Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday, 21 January 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Star of Pure Land, a GIA-certified natural purple star sapphire
The Star of Pure Land, a GIA-certified natural purple star sapphire and the world’s largest documented specimen of its kind, was formally introduced on Sunday into the global scientific and cultural record at a dedicated briefing held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Weighing 3,536 carats, the Star of Pure Land has been independently examined and verified in accordance with internationally recognized gemological standards. Certification by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) confirms its authenticity, natural and unheated formation, and rare optical characteristics. Its classification and Sri Lankan (Ceylon) origin have been independently documented by the Lanka Gemological Laboratory (LGL).
From a scientific perspective, the Star of Pure Land is distinguished by a well-defined six- ray asterism of exceptional clarity and symmetry, including a rare girdle-to-girdle expression of the star phenomenon — a characteristic seldom observed at museum scale.
It also holds one of the most valuable and technically challenging forms in the world of corundum: a perfectly executed round cabochon cut of extraordinary size, making it the largest known round-cut natural purple star sapphire ever recorded. Specialists emphasized that the convergence of colour rarity, optical precision, and scale seen in this specimen is extraordinarily uncommon within documented gemological records.
The introduction marked the first public recognition of the gemstone within a structured framework bringing together independent scientific verification, geological context, and long-term cultural perspective. Speakers noted that the occasion represented a moment of recognition rather than conclusion, reflecting the responsibility that accompanies objects of exceptional natural significance.
The event brought together members of the local and international media, scientific observers, and cultural representatives, with participation both in person and online. Comprehensive scientific documentation relating to the Star of Pure Land is maintained as part of the permanent record and is available for institutional and professional review under appropriate protocols.
