They found the largest star sapphire discovered to date: it weighs half a ton and can be worth $ 1 billion

The authorities of Sri Lanka, the island nation south of the India, known as the “City of jewels” confirmed the discovery of the largest sapphire ever seen. The stone, which accumulates a large number of star sapphire beads, weighs 510 kilograms and 100 centimeters long, 72 wide and 50 centimeters high.

Although this is a discovery that occurred eight months ago, the news was made public on Tuesday since it had been decided to keep it secret since then.

The discovery is due to chance, because it occurred while they dug a well in a private domain in the district of Ratnapura, in the south of the island country. According to Sri Lankan laws, this precious stone will belong to the property owner, whose name is not made public, but the Gems and Jewelry Authority ordered to transfer it in a Bank of Ceylon safe in Colombo, where they will keep her under armed surveillance, according to the local network News First.

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Although a preliminary examination established the value of this giant gem of at least $ 200 million, the president of the said government agency believes that its price could increase up to 1,000 million. Last year, the country’s income from the sale of gems, diamonds and jewelry was about half of that estimate.

According to local media, several consultations with potential buyers are already underway. Some experts point out that although the specimen has a high carat value (2.5 million carats), it is possible that not all stones in the cluster are high quality.

This record-breaking sapphire was baptized under the name of ‘Serendipity‘, since in modern English this word means’ luck’. However, the origins of this term can be traced back to the ancient Arabic name for the island of Ceylon itself: Serendib.

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Due to the unusual role that you are gemstones play on the budget and international perception of Sri Lanka, the website of its Gems and Jewelry Authority proclaims the country as the “sapphire capital of the world”.

Adam’s star

The ancient largest star sapphire in the world –Adam’s star-, which weighs 280 kilograms, was discovered in a mine in Ratnapura in August 2015 and is owned by an anonymous buyer.

Star sapphires get their name from the star-shaped reflection that appears after the stone is polished.