Sri Lanka Gems & Jewellery

Gems & Jewellery and Diamond Products

Introduction

Sri Lanka , the ‘Paradise Island’ of the Indian Ocean is blessed with a range of geo-physical zones, rich precious mineral deposits and an intelligent and educated workforce.

Coloured gemstones mined in Sri Lanka vary from precious gemstones - to semi precious gemstones.

The “Blue Sapphire” has been declared as the “National Stone of Sri Lanka”.

Products

CORUNDUM - Blue, Yellow, Pink, White, Orange & Golden sapphires, star sapphires, rubies, star rubies, padparadcha.

CHRYSOBERYL - Cat’s eye, alexandrite, alenandrite cat’s eye, chrysoberyl

SPINEL - Blue spinel, red spinel, purple spinel

TOPAZ - White topaz (which can be treated to make London Blue)

ZIRCON - Green zircon, yellow zircon, brown zircon, colourless zircon (Matara diamond)

GARNET - Rhodolite, hessonite, pyrope, almandine

BERYL - Aquamarine, heliodor

QUARTZ - Smoky quartz, white quartz, amethyst, quartz cat’s eye

TOURMALINE - Brown tourmaline, yellow tourmaline (green tourmaline, blue tourmaline)

FELDSPAR - Moonstone

Rare stones - Andalusite, kornerupine and a variety of agstes, sinhalite, lolite, indicolite, fibrolite, taaffelte, ekanite, star spinel

Availability of young talented jewellery designers, modern manufacturing facilities and well trained jewellery manufacturers.

Design development in all aspects is a continuous process in the Sri Lankan Jewellery Industry today and specialists conduct annual workshops and training sessions in order to improve and enhance the quality of jewellery.

The prestigious Sri Lanka Jewellery Design Award (organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board) affords professionals as well as young talented amateurs the opportunity to enter the international jewellery market.

The Government policy on the jewellery industry is sound & encouraging. A liberalized policy has been introduced on the import of raw materials, consumables, machinery and tools. Importing of rough gemstones is free of duty in order to encourage more rough stones to come into Sri Lanka for the lapidary industry.

A Gem and Jewellery Exchange offers potential jewellery buyers a wide range of services under one roof, including trading, a gem testing laboratory, gem certification, export services, freight and forwarding facilities, banking and insurance facilities, assaying & hallmarking facilities.

An Import Export Gem Office at the Cargo Village at the International Airport in Katunayake expedites the clearance of rough gemstones and export of cut & polished gems, jewellery and diamonds.

Sri Lanka’s membership of the ATA Carnet makes it easier to transfer jewellery to countries which are its members and allows dealers from member countries to bring samples and attend trade exhibitions.

Gems

Free size and investment gemstones

Calibrated gemstones

Rare gemstones

Gem cutting services

Jewellery

Both men’s and women’s jewellery are available. The selection includes tie pins, tie clips, cuff links, earrings, rings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces and brooches.

Jewellery are manufactured in 9 K, 14 K, 18 K gold, Platinum Sterling Silver or combination of 2 or more metals.

Supply Base

Abundance of gemstones mined in Sri Lanka or imported freely into the country.

Solitaire free size investment stones to calibrated gemstones available.

Trained and skilled cutters equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Quality Standards

Availability of gem testing and certificating facilities.

Availability of assaying and hallmarking facilities.

Certification for Export

For export & import procedures related to gem & jewellery

Related Institutions/Associations

• National Gem & Jewellery Authority
• Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association
• Sri Lanka Diamond Manufacturers Association
• The Gem & Jewellery Dealers Association of Gem & Jewellery Exchange
• Gem Industry, Trade Exports & Services Association
• Sri Lanka Gem Mining & Gem Dealers Association
• Sri Lanka Jewellery Association
• Gemmologists Association of Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Diamond Manufacturers Association

Ceylon Sapphire Branding

Strategic initiatives are being taken to reposition the industry to cater to the high end of the Jewellery market.

The Ceylon Sapphire Brand Strategy has been designed to use Ceylon Sapphire and its worldwide reputation as a tool to move into the production for more high end sales with corresponding higher value addition. The main objective of this strategy is to develop the image of Sri Lanka as the foremost production center for Sapphire jewellery in terms of design, product quality and service, targeting the high end of the market. The branded line of Sapphire jewellery is designed by a world renowned jewellery designer and manufactured in Sri Lanka.

Diamond Cutting and Polishing

Skilled labour at competitive rates combined with a global reputation as a country with a friendly and forward looking investment climate has created an attractive base for cutting and polishing diamonds in Sri Lanka.

The country’s highly literate and trainable work force is the engine of its success as a cutting centre. Adaptability to new technology has helped the industry produce polished diamonds with a high quality make that is increasingly recognized internationally.

Sri Lanka’s specialty is small diamonds of exceptionally high quality, which are imported sawn or cleaved rough. In addition to the traditional brilliant cut, many cutting companies handle other specialized shapes and cuts, particularly tapers, baguettes and princes etc.

There are 14 large established factories and over 15 small workshops employing more than 5,000 workers.

The industry in Sri Lanka is highly organized and the factories are equipped with modern bruting machines and polished wheels mainly from Belgium, Israel and India.

Sri Lanka is a member of the International Diamond Manufacturing Association and a signatory to the Kimberly Process Agreement.