Centenary Stone – Sapphire – Central Queensland Highlands

Centenary Stone – a gem worth celebrating

In 1979, a 14-year-old boy named Sarli Smiley Nelson, was wandering home from school specking around this area in Sapphire when he discovered a very special gem. Little did he know that the yellow green particolour was to become known as the Centenary Stone; the world’s largest gem-quality sapphire, weighing an extraordinary 2,020 carats (13 oz).

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Smiley’s parents refused many generous offers for the stone but it is believed they finally accepted an undisclosed amount from some local buyers in the form of a case full of cash!

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The Centenary Stone was stolen from an exhibition in 1983 but fortunately, recovered in 1986. It was then sold to a New York dealer who cut and resold several faceted stones from it, the largest of which was estimated to be valued at $1.2 million.

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