This is to protect the locals in the industry as until the gemstone is cut it is difficult to determine its value.įamily, (my father to be specific) residing in Sri Lanka has given me an incomparable opportunity to access these magnificent gemstones first hand. All gemstones must be cut before they are exported. When selecting yellow sapphires, we leave the rough yellow sapphire in sunlight for a couple of days to ensure that it does not loose its colour.Įxportation of rough gemstones from Sri Lanka is prohibited. Some colour centres react in light and minor heat and loose its colour. Unlike other colours, yellow sapphires are coloured by a few different methods. Hence why the finer quality gemstones attracts a higher price. This we do by immersing the rough sapphire in water or with a bit of oil rubbed on the gem.įACT 1: 95% of the mine's cost is covered by 5% of its production.

We inspect the rough gemstone for colour and any imperfections of the stone. We have to expect some imperfections within the stone that is what prove the gemstone is natural. Natural gemstones are faced with many environmental changes and as such they are unlikely to be completely clear.

If they were mined underground then it is likely to have more broken, sharp edges. If the gemstone was mined in the river bed it is likely to be in an appearance of a pebble as you would expect.

Rough gemstones come in all different shapes.ĭepending on which geological environment they are found in, the shape of the rough gemstone can change significantly they could be mined in river or they could be mined underground.Ĭrystallographically sapphires are formed in bi-pyramidal form. Well, this is something I have been meaning to blog about for a while and I think it is about time that I get around to it!įollowing is how our natural sapphires are processed.

Rough yellow sapphire