Rago Auctions

Kashmir sapphires have reached legendary status for their extreme rarity and exceptional beauty and the term “Kashmir” has come to signify the most desirable and expensive of all blue sapphires.

These beautiful stones were discovered in 1881 after a landslide occurred in a valley in the Kashmir region of India. The area is a remote part of the Himalayan mountains at an altitude of 11,500 feet, so remote, in fact, that only a handful of geologists have ever trekked to the mines. Early reports referred to the area as “the region beyond the snows.” Shortly after the discovery of these vibrant blue crystals, the Maharaja of Kashmir dispatched part of his army to take possession of the mines and guard them. Surprisingly, the mine was only active from 1882-1887 which adds to the rarity of Kashmir stones. A new mine opened nearby but never produced the quality or quantity of spectacular blue sapphire crystals as the original mine.

Kashmir blue sapphires have a unique set of characteristics that contribute to their incomparable beauty. First is their color: often described as cornflower blue, it is an intense highly saturated blue hue, sometimes with a touch of violet. This intensity of color is combined with their unusual texture, giving the stones a velveteen appearance. This characteristic is due to microscopic layers of liquid inclusions producing a hazy, “sleepy” appearance. If you can acquire a Kashmir sapphire, you will be rewarded every day with its unmistakably alluring beauty.