Gem Museum
Gem Museum
3
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
About
One could see a variety of gemstones and a huge collection of jewelleries. Gem Museum, as its name says has every collection that one could never miss admiring. Our staff would offer you a high quality service which will help you the most in selecting a precious product. We do have a small museum and a mine demonstration just to give clients an idea of how gem mining is done. Also please note that this is a gem shop not a museum (has a small museum as an attraction) and entrance is FREE of charge. You could have a free cup of tea and enjoy learning about gems and jewellery making. Thank you Managing Director
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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3.0
48 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
6
Average
12
Poor
5
Terrible
10
Chithra U
Dubai, United Arab Emirates2,077 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
The "museum" is just a fancy showroom, nothing more. Dont bother going there, just a waste of time. even though we tried bargaining the prices were still WAY above our budget hence didn't end up buying anything and wasted almost 3 hours there :(
Written 16 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
Thank you for visiting us during your tour. We know that you have wasted 3 hours but at the same time we too have wasted our time to provide you your requirement and inform you of the gems available in Sri Lanka.
We dont sell plastic to suit your budget. Its the Beautiful & quality products that you would see in our showroom. Gems are expensive since they are gems. We explain you many things on your visit but its upto you to make up your mind whether to purchase a quality gem or end up buying a plastic or synthetic. We provide our customers with the best thing they could ever have.
Thank you.
Written 10 November 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Aneesa P
Edinburgh, UK400 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
I've learnt from this trip to Sri Lanka that nothing is as it is advertised. you will be misled as a rule in multiple attempts to be exploited as a tourist. It is with this understanding that I can rate it average... nice gems... some expensive, some okay priced. not a museum though. My daughters took selfies with the gems in the background while hubby and I shopped for a ring. yep... glorified Jewelry store
Written 18 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DominiqueUltee
Singapore, Singapore987 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
By its name, I thought I could see lots of precious pieces of collection. The 'showroom' is actually just the entrance area, they built up something like a cave, to show how they found gemstones. This part is very small that you can finish seeing within 1 mins (max!), then straight walk to the 'salesroom'! I could feel people there trying hard to sell me the stones. Hey, I didn't feel like they were trying to help me to look for a suitable and affordable piece, they were just trying to sell... Woman's sixth sense is very accurate and it told me that the feeling wasn't right...
I turned out didn't buy any from this museum/ shop cuz I was also pretty tough!
So travelers, beware of such kind of 'museum'!
I turned out didn't buy any from this museum/ shop cuz I was also pretty tough!
So travelers, beware of such kind of 'museum'!
Written 22 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David S
3 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
So I was in Sri Lanka for official work and I wanted to buy one of the famous Sri Lankan blue sapphires.
The US Embassy gave me multiple locations to go to and all of them were so overpriced, a few of them were at USA pricing and above. So after visiting seven different gemologists for almost a week, I found the Gem Museum.
I delt with Sajith, he was very honest and upfront. With my experience from visiting all the other stores I was able to tell that his prices were truly wholesale.
I realize that many of the sapphires that he may have in inventory are not his own so therefore he can't work as much on the price but on the stones that he did own he was very reasonable on the pricing.
I will be using him exclusively for gems in the future. Highly recommended!
The US Embassy gave me multiple locations to go to and all of them were so overpriced, a few of them were at USA pricing and above. So after visiting seven different gemologists for almost a week, I found the Gem Museum.
I delt with Sajith, he was very honest and upfront. With my experience from visiting all the other stores I was able to tell that his prices were truly wholesale.
I realize that many of the sapphires that he may have in inventory are not his own so therefore he can't work as much on the price but on the stones that he did own he was very reasonable on the pricing.
I will be using him exclusively for gems in the future. Highly recommended!
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Mr David,
Thank you very much for your recommendation. I’m glad that your wife loves the sapphire and the ring we made for her. And thanks a lot to you I have many of your friends visiting me for gemstones.
I will be getting you a lovely investment piece sapphire soon for a reasonable price.
Thank you again sir and hope to see you soon
Regards
Sajith Meeran
Written 11 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nora
4 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
This is not a Museum just a cheating gem shop. They pushed me to buy earrings which broke ones I arrived back home. They promised great quality but at the end all fake, I complaint to my tour guide that they should removing them from there Programm. I lost 2h of my day tour there plus 120$.
Written 21 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello madam,
Yes we are not just a museum, I do not know what your travel agent has told you. Also we do not charge any entrance fee. Just in case your travel agent has charged you
We already had a conversation on WhatsApp and we agreed to replace the earring for you. And I clearly mentioned that we do quality work and the earring would have broken due to pressure in your luggage and not due to bad workmanship… also I did tell you the postal services aren’t working due to covid so when one of ur friends comes down to Sri Lanka we will give the replacement and for you to send back the ones you already have. Or else you will have to wait till things get back to normal during the pandemic.
Also NOTHING WAS FAKE in our dealings
I gave my best options as you were one of our customer. But I never expected you to give us a bad review after agreeing to give you a replacement even though it wasn’t our fault.
Thank you
Written 2 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lazzaro K
Rome, Italy2 contributions
Nov 2014 • Business
Great place in the center of colombo. They got a huge car park and lovely museum & mining demonstration. I wanted to purchase a blue topaz but they convinced me to purchase a lovely sapphire. I ended up purchasing few sapphires for almost USD7000..... Quality was very exceptional and i was informed of the grading. I was so happy for my purchase and i was informed how another gem store would devalue my gem if i asked them for a valuation. They would never give you the real value. And when i checked with other stores, they always say a lower price to confuse you and try to switch your stone with a low grade stone.
This is the best place to purchase gems in sri lanka. Many of my friends purchased and we are all happy with it. Purchasing a gemstone is very easy but finding the quality gem is hard unless you go to the genuine place.
I recommend this place 100%
This is the best place to purchase gems in sri lanka. Many of my friends purchased and we are all happy with it. Purchasing a gemstone is very easy but finding the quality gem is hard unless you go to the genuine place.
I recommend this place 100%
Written 10 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VinceGnombardy
Tampa, FL80 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
There are several touts in Sri Lanka, especially gem shops and "museums". Gem museum is a front for a gem shop. There is NO official Gem Museums in Sri Lanka, there are gem shops doing business as Gem Museums. There are reputable gem shops that (1) don't have a markup to pay tourist guides (it's about 30%) and Tuk Tuk drivers and (2) that are selling exactly what you think you are buying (e.g. swapping a garnet for ruby). See or speak with someone at your High Commission or Embassy for a reputable, honest shop.
You are guaranteed to be hit up on the street here in Sri Lanka to purchase gems on the "last day of the exhibition" or "last day of the gem show". This will also be your last day to get "50% off"
Buyer beware. Not just for this shop, but MOST shops.
You are guaranteed to be hit up on the street here in Sri Lanka to purchase gems on the "last day of the exhibition" or "last day of the gem show". This will also be your last day to get "50% off"
Buyer beware. Not just for this shop, but MOST shops.
Written 3 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean M
Sarnia, Canada13 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We were led to believe that we were purchasing real sapphires...only later did we realize we had bought glass at 10 times the price we would have paid in U.S. Certification is worthless...sales approach is manipulative. We had just arrived in Sri Lanka and were suffering from jet lag and were too tired to ask questions. We trusted them. Can't believe how they duped us!!! Our driver/ guide took us there without our permission or telling us that it was an overpriced store not a museum.
Avoid at all costs!!!!
Avoid at all costs!!!!
Written 25 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
Sorry for your bad experience. If you have bought anything from our store and if you have the invoice along with the items you purchased please contact me on +94777599279.
We do not sell fake stones and we can prove it. if any of your jewelers back home said anything about our product it could be because they cannot supply you stones at the price we do. Everyone try’s to sell their product no one likes to loose a client. Thank you
Regards
New management
Written 24 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bandula A
Ontario, CA10 contributions
Mar 2012 • Solo
Like many people, I was taken to this attraction by my tour guide. He was from Jetwing travels (the biggest tour operater).There is no such "GEM MUSEUM" in Sri Lanka. No Museum will ever sell stones. There are many shops by the name of "Gem Exchange", "Gem Museum","Gem Center" ect. Most of these shops sell fake stones and are run with government backing. They all give a standard cut of 30% to the driver or tour guide.Even many renowned companies such as jetwing, aitkenspence are given commisions inorder to get tourists to come to such shops. If you want good stones, cheap, its better to buy them in your own country. A tourist is very vulnerable where ever he is.
Written 24 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yasmine B
Lisbon, Portugal23 contributions
Feb 2015 • Family
You need to be a gemologist to know what you are buying. Luckily I didn't indulge and only bought a few stones that I had planned on making into pieces. I bought a turquoise stone that turned out to be fake! So disappointed. Watch the video and leave!
Written 11 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
I’m sorry for you bad experience. But i believe that you haven’t bought any gems from us as we do not put any video for clients to watch. I think you would have gone to the gem museum in Kandy. If you have bought anything is wrong please contact me on +94777599279 or email on sajith.meeran@hotmail.com.
Regards
New management
Written 24 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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