Sourcing Sapphires in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
After diamonds, sapphires are the most popular to use in fine designs. Maybe it’s the rich and remarkable colours they display, or maybe it’s the fact that they’re durable and resilient (scoring a whooping 9.0 on the Mohs hardness scale), but either way, sapphires are the perfect centre for any .
Contrary to what you might think about this , there are dozens more options than just a . The earth gives us sapphires in almost any imaginable: from deep indigo to cornflower , black and white, sage green, purple, hot , and every in between. A alone can range from bright canary to pale champagne.
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Sapphires are found in various regions of the world, but a is known to be the highest quality around. In this South Asian country off the south east coast of India, you can find sapphires with a natural richness in that can’t be found anywhere else, as most other sapphires undergo a heat-treatment process in order to enhance their natural .
Sri Lanka is famous for being one of the best sources not just for sapphires (such as the world famous ), but for the rare orange- made famous by this very region. The is in fact the rarest of all varieties.
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You can look at hundreds of options, but most people will tell you that the right will call to you. You simply know it when you see it.
To find the perfect , we use a variety of sources and methods to secure the highest quality and cut for different ring designs. As we focus on creating bespoke rings, sometimes this entails seeking a specific cut of a , known in the industry as a ‘fancy’ cut. Our customers seek a unique product and come to us to capture their stories, so it’s our job to actualise their ideas with a bespoke design or a rare custom-cut .
In this article, we look at the background of the mining industry in Sri Lanka, the process of mining, and how one of our suppliers comes to procure gemstones for engagement rings.
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Sri Lanka is known as the “Jewel Box” or “Treasure Island” of the Indian Ocean, with over 25% of total land mass thought filled with precious gemstones. At the heart of the country is the city of , a Sanskrit word for “the city of gems”, known for being a hub of miners, traders, and exporters. A , , or will more often than not be the best in its class.
In , mining is still conducted in many traditional ways, relying far less on mass production infrastructure compared to other regions making it known for its sustainability. In Sri Lankan culture, gemstones are seen as gifts from the gods and mining areas are considered sacred. Maneesha has shared with us first hand the ways that workers perform prayers and rituals before beginning work, as a way of paying their respects to the environment. Sri Lanka has strong policies to protect both workers and the environment. You can read more about Sri Lanka’s industry here.
The government actively makes sure that the local community benefits from the industry. The land is owned by the government and rented by the miners and investors to ensure that the land is protected from privatization and development for housing or farmland.
The sustainable, traditional mining techniques used by the workers ensures that the land is protected. Once a mine is exhausted of , the miners simply fill the excavated areas with earth again, ready for plants to grow back over. The traditional mining methods also ensure that miners can live in close proximity to the mines while maintaining a good quality of living.
In , mining is still conducted in many traditional ways, relying far less on mass production infrastructure compared to other regions making it known for its sustainability. In Sri Lankan culture, gemstones are seen as gifts from the gods and mining areas are considered sacred.
Maneesha has shared with us first hand the ways that workers perform prayers and rituals before beginning work, as a way of paying their respects to the environment. Sri Lanka has strong policies to protect both workers and the environment. You can read more about Sri Lanka’s industry here.
The government actively makes sure that the local community benefits from the industry. The land is owned by the government and rented by the miners and investors to ensure that the land is protected from privatization and development for housing or farmland.
The sustainable, traditional mining techniques used by the workers ensures that the land is protected. Once a mine is exhausted of , the miners simply fill the excavated areas with earth again, ready for plants to grow back over. The traditional mining methods also ensure that miners can live in close proximity to the mines while maintaining a good quality of living.
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On the day to day, the mining industry in Sri Lanka is busy and bustling. Every morning at around 6am miners gather in the main city of Nivithigala, about 20km away from with all of the rough stones that have been mined. The miners, traders and exporters all gather together to oversee the sale of their stones.
There is an incredibly strong mining community in Sri Lanka-both the government and community are determined to keep the traditions and culture of the miners, cutters, polishers and suppliers alive.
One of our design consultants, Emily, had the opportunity to visit in Sri Lanka. She went to see the mines, and our Buyer, Maneesha.
Maneesha is a truly special leader within Taylor & Hart. Not only does she oversee an entirely female team of experts, she is the only woman dealer in Sri Lanka, having broken her way into the male-dominated industry.
What I found to be remarkable about the gemstone industry in Sri Lanka is that the industry is very sustainable. The use of traditional mining methods was so interesting. I thought it was odd at first, but once you learn more about the country, it made sense. Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country so they are very considerate of the environment and people.
Emily
Maneesha purchases both rough stones and cut and polished stones. As an exporter, she connects the miners & investors with customers globally. Most of the sapphires she purchases are from the region, however she does purchase some sapphires from around the globe, for example, in Madagascar or Montana, as sapphires from these regions have hues not available in Sri Lanka. For an exporter, it is important to be able to give your international customers options as every , , or will always be unique, even if in subtle ways.
Maneesha
I moved from my hometown to Ratnapura and entered the gemstone market when I was a young woman. I felt daunted and uncomfortable at first, in an industry filled with men. I didn’t want people to take advantage of me, so I worked hard to build my skills, experience and confidence.
Maneesha
In the city of , there are many vendors selling rough stones, and streets of cutters and polishers. If a customer would like a fancy cut for their , this is when we would contact an exporter such as Maneesha to procure rough gemstones to be custom-cut to fit exact specifications. Once the has been agreed upon, the sapphires are shipped internationally from Colombo three times a week.
Sapphires can be found in various locations around the world, but Sri Lanka is famous for producing high quality, rich . When we need to search for a unique, particular , our company looks to Sri Lankan traders and dealers. Not only does the Sri Lankan industry offer a great variety of colours in sapphires, the industry is small and local, offering direct contact with the mines and traders where we’re assured of the provenance and quality of the gemstones. Look to The Mineral and Kingdom for a wealth of guidance and education on sapphires and other precious gemstones.
