Ratna-Dweepa which means Gem Island. The name is reflection of its natural wealth of the country.
A gemstone is the naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral which is desirable for its beauty, valuable in its rarity, and durable enough to be enjoyed for generations. More than 30 popular gem varieties are available .Some varieties are available in a range of colors.

Sapphire -

Sapphire is an aluminum oxide& its color varies from very light to dark blue to violetish-blue, bluish-green, yellow, slightly reddish-orange, brown, nearly opaque black, colorless, pink, violet and the pinkish-orange.

 Ruby -

Ruby is an aluminum oxide, a variety of corundum; it occurs in medium to dark tones of red and violetish-red to brownish-red

 

 

   

 

Alexandrite

-Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl, & which ideally shows a distinct color change from green in fluorescent light or daylight to red in incandescent light. If you are a connoisseur of the rarest yields from the mysterious depths of earth you will need to possess an Alexandrite

Star Stones -

Star stones of the corundum family are either star sapphires or rubies. When light falls on these stones, a star effect is visible (known as asterism).Sri Lanka is the best known source for star sapphires and star rubies. Star sapphires range in color from grey to bluish-grey and from medium blue to medium dark blue. The very slightly purplish medium dark blue is the best color grade for star sapphires. Star rubies range from light pink-red to purple-red through deep purple-red. The intense red star rubies are extremely rare. A good quality star stone should have a high degree of transparency and a well defined star with no weak or missing rays. It should be reasonably clean and in the face-up position, no distracting inclusions or cracks should be seen. There should be no excess weight at the bottom of the stone.

Chrysoberyl-

The species name chrysoberyl is given to a transparent, faceted gemstone that does not show a colour change between daylight and artificial light. The ideal colours of chrysoberyl are green and yellowish-green In addition, due to strong dichroism, one may see an attractive bi-colored chrysoberyl occasionally.

A cat’s eye like effect, known as ‘chatoyancy’, appears to move on this stone’s surface. Cat’s eye is a gem variety of chrysoberyl.

There are generally two varieties of cat’s eye the alexandrite cat’s-eye and the chrysoberyl cat’s-eye. The ideal colours of the chrysoberyl cat’s-eye are yellowish-brown, which is called the honey colour, and the yellow-green, which is called the apple green colour. A very good cat’s eye should have a high degree of transparency and a well-defined unbroken ray & it should be free from any distracting inclusions visible to the unaided eye. The chrysoberyl cat’s-eye is one of the most beautiful gemstones because of the chatoyancy or the eye effect.

Quartz -

Quartz is the most common mineral on the face of the Earth. Gem varieties include amethyst (purple), citrine (yellow), milky quartz (cloudy, white variety), rock crystal (clear variety), rose quartz (pink to reddish-pink variety), and smokey quartz (brown to grey variety).Gem varieties of quartz include: citrine, amethyst, rock crystal, rose quartz, and smokey quartz. There are also varieties of Quartz cat’s eye.Colours: citrine (yellow); amethyst (purple); rock crystal (colourless); rose quartz (pink); and smokey quartz (purplish-brown).

 

Amethyst

A variety of quartz, silicon dioxide, that appears to be dark purple in transparent light. Burnished by nature into a high purplish polish, the Amethyst is a beauty among gems.

 

 

 

 

Citrine -

A transparent variety of quartz, silicon dioxide, occurring in yellow to red-orange to orange-brown.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a blue to greenish-blue or bluish-green variety of beryl.

 

 

 

 

Garnet -

A group of gemstones occurring in every colour but blue. One of earth’s most common minerals, though only a small portion is considered gem quality.

Tourmaline -

Tourmaline is a group of minerals comprised of a complex boron-aluminum silicate with one or more of the following: magnesium, sodium, lithium, iron, potassium or other metals. It appears in light from dark red to purple as well as brownish variations of these hues – light to dark green, yellowish-green, greenish-yellow, brownish-orange.

Spinel -

A magnesium aluminum oxide which occurs in all colours, ruby-red being the most popular. Most colours are greyed out. Gahno-spinel is a dark blue or greenish-blue spinel with high zinc content.

 

 

 

 

 

Topaz -

Topaz is a fluosilicate of aluminum, occurring in transparent yellow, yellow-brown, orange-brown, light to almost medium red, very light to light blue, very light green and violet colors.

Moonstone -

 Moonstones are usually colourless to white, semi-transparent to translucent, and characterized by a glowing light effect known as adularescence, the visibility of which is confined to a restricted angle of view. The most valuable of the feldspar gems.

Zircon -

Zircon is a zirconium silicate, occurring in colorless, light blue, brownish-orange, yellow, yellowish-green, brownish-green, dark red or light red-violet. Blue is the most valuable. This stone is usually heat-treated.

Peridot -

Peridot is a silicate of magnesium and iron, occurring in yellowish-green, green, greenish-yellow, brownish-green and brown. All are transparent.

Blue Giant of the Orient -

This giant blue sapphire is one of the world’s most valuable gemstones. In rough, it was said to have been over 600 carats and was fashioned into a jewel of 466 carats & is the largest blue sapphire in the world.

Logan Blue Sapphire  -

This is considered to be the second largest blue sapphire in the world & a flawless specimen with a rich deep blue.

Star of India -

The second largest star sapphire in the world was also discovered in Sri Lanka & It is almost flawless and unusual in that it has stars on both sides of the stone.

Star of Lanka -

Third largest star sapphire in the world &the typical stone is a rich deep-blue in colour and has a well-defined six-ray star.

Rosser Reeves Star Ruby -

The world’s largest star ruby combining excellent color, good transparency and a well-defined star.

 

 

 

Cat’s Eye -

Probably the largest chrysoberyl cat’s eye in the world. This cat’s eye is carved to represent an alter surmounted by a torch. The honey yellow and apple green Cat's Eye of lustrous smoothness is extolled for the protection she yields to the wearer.

 

 

 

**GEMSTONES FOUND IN SRI LANKA

	Alexandrite       Alexandrite Cat's Eye       Almandine Garnet       Amethyst       Aquamarine       Beryl       Blue Sapphire       Chrysoberyl       Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye       Citrene       Hessonite Garnet       Moonstone       Orange Sapphire       Pathparaja Sapphire       Pink Sapphire       Pyrope Garnet       Rhodolite Garnet       Ruby       Spessartite Garnet       Spinel       Star Ruby       Star Sapphire       Tourmaline       Yellow Sapphire      Topaz       Zircon