Purple Star Sapphire: World’s most valuable gemstone discovered in Sri Lanka

The magic of asterism: why this gemstone is special

The name star sapphires comes from a rare optical effect known as asterism. Due to microscopic inclusions of the mineral rutile, a clear six-rayed star appears on the surface of the gemstone when illuminated.

"This is the largest purple star sapphire of its kind. It shows a well–defined asterism. It has six rays asterism. That's something special out of all the other stones," explains gemology consultant Ashan Amarasinghe.

In a perfect sapphire, the star must be perfectly centered. In the 'Purple Star Sapphire', this alignment is nearly flawless, making it not just a jewelry piece but a scientific phenomenon.

Price tag: more expensive than the world’s most famous diamonds

Although the exact value of the 'Purple Star Sapphire' is still under discussion, preliminary estimates from international laboratories are staggering. Mr. Amarasinghe believes the market price of the gemstone could start at $300–400 million.

For comparison, legendary diamonds previously considered benchmarks of luxury are worth far less:

• Oppenheimer Blue (14.62 carats) – sold for $57.5 million

• Pink Star Williamson (11.15 carats) – sold for $57.7 million

If the $300 million estimate is confirmed, this sapphire will leave its competitors far behind, becoming a priceless example of global heritage.

Star sapphire (photo: Getty Images)

The secret behind the discovery: two years waiting for a wonder

The story of this gemstone’s discovery reads like a movie script. It was first found in 2023 near the city of Ratnapura. The team of owners, who chose to remain anonymous for security reasons, purchased it along with a batch of other raw materials.

For two whole years, no one suspected they were holding a world record. Only after careful cleaning and analysis did the owners realize they had a treasure in their hands. The stone then underwent certification in two independent laboratories, which confirmed its uniqueness.

Laboratory revolution: is the 'Star' at risk?

While the world hunts for natural masterpieces formed under millions of years of pressure in the Earth’s crust, science is offering an alternative. Researchers have already learned to grow gemstones in vacuum chambers.

How lab-grown gemstones are created:

• A tiny crystal seed is placed in a chamber

• A gas mixture of methane and hydrogen is heated to 3,000 degrees, forming plasma

• Carbon atoms settle on the seed, replicating the natural structure

However, experts stress that no laboratory can reproduce the rich history and unique natural imperfections that make finds like the 'Purple Star Sapphire' truly priceless.

Earlier, we wrote about what the world’s rarest gemstone looks like.