Ceylon Gems & Jewelry — Source Sapphires, Rubies & Silver from Sri Lanka

Industry Guide

Source Ceylon Gems & Jewelry
— Sapphires, Rubies & Fine Silver

Sri Lanka is “The Gem Island” — world-famous for Ceylon sapphires, rubies, cat’s eyes, alexandrite, and moonstone. Source certified loose gemstones and handcrafted silver jewelry directly from EDB-verified gem exporters.

$400M+ gem exports/year Exports to 50+ countries Custom orders welcome EDB-Verified Suppliers
Ready to Source

Key Gems & Jewelry Products

Certified loose gemstones, set jewelry, and handcrafted silver from Sri Lanka’s gem capital

Ceylon Blue Sapphire
Sapphire

Ceylon Blue Sapphire

From $80/carat

GIA/GRS certified available

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Ceylon Moonstone
Moonstone

Ceylon Moonstone

From $15/carat

Calibrated sizes available · Bulk lots

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925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
Silver Jewelry

925 Sterling Silver Jewelry

From $8.50/piece

MOQ: 50 pcs · Custom designs

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Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl
Cat’s Eye

Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl

From $120/carat

Natural, no treatment · Certified

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Why Source Ceylon Gems?

Sri Lanka has been synonymous with fine gemstones for over 2,000 years — Marco Polo described it as having “the best sapphires, topazes, amethysts and other gems.” Today, Sri Lanka is consistently ranked among the world’s top five gem-producing nations, with the Ratnapura district (literally “City of Gems”) as the global center for Ceylon sapphire mining and trading.

Ceylon sapphires are particularly prized for their characteristic “velvet blue” color, excellent clarity, and strong market demand from luxury jewelry brands globally. Sri Lanka also produces world-class rubies, alexandrites, padparadscha sapphires (highly rare pink-orange variety), cat’s eyes, spessartite garnets, and the internationally famous “Ceylon moonstone” (adularescent orthoclase).

Gemstone Varieties from Sri Lanka

  • Ceylon Sapphire: Blue, pink, yellow, padparadscha — the crown jewel of Sri Lankan gems
  • Ruby: Pinkish-red, transparent — Burma-quality rubies found in Sri Lanka
  • Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl: Chatoyant “milk and honey” effect — world’s finest from Sri Lanka
  • Alexandrite: Color-change chrysoberyl — extremely rare, Sri Lanka is top source
  • Moonstone: Adularescent orthoclase — “Ceylon moonstone” is a specific market category
  • Spessartite Garnet: Vivid orange — collector grade
  • Zircon: High-dispersion colorless and blue — traditional diamond alternative

Jewelry Manufacturing

Beyond loose gems, Sri Lanka has a well-developed fine jewelry manufacturing industry in Colombo and Kandy. Sterling silver (925), gold-plated, and gemstone-set pieces can be produced to custom designs with competitive MOQs.

Industry at a Glance

Annual Export Value$400M+
Gem Mining Locations80+ districts
Export Destinations50+ Countries
Top MarketsUS, Japan, EU, UAE
National Gem AuthorityNGJA Certified
Silver Jewelry MOQFrom 50 pcs

Certification Options

NGJA Certificate✓ Sri Lanka Official
GIA Grading Report✓ Available
GRS Certificate✓ Available
AGL Certificate✓ Available
No-heat Treatment Report✓ On request
Import Guidance

Importing Ceylon Gems & Jewelry — What Buyers Need to Know

Documentation, valuation, and regulatory requirements for gem and jewelry importers

Required Documents

Sri Lanka National Gem & Jewellery Authority (NGJA) export permit required for loose gems. Commercial Invoice with per-carat valuation, Certificate of Origin, and lab certification report (GIA, GRS, NGJA) when selling for retail. HTS code declaration required for US Customs.

Valuation & Duty

Gemstone import duties vary significantly by country and HTS code (rough vs. cut vs. set). US: most loose gemstones enter duty-free under HTS 7103. EU: cut gemstones 0–3.5% depending on type. Jewelry: 6.5–7% in EU, 6.5% in US. Declare full invoice value — customs under-declaration carries heavy penalties.

Sourcing Best Practices

Always request a lab report from an internationally recognized lab (GIA, GRS, AGL) for stones over $500/carat. For bulk calibrated parcels, request a sample lot first. Verify NGJA export permit number. Consider Escrow payment for first-time large transactions with new suppliers.

Verified Suppliers

Featured Gems & Jewelry Exporters

NGJA-licensed and EDB-registered Sri Lankan gem exporters

Lanka Gems Ltd.

Loose Sapphires & Gemstones · Est. 2001 · Ratnapura

EDB Verified NGJA Licensed

Blue & pink sapphires, moonstone, cat’s eye · GIA/GRS reports available · Retailer & trade wholesale

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Ceylon Silver Studio

925 Silver & Gemstone Jewelry · Est. 2008 · Colombo

EDB Verified ISO 9001

Custom jewelry manufacturing · OEM/ODM · 50 pcs MOQ · Gold-plated available · Private label

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Ratnapura Gem House

Wholesale Gem Parcels · Est. 1978 · Ratnapura

EDB Verified NGJA Licensed

Calibrated gem parcels · Mixed lots · Ruby, alexandrite, spessartite · Trade wholesale pricing

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Ready to Source Ceylon Gems & Jewelry?

Connect with NGJA-licensed and EDB-verified gem exporters. Ceylon sapphires, rubies, moonstones, and fine silver jewelry — certified, authenticated, direct from source.