History of Ceylon Gems and Jewelry

Precambrian Age: Period starts with the birth of Earth and the gradual appearance of many-celled animals, about 570 million years ago. Nine-tenths of the island of Sri Lanka is underlain by rocks of Precambrian age. The Precambrian crystalline rocks of Sri Lanka are divided into three major units: the Highland group, the Southwestern group, and the Vijayan Complex.

1st Century AD: The historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, the Mahavamsa, records that gemstones were among the gifts of Sri Lanka's king, Devanampiyatissa, to Emperor Ashoka of India. The Mahavansa also records that the Buddha visited Sri Lanka to settle a dispute between the Naga King Mahodara and Prince Chulodara over a throne studded with gemstones.


5th Century AD: The Buddhist monk, Fa-Hien, reports on the mineral abundance of the land when he visits Sri Lanka.

13th Century AD: The Venetian traveler, Marco Polo, reaches the shores of Sri Lanka. He writes: "The island produces more beautiful and valuable rubies than are found in any other part of the world. Likewise sapphires, topazes, amethysts, garnets, and many other precious and costly stones. The king is supposed to possess one of the grandest rubies that ever was seen, being a span in length and the thickness of a man's arm, brilliant beyond description, and without a single flaw."

14th Century AD: Visit of Iban Batuta, the Arab traveler from Tangier. He notes that, "Gems are met with in all localities in the island of Sri Lanka. All the women of Serendib possess necklaces of precious stones of diverse colors, they wear them also at their hands and feet, in the forms of bracelets and anklets. I have seen on the forehead of the white elephant several of these precious stones, each of which was larger than a hen's egg."

17th Century AD: Robert Knox, a sailor in the service of the East Indian Company, was captured by the King of Kandy in 1660 and held captive for many years before being released. He wrote: "In this island are several sorts of precious stones, which the King for his part has enough of, and so care th not to have more discoveries made. Also there are certain rivers out of which it is generally reported that they do take rubies and sapphires and cat's eyes for the King's use. And I have seen several pretty colored stones, some as big as cherry stones and some as buttons, and transparent, but understood not what they were. Rubies and sapphires I myself have seen."