A mud-covered rock found in backyard—turned out to be $100 million gem

When a Sri Lankan homeowner stumbled upon a muddy rock in his backyard in 2021, he had no idea he was about to uncover one of the most extraordinary gemstones ever found. What first looked like a lump of earth turned out, after a year of painstaking cleaning, to be the largest star sapphire ever discovered—a natural treasure now valued at up to $100 million.

A once-in-a-lifetime find

The find took place in Ratnapura, a district in southern Sri Lanka often called the City of Gems. This region has long been famous for its rich deposits of precious stones, but even here, nothing like this had ever been seen.

The sapphire was first sent to a third-generation gem trader, who began the delicate process of cleaning and verifying its authenticity. As he carefully removed layers of dirt and sediment, he noticed smaller stones breaking away from the main mass. To his surprise, each one was a high-quality star sapphire in its own right—a sign that the find was something truly exceptional.

The numbers behind the gem

Experts later confirmed that the main stone weighs an astonishing 2.5 million carats, or roughly 1,120 pounds (510 kilograms). Measuring nearly 3.3 feet long, 2.3 feet wide, and 1.6 feet tall, the sapphire has shattered all known records.

Initial estimates placed its value around $100 million. Gemologists believe the sapphire formed roughly 400 million years ago, a testament to the earth’s ancient natural artistry.

A gem named “Serendipity”

The stone has been named “Serendipity,” a nod to the old name for Sri Lanka—Serendib—and to the English word meaning “a fortunate discovery made by accident.” The name perfectly captures the story: a chance encounter that revealed something priceless hidden in plain sight.

As Dr. Gamini Zoysa, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected gemologists, told the BBC, “I have never seen such a large specimen before.”

Today, “Serendipity” stands as not only a geological marvel but also a powerful reminder that sometimes, the world’s greatest treasures are found where you least expect them.

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