
A huge parcel of pink and padparaja sapphires. Despite the
poor storage mean, this lot was sold at an enormous price. Priceless
indeed. |

Jungle outside Ratnapura. Gem pits are present all
over. |

The Ratnapura river or "Kaluganga". |

Gem mining operation. You can see many sort of small
mining operations around town... |

Cutter pre-forming a sapphire. She is an exceptionally
skilled lapidary. The emerald cut sapphires we bought (a blue, a white
and a tri-color) were cut by her. |

Another skilled and beautiful as well lapidary
working for our friend. |

Miners at an auction. Parcels of rough are viewed by
the members, then everyone interested will place a silent bid and place it
in the glass belonging to that particular parcel. The highest bid win the
lot. |

A final check of the rough before placing the bid. |