World’s biggest sapphire remains unsold, bears more museum value

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The world’s largest corundum blue sapphire cluster, ‘Queen of Asia’ recently discovered in Sri Lanka, remains unsold and has been brought into the country, National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman Viraj de Silva said.  

He told the media that the sapphire cluster weighing over 500kg, which was found in the Ratnapura area in 2021, had got its approval and registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest star sapphire cluster after it was taken to Switzerland.  

But unfortunately, the team that had taken the sapphire cluster was unable to sell it, and it was brought back to Sri Lanka last week. The team said that they will take the sapphire cluster again once it strikes a better deal.  

According to the team, they had several discussions with a Dubai-based company which offered US$ 100 million for the sapphire cluster.  
The chairman said the blue sapphire cluster has more museum value than commercial value.