Photo: Associated Press\YouTube
The gemstone weighs 3,563 carats
A rare purple star sapphire described as the largest documented of its kind in the world has been unveiled in Colombo. The gemstone, weighing 3,563 carats, is expected to be sold by its owners and is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Associated Press.
The sapphire, named Star of Pure Land, was presented on January 17 in Sri Lanka’s capital. According to consulting gemologist Ashan Amarasinghe, it is the largest known natural purple star sapphire in the world. “The gemstone shows a very distinct asterism. It has a six-rayed star. This is something special compared with all other stones,” Amarasinghe said.
The polished sapphire belongs to a group known as Star of Pure Land, whose members have chosen to remain anonymous for security reasons. One of them said the stone was discovered in 2023 in a gem pit near the city of Ratnapura, often referred to as the “city of gems.”
The sapphire was purchased along with other stones, and it was only about two years later that the owners realized it was unique. It was subsequently certified by two gemological laboratories.
According to Amarasinghe, international appraisers have estimated the sapphire’s value at between $300 million and $400 million. Sri Lankan sapphires are considered among the most valuable in the world due to their color, clarity, and distinctive shimmer.
Previously, Sotheby’s in New York set a record by selling the largest known Martian meteorite on Earth — NWA 16788 — for $5.3 million. The specimen, weighing 24.67 kilograms and discovered in Niger in 2023, is 70% larger than any comparable example and is noted for its exceptional state of preservation.
