September 2, 2008: Sapphires

[Sundae]

I bought two rings when I was on holiday in Sri Lanka (another hotspot of sapphire mining)
One looked like amethyst and the other was a bright blue

I might have thought twice if I'd seen the conditions they were undoubtedly acquired in.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I bought two rings when I was on holiday in Sri Lanka (another hotspot of sapphire mining)
One looked like amethyst and the other was a bright blue

I might have thought twice if I'd seen the conditions they were undoubtedly acquired in.

The independents, with the kid down the hole, sell what they find to one of the dealers, who are from Sri Lanka, but sapphires come from many places

The people in the big pit are paid an hourly wage and have no stake in the stones. It shows the owners can live with an incredible inefficient system, if labor's cheap enough. I guess if the mine closes down they'll build a Nike plant.