Gem Museum

Kandy is one of the best places to buy Sri Lankan gemstones because it is home to trusted gem museums, certified dealers, and skilled gem artisans. The city's proximity to Sri Lanka's major gem mining areas, such as Ratnapura and Balangoda, ensures a steady supply of high-quality stones.

Cairo's much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has finally opened after 20 years in the making – almost as long as it took to build the Great Pyramid of Giza. Was it worth the wait? The first visitors say so – the vast institution houses a collection of more than 100,000 artefacts.

A 3,563-carat purple star sapphire, believed to be the largest of its kind in the world, was unveiled on Saturday in Sri Lanka's capital by its owners, who have indicated they are willing to sell the gemstone, which is valued at no less than $300 million.

Sri Lanka only allows the export of cut and polished gemstones from the country. Consignments of gem and jewellery can only be exported through the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) located at No 25, Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 3.