Sri Lanka, Jan. 19 -- The "Star of Pure Land", recognized as the world's largest natural purple star sapphire, was officially unveiled at a media conference in Colombo on last Saturday (17) Weighing 3,536 carats, the gem is valued at an estimated US$300-400 million.

Certified as a naturally occurring, unheated, and rare gem by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the sapphire's Sri Lankan origin has also been confirmed by the Sri Lanka Gemological Laboratory (LGL).Geographic Reference

Featuring a clear and symmetrical six-ray asterism, the gem is cut in the round cabochon style, making it the largest natural purple star sapphire in the world with this cut. Discovered in the Ratnapura region, the gem was formed through geological ...