Remarkable Enchantment of the Blue Sapphire Singer in Serendip Town
Sri Lanka, historically known as Taprobane, Jazirat Kakut, Ratna Deepa, and Serendip, has a rich history of producing fine-quality blue sapphires. This island nation, which means 'Island of Gems' in Arabic and Singhalese, has been a source of gemstones since at least 543 BCE, as mentioned in the Mahavamsa, the Great Chronicle of Ceylon.
Recently, a remarkable piece of jewellery, the Siren of Serendip sapphire necklace, was unveiled at the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Texas, USA. This exquisite piece was made possible by a generous group of anonymous donors.
The Siren of Serendip sapphire, weighing 422.66 carats, is the centerpiece of the necklace. This stunning blue sapphire was considered among the five best-quality giant sapphires by renowned sapphire expert Richard Hughes of Lotus Gemology. The sapphire was cut from a 2,670 carat rough found in Sri Lanka in the early 20th century.
The chosen design for the necklace is an 18kt white gold and diamond piece. The final sapphire setting phase was done in a metal that would blend with the finished, white metallic lustre of white gold. A total of 913 colorless diamonds with a total weight of 36.3 carats were selected and set on the necklace and the mount.
The Siren of Serendip sapphire necklace was designed by Ingo Henn of Henn of London. Master jeweller Ingo Henn was commissioned to create a jewellery design for the sapphire in April 2018. The gold structure of the necklace was handmade for posterior rhodium-plating, and the sapphire's claws were made in platinum.
The necklace was carefully wrapped in protective tape and taken to Houston for the final sapphire setting. It was finished in late February 2019 and unveiled at the Brown Gallery in the Houston Museum of Natural Science on 3 March. The Siren of Serendip sapphire was dubbed 'The Siren of Serendip' by the Houston Museum, in honor of the historical Persian name of Sri Lanka and its beautiful color.
Besides the Siren of Serendip, other large blue sapphires from Sri Lanka include the Star of Adam, the Logan Sapphire, and the Blue Giant of the Orient. The Star of Adam is the largest known blue star sapphire in the world, discovered in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. The Logan Sapphire is a 422.99-carat blue sapphire also from Sri Lanka, notable for being the second-largest known blue sapphire and part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection. The Blue Giant of the Orient is another huge Sri Lankan sapphire, known to be the largest known blue sapphire, though it reportedly changed hands privately after an unsuccessful auction in 2004.
Sri Lanka produces many other famous sapphires historically prized by royalty, such as the Stuart Sapphire and St. Edward's Sapphire, although their exact weights vary and they are part of British royal regalia. These sapphires, like the Siren of Serendip, are known for their exceptional size, vivid color, and provenance from Sri Lanka’s famed gem-producing region of Ratnapura.
The Siren of Serendip sapphire necklace is now on permanent display at the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a testament to Sri Lanka's rich history of producing some of the world's most stunning blue sapphires.
- The Siren of Serendip sapphire, one of the finest quality giant sapphires, was cut from a rough found in Sri Lanka.
- The sapphire was considered among the best by Richard Hughes of Lotus Gemology, a renowned sapphire expert.
- The Siren of Serendip sapphire necklace, designed by Ingo Henn of Henn of London, features 913 colorless diamonds and is made of 18kt white gold.
- The necklace, including the Siren of Serendip sapphire, is now on permanent display at the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals in the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
- Sri Lanka, historically known as Serendip, is famous for producing many large blue sapphires, such as the Star of Adam, the Logan Sapphire, and the Blue Giant of the Orient.
- The Siren of Serendip sapphire necklace, with its exquisite design and historical connection to Sri Lanka, exemplifies the nation's rich history in gemmology, fashion-and-beauty, and lifestyle events.
