Buying sapphires without getting scammed?
I want to buy a small Ceylon sapphire for my wife. How do I know I am not buying colored glass in Ratnapura or Galle?
4 Answers from travellers
Only buy from shops that hold a valid license from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka (NGJA). Ask for an official certificate of authenticity with the stone. Never buy gems from a random person offering you a "deal" on the street or the beach.
Tuk-tuk drivers often offer to take you to their "uncle's gem mine." It is a scam where you pay inflated prices for low-quality stones because the driver gets a 50% commission.
If you are spending significant money, you can take the stone to the NGJA office in Colombo or Ratnapura to get it independently verified before you leave the country.
Good to know about the NGJA certificate. I will strictly look for registered jewelers and ignore the street touts.
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