A colossal purple sapphire, proclaimed the largest of its kind ever documented, has been presented to the world in a glittering unveiling that has sent shockwaves through the global gem trade. The extraordinary stone, with an estimated value starting at a staggering £224 million ($300 million), was revealed in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The 'Star of Pure Land': A Gem of Unprecedented Scale
Dubbed the 'Star of Pure Land', the gem is a natural purple star sapphire weighing an almost unbelievable 3,563 carats. Its round shape and polished surface showcase a phenomenon known as asterism, where a star-like pattern with six distinct rays appears when light hits the stone. Leading gemologist Ashan Amarasinghe, who verified the sapphire, confirmed its record-breaking status. "This is the largest purple star sapphire of its kind," he stated, emphasising the rarity of the six-rayed star effect.
The stone is owned by an anonymous consortium calling itself the Star of Pure Land Team, who have chosen to keep their identities secret for security reasons. One of the owners shared that the sapphire was originally purchased alongside other stones from a gem pit near Ratnapura – Sri Lanka's famed 'city of gems' – in 2023. Its true significance only became apparent around two years later, prompting the owners to seek official certification from two independent laboratories.
Valuation and Sri Lanka's Gem Heritage
International valuers have placed the sapphire's worth in a broad range between $300 million and $400 million (£224 million and £298 million), a figure that positions it among the most valuable gemstones ever presented. Sri Lanka has a world-renowned reputation for producing exceptional sapphires, celebrated for their vivid colours, clarity, and natural brilliance. The island's gem-mining heritage, centred on regions like Ratnapura, continues to yield extraordinary treasures for which global collectors and investors fiercely compete.
The unveiling of the Star of Pure Land is expected to attract intense interest from these wealthy connoisseurs, potentially leading to one of the most expensive single gemstone sales in recorded history.
A Year of Record-Breaking Gems
The emergence of this purple sapphire is part of a wider trend of spectacular gemstones capturing headlines and shattering auction records. Just last year, in 2025, a historic blue sapphire known as The Regent Kashmir achieved a record price per carat for a sapphire at auction, selling for £7 million ($9.5 million) at Christie's Hong Kong.
Furthermore, Guinness World Records recently certified two other phenomenal stones:
- The Black Star of Eva: The largest natural black star sapphire at over 3,621 carats.
- The Eye of Hope: An 854.95-carat green beryl cat's eye from Madagascar.
Together, these two stones are valued at more than £373 million ($500 million). The market for investment-grade coloured gemstones remains red-hot, with major auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's reporting fierce bidding on rare rubies, emeralds, and pink diamonds. This sustained demand underscores the enduring allure and financial clout of the world's rarest natural treasures.
