From the Gem Fields

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Buying Guides·May 20, 2026·10 min read

September Birthstone Alternatives Beyond Blue Sapphire

September's birthstone is sapphire, but sapphire is not only blue. Fancy sapphires in yellow, pink, violet, and green, parti-coloured sapphires that split between two hues, and rare non-corundum Sri Lankan stones all qualify. Here is how to pick the right one.

Buying Guides·May 17, 2026·10 min read

Ceylon Zircon: The Underrated Natural Gemstone

Ceylon zircon is a natural gemstone, completely different from synthetic cubic zirconia. Sri Lanka, especially Matara, has supplied colourless 'Matura diamond' zircon and bright blue zircon for centuries. Here is what Ceylon material is, what it costs, and how to buy it.

Buying Guides·May 15, 2026·8 min read

Sri Lankan Garnet: Hessonite, Rhodolite & Almandine

Sri Lankan garnet covers four serious varieties: honey-toned hessonite (gomed), raspberry rhodolite, deep almandine, and warm pyrope-almandine. Here is what Ceylon material is really worth and how to tell it apart from African production.

Buying Guides·May 11, 2026·10 min read

Sri Lankan Tourmaline: An Underrated Collector's Gem

Sri Lankan tourmaline runs across olive green, honey brown, golden yellow, and rare chrome and rubellite material, all at 70 to 90 percent below Ceylon sapphire pricing. Here is what is actually worth collecting from Ratnapura's pegmatite gravels.

Buying Guides·May 8, 2026·9 min read

Yellow Ceylon Sapphire: Meaning, Value & Buying Guide

Yellow Ceylon sapphire runs cleaner than any other yellow sapphire on earth, prices below blue Ceylon at every weight, and carries deep meaning in Vedic astrology as the pukhraj stone. Here is what to know.

Ethics & Sourcing·May 5, 2026·10 min read

Ethical Gemstone Certifications: Which Ones Matter?

Most ethical gemstone certifications were built for diamonds and large industrial mines, not Sri Lankan sapphires. Here is what each one actually covers, and what to ask a dealer when no scheme fits.

Ethics & Sourcing·May 3, 2026·10 min read

Why Sri Lankan Gem Cutters Are Still the Best in the World

Sri Lankan cutters work by eye, prioritise weight and colour over symmetry, and use slow hand-driven laps. Here is why their finished sapphires still beat any factory cut.

Care Guides·May 1, 2026·5 min read

Is a Ceylon Sapphire Hard Enough for Everyday Wear?

Ceylon sapphire sits at Mohs 9, second only to diamond. Yes, it is hard enough for daily wear. Here is what that actually means over decades on the hand.

Care Guides·April 28, 2026·6 min read

How to Clean a Sapphire Ring at Home (Safely)

Cleaning a Ceylon sapphire ring at home takes three minutes and a soft toothbrush. Here is the safe method, when ultrasonic cleaners are fine, and what to actually avoid.

Buying Guides·April 21, 2026·8 min read

Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl from Sri Lanka: A 2026 Buyer's Guide

Ceylon cat's eye chrysoberyl is the international benchmark for chatoyancy. Here is how the eye forms, what separates a top stone from a commercial one, and what Sri Lankan material is really worth.

Buying Guides·April 19, 2026·7 min read

Sri Lankan Moonstone Guide: The Original Rainbow Gem (2026)

Sri Lanka produces the world's finest moonstones. Here's what makes the blue sheen variety so rare, how adularescence forms, and what to evaluate before you buy.

Buying Guides·April 18, 2026·10 min read

Spinel vs Sapphire: The Misidentified Royal Gem

Spinel is a separate mineral from sapphire, but for centuries the two were confused in royal jewelry. Here is how to tell them apart, why spinel commands a fraction of sapphire's price, and why Sri Lankan red spinel is one of the most undervalued natural gemstones today.

Buying Guides·April 18, 2026·11 min read

Star Sapphire from Sri Lanka: How the Six-Rayed Star Forms

A Sri Lankan star sapphire shows a sharp six-rayed star because microscopic rutile silk inclusions align along three crystal axes. Here is how asterism forms, what separates a great Ceylon star from an average one, and why the Star of India still sits at the top of the category.

Buying Guides·April 11, 2026·12 min read

The Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring Buying Guide

Blue sapphire engagement rings balance romance, heritage, and genuine everyday durability. Here is how to pick the color, carat, cut, setting, and certification that will still look right decades from now.

Buying Guides·April 4, 2026·9 min read

How to Read a GIA Sapphire Certificate (With Examples)

A GIA sapphire report confirms what a stone is, how it has been treated, and in many cases where it came from. Here is a field-by-field walkthrough, plus the red flags to watch for when a report arrives with a stone.

Buying Guides·March 28, 2026·14 min read

Ceylon Sapphire Price Per Carat: A Realistic 2026 Guide

Ceylon sapphire prices span a wide range in 2026. Here is the realistic price per carat by size, treatment, and certification, plus the red flags that signal a stone is priced too low to be genuine.

Buying Guides·March 21, 2026·8 min read

Padparadscha Sapphire: The Rarest Sri Lankan Gem

The padparadscha is the rarest sapphire variety on earth, defined by a specific blend of pink and orange found almost exclusively in Sri Lanka. Here is what qualifies, what it costs, and what to watch for.

Ethics & Sourcing·March 14, 2026·9 min read

How Sri Lankan Gems Are Mined: Inside Ratnapura

Sri Lankan gems are mined by hand from shallow alluvial pits, washed in river water, and sorted by eye. Here is how the process works from the first dig to the dealer's table.

Buying Guides·March 7, 2026·10 min read

Unheated vs Heat-Treated Sapphire: Real Difference (2026)

Heat treatment is the single biggest price lever in the sapphire market. Here is exactly what it does to the stone, and when paying the unheated premium is worth it.

Ethics & Sourcing·February 28, 2026·8 min read

What 'Ethically Sourced' Means for Sri Lankan Sapphires

An ethically sourced Ceylon sapphire means a stone mined under Sri Lanka's regulated, small-scale model with full documentation. Here is what to verify and what is just marketing.

Buying Guides·February 21, 2026·8 min read

Ceylon vs Kashmir vs Burmese Sapphire: Which Is Right?

For most buyers, Ceylon sapphires offer the best combination of color, documentation, ethics, and value. Here is how they compare to Kashmir and Burmese material.

Buying Guides·February 14, 2026·8 min read

How to Tell if a Ceylon Sapphire Is Real (2026)

Visual checks can point you in the right direction, but the only reliable proof that a sapphire is from Ceylon is a laboratory report. Here is what to look for before you spend.

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