Highlights
- Sri Lanka's blue sapphires are prized around the world
- Famous stones from the island have made it a byword for sapphires
- Look for sapphires, star sapphires, cat's eyes and rubies
Overview
Sri Lanka has been known for gems for over two thousand years, and Kandy has many gem shops and jewellers. A visit is interesting even if you do not plan to buy, and many shops show how stones are cut and polished.
What you see
The island is best known for blue sapphires, but you will also see pink, yellow and padparadscha sapphires, star sapphires, cat's eyes, rubies, star rubies, alexandrite, garnets, moonstones and other semi-precious stones. Most of the island's gems come from river gravels around Ratnapura. Larger showrooms often have a small display or video on mining, and a workshop where you can watch cutters at work.
How long it takes
About an hour for a showroom visit.
Buying tips
- Buy from established shops, and ask for a certificate from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, which can test stones.
- Be wary of anyone on the street offering a "special deal" or a tour to a shop; guides often earn commission.
- Compare prices across several shops before you commit.
- Ask whether a stone is heated or treated; it affects value.
- Keep receipts for customs on your way home.
When to go
Any day, during normal shop hours. Mornings are quieter. Shops near the Temple of the Tooth and the lake are busiest around festival times.
Getting there
Gem shops are spread around Kandy town and on the roads out towards Peradeniya and Katugastota.
Fit a visit into a Kandy city tour or a stop at the Temple of the Tooth. See things to do in Kandy and Kandy hotels.
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