About Us

Since 1985, Starlanka has connected collectors, jewellery houses, designers, and connoisseurs with some of the world's rarest and most exceptional coloured gemstones.

Established: 1985, Bangkok
Ownership: Family-owned, second generation
Specialism: Natural coloured gemstones
Operations: Thailand, Hong Kong, India & USA

For more than four decades, our family-owned company has built its reputation on deep gemological expertise, uncompromising standards, and enduring relationships. While Starlanka has grown into an international gemstone house, the principles on which it was founded continue to guide every stone we source, cut, and present.

Our Heritage

The story of Starlanka began with a single opportunity — and the determination to make the most of it.

In 1976, a young Veera Salahudeen arrived in Bangkok to begin an apprenticeship at Nazim Brothers, then one of Asia's most respected and successful gemstone companies.

Starting with the most modest responsibilities, Veera immersed himself in every aspect of the trade. Over the years, he developed a comprehensive understanding of gemstones — from the evaluation of rough material to cutting, manufacturing, and international sales — and eventually became one of the company's leading representatives.

In 1985, Veera embarked on the next chapter of his journey and founded Starlanka as a specialist in fine natural coloured gemstones.

What began as a family enterprise in Bangkok has since developed into an internationally established gemstone house serving collectors, designers, jewellery professionals, and private clients around the world.

A Family Legacy

Today, Starlanka is carried forward by Veera's sons,Azharudeen Salahudeen and Suhail Salahudeen.

Both are closely involved in every aspect of the company, from global sourcing and gemstone evaluation to cutting, presentation, client service, and the digital experience offered through our online platform.

Their leadership brings together the knowledge and values of the founding generation with a modern vision for the future of the coloured gemstone industry.

The principles that guided Starlanka's earliest years remain unchanged: understand each gemstone in depth, build relationships that endure, and allow exceptional quality to speak for itself.

The Family

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Veera Salahudeen — Founder

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Azharudeen Salahudeen

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Suhail Salahudeen

Our Expertise

Headquartered in Thailand, with established operations in Hong Kong, India and the United States, Starlanka oversees the complete journey of a gemstone — from responsible sourcing and acquisition to cutting, polishing, presentation, and international distribution.

Our expertise spans the full spectrum of natural coloured gemstones, with a particular focus on exceptional single stones of significant beauty, rarity, and character.

Every gemstone in our collection is individually selected and evaluated on its own merits, including colour, origin, clarity, cut, brilliance, rarity, and overall distinction. Each stone is hand-picked by our team, and each is truly one of a kind.

The Rarity

Unlike almost every other category of collectible, a natural gemstone is not created by human hands. It is formed within the earth over millions of years under geological conditions that can never be precisely repeated.

No two natural gemstones are identical. Each carries its own colour, inclusions, structure, origin, and history. This inherent individuality is what makes an exceptional gemstone more than an object of beauty: it is a unique natural treasure.

We believe the true rarity and collectible significance of fine coloured gemstones are only beginning to be fully understood.

Our Philosophy

Starlanka believes that trust in the gemstone industry begins with knowledge, clarity, and transparency.

Our online platform was created to give clients around the world direct access to a carefully curated collection, supported by clear information and transparent pricing.

The gem and jewellery trade has traditionally operated through private networks and business-to-business relationships. While discretion and personal service remain important, we believe the future of the industry will be shaped by greater connectivity, accessibility, and collaboration.

Information should not be unnecessarily restricted. Clients should be able to understand what they are purchasing, how a gemstone has been represented, and why it is exceptional.

By combining generations of gemstone expertise with a modern and transparent approach, Starlanka is helping to shape a more accessible and trusted global market for fine coloured gemstones.

What We Stand For

A small set of commitments governs how every gemstone is sourced, cut, described, and sold. They have not changed since 1985.

Natural, earth-mined gemstones only
Every gemstone offered by Starlanka is natural and earth-mined. We do not sell synthetic or laboratory-created gemstones.
Clear disclosure
Any known treatment or enhancement is clearly disclosed, allowing every client to make an informed and confident decision.
Transparent pricing
We believe exceptional gemstones should be presented with clarity. Our online collection is supported by open, straightforward pricing and detailed product information.
Genuine service
Whether working with a jewellery house, designer, collector, wholesaler, or private client, our team provides knowledgeable and attentive guidance throughout the selection process.
Long-term relationships
Our objective is not simply to complete a transaction, but to build enduring relationships founded on expertise, integrity, and trust.
Fine cutting and polishing
Each gemstone is carefully cut and faceted in-house by experienced lapidaries to reveal the finest possible balance of colour, clarity, brilliance, and character.
A vision for the future
We believe fine natural gemstones will become an increasingly important global collectible category, distinguished by their beauty, geological history, portability, and genuine scarcity.

Our Craftsmanship

Every rough gemstone presents its own possibilities and limitations. Unlocking its full potential requires experience, precision, patience, and judgement.

At Starlanka, cutting and faceting are carried out in-house using advanced equipment and techniques. By overseeing the transformation from rough crystal to finished gemstone, we maintain close control over quality at every stage.

Our lapidaries evaluate the individual structure of each stone before determining the ideal orientation, proportions, and faceting design. The objective is not simply to retain the greatest possible weight, but to achieve the finest expression of colour, clarity, brilliance, and beauty.

The result is a finished gemstone that reveals the very best of what nature created.

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In-house cutting and faceting, Bangkok

Authenticity and Disclosure

Trust is fundamental to the gemstone industry. Our clients can purchase with confidence, knowing that authenticity, accurate representation, and responsible disclosure are central to everything we do.

Natural and earth-mined: We sell only natural, earth-mined gemstones. We do not offer synthetic or laboratory-created stones.
Accurate representation: Every gemstone offered by Starlanka is represented accurately and transparently, on its own merits.
Treatment disclosure: Any known treatment or enhancement is clearly disclosed, so every decision is an informed one.
Independent reports: Where appropriate, gemstones are accompanied by reports from internationally recognised gemological laboratories.

A Global Presence

From our headquarters in Thailand and our operations in Hong Kong, India and the United States, Starlanka serves an international network of jewellery houses, designers, wholesalers, collectors, and private clients.

Our global presence provides access to important gemstone-producing regions, specialist manufacturing expertise, and major international trading centres.

We regularly participate in leading gemstone and jewellery exhibitions around the world and welcome clients to meet our team, view our collections, and discuss specialised requirements in person.

Wherever our clients are located, they receive the same standard of expertise, discretion, transparency, and personal attention.