'Queen of Asia’ that could fetch over US $ 100 million to go on sale next month
The owner and gem researcher Chamila Suranga hopes the buyer will be a museum or private collector
Gem researcher Chamila Suranga who is in possession of what is believed to be the largest blue sapphire cluster in the world, hopes to put it up for sale next month.
He said, he hoped the buyer would be a museum or a private gem collector so that its value remains as it a rare find.
Mr Suranga who is the President of the Gemological Institute of Ratnapura told the Sunday Times that he hopes this find will give more recognition for gem miners. He also said it was important that a proper mechanism was in place to help labourers who work in the mines too gain from the trade
He said although the labour force contributes to bringing in foreign revenue to the country many of them lived in poverty.
He said he had published a book and distributed it among the gem miners to make them more aware of the trade.
Mr Chamila who is from Horana believes the gem cluster in his possession named the‘ Queen of Asia’ could fetch over US $ 100 million and offers were already coming in.
Meanwhile the National Gem and Jewellery Authority has issued a certification that the gem cluster weighs around 310 kilograms.
Explaining the process, a spokesperson said gemmologists took five
samples from the whole rock and several tests were carried out. The tests showed that all five samples were part of a natural corundum.
“To our knowledge this specimen is rare and has not been recorded in gemological literatureso far," the spokesperson said.