Gemstone Marketplaces & Sapphires Buying Guide in Sri Lanka - 2019
Updated on 2019-01-04 by Zhang Qinyu
As a gem broker in Guangzhou(the largest trade center for colored gems in China), I introduce many foreign gem dealers to sell various gems to gem merchants in China, help many Sri Lankan gem dealers to sell sapphires in China, and I got many experience and knowledge about gem market in Sri Lanka.
GUIDE - 1: Trade Cities; 2: Gem Labs; 3: Transportation; 4: Mining Area; 5: Sapphire Price
Part I: The Main Cities in Sri Lanka for Gem Business
1. Colombo - There are a lot of gem sale offices and stores in World Trade Center of this city, but their price is very very high, it is tourist's retail price. Not good for foreign buyers to purchase bulk and resell in their own country. Kandy and Galle are two more cities which sell sapphires in high price to tourists.- - -
2. Ratnapura - It is the largest trade market for rough gems, because there are a lot of mines around this town, the marketplace name is Gem Street. Mainly for the trade of rough gems, a few for faceted gems. A lot of fake sapphires are in the open market(trade in street to tourist).
- - -
3. Beruwala - The largest trade center for faceted and finished gems, a variety of loose gems are traded here every day, a lot of international big buyers come to purchase large quantity of faceted gems and polished cabochons in Beruwala. It is the largest marketplace for precious gem trade in the whole country. the gem marketplace in Beruwala is China Fort which has a long history. You can deal sapphires in trade office, no fake gems can go into trade office. It is approx 60km away from Colombo's south to Beruwala, 70 mins by a car.
As many American and European buyers want to buy loose sapphires directly from Sri Lanka. I think I can introduce my Sri Lanka partners to worldwide buyers. My partners are Abdull and Adee, they are two young men and both friends since they are children. Their families do gems business for decades in Sri Lanka. In recent years, they come to China to explore the gem market, so I meet and help them to sell gems in China. I found it is very nice to have cooperation with them, Because they are different from most of Sri Lanka gem dealers, they are open, sincere and reliable to partners and buyers. That is why I want to introduce them to worldwide buyers. They are based in Beruwala(the trade and cutting center of faceted and finished gems in Sri Lanka). Their families are powerful, reputable gem suppliers. They purchase rough gemstones from all over Sri Lanka and Africa(Madagscar, Kenya, Tanzania), process and cut in Sri Lanka, so they supply large quantity of sapphires to many Sri Lankan dealers and international buyers in excellent price. Also, Adbull's family have their own trade office in Beruwala, if you want to purchase more gems, you can sit on their office, Sri Lanka dealers will come to show their gems. In the office, no any fake gem can come in, Adbull helps you to trade gems in safety.
Abdull & Adee's Gemstones: Blue Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire, Pink Sapphire , Yellow Sapphire and More Colors, Ruby, Cat's Eye, Alexandrite, Tsavorite, Spinel, etc.
If you want to buy gems or fly to Sri Lanka. Just contact me, I can introduce them to you. They will be glad to help you to purchase gems in Sri Lanka.
Part II: The List of Approved and Respected Gem Labs in Sri Lanka
1. Emteem Gem Laboratory(EGL): most respected institute in Sri Lanka for gem certification.Add: 24/4a, Al-Fassy Mawatha, Chinafort, Beruwala, Sri Lanka
http://www.emteemgemlab.lk/
- - -
2. Gemmological Institute Of Colombo(GIC): very good and famous gem lab in Sri Lanka.
Add: 115A, Havelock Road, Colombo 05. Sri Lanka
https://www.gicolombo.com/
- - -
3. Ceylon Gem Laboratary(CGL): very famous gem lab in Sri Lanka, but not very serious in color grading for sapphires.
Add: #51/A, Naleem Hajiar Mawatha, Chinafort, Beruwala 12070, Sri Lanka
http://www.ceylongemlaboratory.com/
- - -
4. GRS Lab in Colombo : international gem lab in Sri Lanka, good but expensive for certification.
Add: 471 3/1 Galle Road, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
http://gemresearch.ch/contact/
- - -
More unfamous or small labs in Sri Lanka: GGTL, TGL, RGL, NGJA.
Part III: The Transport from Colombo to Beruwala by Train, Taxi, Bus
1. Train: from Colombo Fort Station to Beruwala Station54km; 1h 40min; no 1st class, 2nd class: 100LKR(0.6USD), 3rd class: 55LKR
12 Trains Everyday, Check Daily Railway Schedule
- - -
2. Taxi: from Colombo to Beruwala Point
approx 60km; 1h 10min; taxi fare is approx 3,000LKR(20USD)
- - -
3. Bus: No Direct Bus
No Recommendation, Bus Experience on TripAdvisor
- - -
4. Car: from Colombo to Beruwala
My friend Abdull is a big supplier in Beruwala, if you want to visit Beruwala for gem business, he can pick you up on Colombo airport(CMB) for free. He has a gem office in Beruwala, a lot of gem dealers will come to his office to show their sapphires. It is all FREE.
Please feel free to contact me to get Abdull's info
Part IV: The List of Sapphire Mining Areas in Sri Lanka
Now, Gemstone is a big industry in Sri Lanka, But it doesn't mean all rough gems are of Sri Lanka origin. A lot of Sri Lankan men fly to Africa(Espicially Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya etc.) to purchase rough sapphire, tsavorite, ruby etc., and bring back to Sri Lanka to treat(heat, cut, polish in Beruwala or Ratnapura). Then faceted gems will be sold in Beruwala's ChinaFort marketplace to international merchants(wholesale buyers), or sold in Colombo's jewelry stores to tourist. The following image is mining fields in Sri Lanka from Wikipedia.
Contact Me to Buy Loose Sapphires
Back to the Top ↑