Denying media reports in the local and international media claiming that the world’s largest blue star sapphire has been found in Sri Lanka, National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) Chairman Asanka Welagedara yesterday said that such a gem has not yet been submitted to the Authority for assessment.
“If anybody has such an invaluable gem he or she should make the NGJA aware about it. The NGJA is the only authorised government institution to issue an internationally recognised standard certificate for such a gem.
Without obtaining this certificate nobody can come to a conclusion about the value of a gem,” the chairman said.
He said the weight of a gem is not enough to ensure it as priceless.
Colour, transparency and faceting designs are also considered when deciding the value of a gem, Welagedara said. He said some gem merchants were spreading this type of news to promote their laboratories and also to add more value to their gems. Welagedara said the government currently has a collection of some priceless blue sapphires. An unidentified businessman from Beruwala has claimed that he is in possession of the largest blue star sapphire weighing 485 grams and valued at 2800 carats.
Earlier, another Sri Lankan gem merchant claimed that he was in possession of the largest blue star sapphire which was valued at US$ 200 -300 million and 1404.49 carats.
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