brand logo

$ 150 million offer for ‘Queen of Asia’

24 Jan 2022

  • Offer made by a Malaysian auction company 
  • Will arrive in the country in two weeks
  • ‘Serendipity Sapphire’ to be auctioned at Christie’s in London 
    By Shenal Fernando A Malaysian-based auction company has offered $ 150 million for “Queen of Asia”, which is the world’s largest single natural corundum occurring as a single crystal (blue sapphire), stated State Minister of Gem and Jewellery-Related Industries Lohan Ratwatte.  Speaking to The Morning Business yesterday (23), the State Minister disclosed that while the identity of the ultimate buyer is currently unknown, a Malaysian-based auction company has offered $ 150 million for the “Queen of Asia” sapphire.  Explaining further, he stated: “The auctioneers and the expected buyer will come to the country within two weeks’ time and make their offer.”  With a weight of around 310 kg (1.5 million carats), the sapphire is named “Queen of Asia” and was found in the Balangoda area. It is currently located in Horana and was displayed to the media for the first time on 12 December 2021.  At the time, the owner of the gemstone, gem researcher Chamila Suranga, who is also the Founder of the Gemmological Institute of Ratnapura, said they expected to offer this gemstone to an international buyer for the highest price. He noted that this gemstone should be displayed in a museum for future generations.  This is the second such large gemstone found in Sri Lanka in the recent past. Previously, the world’s largest star sapphire cluster was also found in Sri Lanka by workmen digging a well in a gem trader’s house in Kahawatta, Ratnapura.  With a weight of around 510 kg (2.6 million carats) this large star sapphire cluster was coined the “Serendipity Sapphire” and has been valued at around $ 100 million by experts.  According to Ratwatte, the “Serendipity Sapphire” is currently in the Gübelin Gem Lab in Switzerland and was certified as the largest sapphire cluster in the world, and now, the Guinness Book of World Records has also agreed with this claim.  He further stated that they are hoping to sell the gem at Christie’s, a renowned auction house in London.  Speaking to The Morning Business yesterday, Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI) Chairman Thilak Weerasinghe stated: “The Guinness Book of World Records had investigated the veracity of the claim over the past two to three months and certified that this is the largest star sapphire cluster ever found in the world.” The official announcement of this record will be made on 31 January 2022, following the handover of the respective documents by two officials  from the Guinness Book of World Records, who are expected to arrive in the island on the date. 


More News..