斯里蘭卡發現世界最大星光藍寶石 估價1億美元

Gemologists in Sri Lanka claim that the largest blue star sapphire yet has been discovered in a mine in the country.

近日，斯里蘭卡寶石學家聲稱，在該國的礦山中發現了迄今爲止最大的藍星寶石。

The gemology institute in the capital Colombo has certified that the gem weighs 1404.49 carats and say they have not certified anything larger. The gem is valued at at least $100m and the current owner estimates that it could sell for up to $175m at auction.

斯里蘭卡首都科倫坡的寶石學會已認證該寶石重達1404.49克拉，是迄今爲止所認證的最大寶石。該藍星寶石價值至少達1億美元，目前該寶石的持有者預計拍賣價將會達到1.75億美元。

Sri Lanka's gem industry, for which sapphire is the main export, is worth at least 70m pounds ($103m) annually.

斯里蘭卡的藍寶石產業是其主要出口支柱產業，每年至少爲這個國家貢獻7000萬英鎊（合1.03億美元）的收入。

Blue star sapphires are so named because of the distinctive mark found at their centre. "The moment I saw it, I decided to buy," the current owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme.

藍星寶石，因寶石中心處帶有獨特的星星標誌而得名。“我看到它的那一刻就決定買下它，”目前不希望公佈姓名的該寶石持有者向BBC新聞頻道透露。

"When the stone was brought to me I suspected that it might be the world's largest blue star sapphire. So I took a risk and bought it."

“當看到這塊寶石時，我覺得它有可能是世界上最大的藍星寶石。所以，我就冒險買下了它。”

The owner said it was "absolutely confidential" how much he paid for it. The previous record holder weighed 1,395 carats.

持有者也不願透露該藍星寶石的成交價，這當然是絕對的機密。而此前世界上最大的藍星寶石重達1395克拉，這顆藍星寶石重達1404.49克拉，打破了此前的世界記錄。

It has been named the The Star of Adam by its current owner, after a Muslim belief that Adam arrived in Sri Lanka after being sent away from the Garden of Eden. It is claimed he then lived on the slopes of a mountain now known as Adam's Peak.

目前這顆寶石被持有者起名爲“亞當之星”，之所以起這個名字是因爲穆斯林信仰的亞當在伊甸園被驅逐後便來到了斯里蘭卡，人們相信亞當便住在這裏的亞當峯。

The owner of the Star of Adam said he bought it thinking "this was not a piece of jewellery but an exhibition piece".

亞當之星的持有者買下寶石後表示，它不僅是一件珠寶，更是一件展品。