Lighting Matters | How to Check and Grade Gemstone Color Correctly Gemstone color is often treated as something obvious. A stone looks blue, red, or green, and the judgment seems complete. In reality, gemstone color is one of the most complex visual properties to evaluate, and lighting plays a decisive…
Sapphires
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Blue Gemstones Explained: Sri Lankan Varieties Guide Expert
Blue Gemstones Names Explained: Sri Lankan Varieties You Should Know Sri Lanka has supplied the global gem trade with exceptional blue stones for over two thousand years, yet much of what circulates online today reduces this legacy to surface-level lists and oversimplified buying advice. At Pretty Facets, the goal is…
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Explore Gem Markets in Sri Lanka: Buyer’s Complete Guide
Gem markets in Sri Lanka: Practical guide for buyers Sri Lanka’s gem markets in Sri Lanka are where miners, traders and lapidaries meet and where you can still buy raw material at source if you know what to look for. This first half of the guide focuses on the markets…
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Padmaraga Padparadscha Sapphire Guide | Pretty Facets
Padmaraga and Padparadscha Sapphire: The Lotus Colored Pink Orange Gemstone Padparadscha sapphire is one of the most unusual colors in the sapphire family. It sits right between pink and orange, with a soft glow that reminds many people of a lotus flower or a calm sunset. In Sri Lanka this…
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Gem Labs in Sri Lanka: Trusted Guide for Sapphire Buyers
Gem Labs in Sri Lanka: A Practical Guide to Buy Certified Sapphires Sri Lanka has been called the “Island of Gems” for centuries, but beautiful sapphires and spinels are only half of the story. The other half happens inside gem labs in Sri Lanka, where trained gemologists test each stone…
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Purple Sapphire Guide: Rarity, Meaning, Value and Care 2026
Purple Gemstones Guide: The Allure of the Purple Sapphire When people think of sapphires, they usually picture classic royal blue. Yet there is another shade that quietly steals the spotlight: purple sapphire. This rare color mix of blue and red tones gives the stone a luxurious, almost mystical glow that…
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The Royal Blue Sapphire: From Sri Lanka to the Royal Ring
The Royal Blue Sapphire: From Sri Lanka to the Royal Ring The story of the Blue Sapphire that reshaped royal tradition begins in Sri Lanka, a land celebrated for producing some of the world’s most radiant gemstones. When Lady Diana Spencer selected this ring in 1981, she chose it for…
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Sri Lanka Gems – Discover Island of Gems with Pretty Facets
Sri Lanka has long been celebrated as a paradise for gemstone lovers, earning its name “The Island of Gems.” From the lush valleys of Ratnapura to the mountain regions of Balangoda. The land holds treasures that have fascinated kings, collectors, and modern jewelers alike. At Pretty Facets, we explore the…
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Spinel vs Ruby – Difference, Meaning & Value Comparison
Spinel vs Ruby: Understanding the Real Difference Between These Red Treasures The debate around spinel vs ruby has fascinated gem enthusiasts for centuries. Both stones glow with vivid red hues that capture attention instantly, yet they differ in origin, chemistry, and price. For collectors and buyers, understanding the true difference…
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Alexandrite Gemstone: Meaning, Price & Color-Change Beauty
Alexandrite Gemstone: The Rare Color-Changing Treasure of Nature The alexandrite gemstone is one of the most fascinating natural wonders in the world of gems. Known for its extraordinary ability to change color under different lighting, this stone captures the mystery of nature in a single crystal. Often described by the…