【Ratnapura, S】World’s Largest Sapphire Cluster Found ‘By Accident’ in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan authorities say the world’s largest cluster of sapphires (a precious gemstone) has been found in a backyard in Sri Lanka, and ‘by accident’.
A gem trader explained that this colossal sapphire was discovered by some laborers while they were digging a well in his courtyard.
The incident occurred in Sri Lanka’s Ratnapura area. As the name suggests, this region is abundant in gemstones.
Experts say this dull blue sapphire could be worth around $100 million (approximately 7.5 billion rupees) in the international market.

This sapphire weighs 510 kilograms. It has been named the ‘Serendipity Sapphire’, meaning the sapphire found by fortune.

He did not reveal his full name or exact address for security reasons.
The homeowner is a third-generation gem trader. Immediately after finding the sapphire, he informed the authorities, but it took over a year to clean the mud and remove other impurities.
Only after this process could the true value of the sapphire be estimated and its quality confirmed. It was reported that during cleaning, some gems fell off, revealing they were high-quality sapphires.

Ratnapura is known as Sri Lanka’s gem capital, and in the Sinhala language, its name means ‘City of Gems’. In the past, many precious gems have been found in this city.
Sri Lanka is a major global exporter of emeralds, sapphires, and other precious gemstones. Last year, Sri Lanka earned approximately 500 million rupees from the export of precious gems, diamonds, and jewelry.

However, experts also pointed out that while the carat value of this sapphire cluster is very high, the gems inside the cluster might not be as valuable.
This sapphire was found at a time when Sri Lanka’s gem industry has suffered significant losses due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns.

Those working in the gem industry hope the ‘Serendipity Sapphire’ will attract the attention of international buyers and experts.