Kashmir sapphires often break records at auction - they are the most famous type of sapphire in the world, and highly sought-after due to their scarcity and exceptional beauty.
15/11/2024 Jewellery, Jewellery & Watches - Interiors
Kashmir sapphires originate from the Himalayan state in northern India, where a landslide in the early 1800s laid bare a deposit of magnificent blue stones. In 1882, the Indian Museum confirmed that they were true sapphires, the mine was purchased by the Maharaja of Kashmir, and the remote valley was mined intensely until 1887, when the supply was exhausted and mining was officially halted.
Despite further attempts over the centuries, gemmologists have been unable to discover another deposit in the area, making Kashmir sapphires even more sought-after.
Kashmir sapphires have a superior ‘cornflower’ blue hue to them with a mysterious and almost sleepy quality. These inclusions scatter light in a way that gives the stone a soft, glowing appearance, some enthusiasts describe this as "blue velvet”.
If buying a Kashmir sapphire at auction, Fay Roach, jewellery specialist at Cheffins, advises the following tips:
Cheffins is offering a stunning Kashmir sapphire ring in the forthcoming Jewellery, Silver and Watches sale on 21st November (Lot 171, pictured above). It is accompanied by a report from Gübelin, dated 14th October 2024, stating the weight of the sapphire to be 5.79ct (weighed), origin Kashmir, with no indication of heating. A separate report from the Gem and pearl laboratory conducted in September 2024 also states the origin to be Kashmir with no evidence of heat treatment. The beautiful ring has a catalogue estimate of £40,000-£60,000.
Fay comments: “Kashmir sapphires are unrivalled in their quality, with captivating colour as well as historical significance. As such, we expect the ring in our sale to attract a lot of attention and multiple bids.”