How do you avoid gem scams in Sri Lanka?

To avoid gem scams, only purchase from air-conditioned showrooms showing a valid NGJA licence, and reject unsolicited “tips” from drivers or guides. Also insist on an independent gemmological certificate before any payment, no exceptions. Haste and greed are usually the main causes behind tourists getting pulled into these schemes.

Never buy loose stones on the street, at the beach, or around tourist landmarks, because in most cases they are synthetic glass or cheap quartz masquerading as something else. If a “bargain” feels incredibly low for a high-quality sapphire, it is almost certainly a scam. Legitimate dealers know the true worldwide market price of their merchandise, and they will not sell a valuable stone for pennies on the dollar just because they “like you”.