Gems & Jewellery Imports Canada is primarily an importer-wholesaler of precious Ceylon (Sri Lanka) gems with a focus on providing high quality and value for our customers. We deal only in premium precious loose gemstones that are "eye clean," of good cut, and exquisite colour. Jewellers looking for faceted sapphires and rubies can contact us for availability and wholesale prices. Also through this site, we sell to the general public, fine jewellery made using our gems.

First, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to view the website. My name is Sylvain Villeneuve. I'm a 42 year old male, living with my wife and son, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Prior to starting this business, I was a fraud investigator for many years. To me, the biggest concern to on-line shopping is the constant spectra of fraud. I make every effort possible to ease that concern for the customer.
 
I've travelled many times to Sri-Lanka(Ceylon) where I have strong family ties through marriage. With the help of my Sri-Lankan relatives, I have developed strong, trustworthy business relationships with several Sri-Lankan gem cutters and industry leaders. This permits me to obtain very good quality gems at the lowest possible price. No international middle man here!

Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), particularly the Ratnapura region, is world renowned for its sapphires and rubies, and has been producing these gemstones for thousands of years. Many of the sapphires and rubies you see adorning the jewellery of royalty originate from Sri Lanka. While the name of the country has changed, many still refer to these by their old-country name, Ceylon gemstones.
 
Ratnapura is abundant with a crystalline material called corundum, which forms different varieties(colours) of sapphires and rubies. Rubies are after all deep red sapphires. The depth and richness of the colour is the number one factor dictating a gem's price. Sapphires with a deep rich blue hue (without the stone appearing black) are most valued and attract higher prices. Conversely, a gemstone with colour falling on either side of this ideal hue is of lesser value.
 
In addition, quality sapphires are "eyeclean," meaning no inclusions can be seen with the naked eye. They will also have a "good cut" causing the stone to reflect all or most of the light back up to the eye.
 
More than 90% of sapphires are heat treated. Heat treating is a widely accepted, centuries old practice, where heat is applied to a stone to permanently improve its natural colour. On the other hand, a non-acceptable practice (unless disclosed), is the process of beryllium diffusion: high heat and beryllium are applied to inferior quality stones to create what appears to be a rich, high quality, natural colour stone. Stones that have undergone this process are extremely hard to detect – even by gemologists – and are often passed on the market as authentic stones at discount prices. Beryllium diffused stones are really only worth a fraction of the price of authentic stones.

We specialize in Ceylon gemstones of high quality and value. We make regular buying trips to Sri Lanka where we hand select and inspect each and every gem. During the selection process, we employ the services of an experienced Sri Lankan gemologist who closely examines and assesses these stones. Once they pass his inspection, he issues a gemologist's certificate, which is your assurance of authenticity and quality.
 
Buying directly from the stone cutters nearby the mines eliminates several international middlemen. This, along with low overhead and no retail space also translates into cost savings we can pass on to you. Many times a gemstone from us is priced lower than the same quality gemstone from the vast majority of our competitors.
 
Every loose gemstone comes with a gemologist's certificate. Every piece of jewellery also comes with a Canadian gemologist's appraisal certificate.
 
We never buy stones from Thailand where the bulk of inferior quality beryllium diffused stones originates. The process is so refined in Thailand that the colour saturation goes right through the stone and like previously mentioned, sometimes extremely hard to detect.
 
We offer a no-questions-asked 90-day return policy. Just return all supplied documentation along with the gem(s) and pay return shipping fees. We are a Better Business Bureau Member in Good Standing. You are taking no risk with us period!
 
Contrary to most of our competitors, our jewellery is assembled in Canada. Since we ship from Winnipeg, Manitoba, you do not have to worry about clearing Canadian Customs.
 
We have no "small print on our website. All transactions are handled by the owner Mr. Sylvain Villeneuve. If you have any question/problem, you will be communicating directly with him, not a support staff who can't give you an answer or make a decision!