The Full Information to Shopping for Kashmir Sapphires + Store Now

One of many rarest sorts of gem stones on the earth, Kashmir Sapphires have lengthy been thought-about the best and most fascinating sapphire. This text will reveal what makes this sapphire so fascinating and easy methods to efficiently purchase your gemstone-quality Kashmir Sapphire.

Michael Khordipour, Afshin Shaddaie, and Benjamin Khordipour, among the many world’s foremost authorities on Kashmir Sapphires, collaborated on this text.

What’s a Kashmir Sapphire?

A Kashmir sapphire is a uncommon and extremely prized number of sapphire identified for its wealthy, velvety blue colour. These gem stones have been found within the late nineteenth century within the Kashmir area of northern India, excessive within the Himalayas. The mines that produced these sapphires have been lively for only some many years, making real Kashmir sapphires exceedingly uncommon in the present day.

Kashmir sapphires are distinguished by their deep blue hue, typically described as “cornflower blue,” and a silky, velvety texture that outcomes from tiny inclusions throughout the gem. These inclusions scatter mild in a means that offers the stone a delicate, glowing look. On account of their shortage and distinctive magnificence, Kashmir sapphires are among the most respected sapphires on the earth, wanted by collectors and jewelers alike.

Skilled Steerage for Searching for a Kashmir Sapphire

Skip Forward: Shopping for Guidelines | Proving Origin | Shade and Saturation | Readability and Silk Inclusions | Cuts and Shapes | Costs

1. Guidelines for Shopping for a Kashmir Sapphire

As already talked about, you need to at all times seek the advice of with a Kashmir knowledgeable earlier than shopping for a Kashmir sapphire. Only one carat can price north of $200,000. Thus, it’s essential ensure of what you’re shopping for. There are solely about 15-20 specialists on the earth, and should you’re prepared to begin investing in Kashmir Sapphire, just remember to attain out to certainly one of them.

Here’s what you need to request earlier than making the acquisition. We’ve listed this so as of significance:

1. Make sure that the sapphire is of Gem High quality (seek the advice of with an knowledgeable)
2. Verify the origin of the sapphire as being from Kashmir (ideally two certificates, with one being from an AGL certificates)
3. Confirm that the colour is cornflower blue or royal blue (seek the advice of with an knowledgeable)
4. Make sure that the certificates affirm that the sapphire has not been heat-treated (or manipulated in any means)

And we will’t restate this sufficient: solely purchase Kashmir Stones from respected sellers. Uncommon and high quality jewellery purchases require loads of good religion. Solely buy your sapphire from a vendor who has a observe file (and popularity) of many years of belief.

2. Proving Origin for Kashmir Sapphires

Proving origin is likely one of the most vital components of shopping for and promoting a Kashmir Sapphire. Real Kashmir sapphires come from the mines of Kashmir on the Zanskar mountain vary of the Himalayas. Nearly all the premium worth of the Kashmiri Gemstone will likely be wrapped up in its proof of origin. In an effort to maintain your funding, you’ll want to show that the sapphire got here from the Kashmir Mines.

The excellent news is that there are laboratories that may decide the origin of stones. They may look at the sapphire rigorously, and they’re going to present a doc guaranteeing its standing.

The highest firms that present respected certificates for origin are:

1. AGL – American Gemological Labs. The AGL certificates are thought-about the strongest Kashmir certificates within the business.
2. SSEF – Swiss Gemological Institute. A really authoritative alternative for figuring out Kashmir’s origin.
3. Gubelin – Gübelin Gem Lab. One other very authoritative alternative for figuring out Kashmir’s origin.
4. Christian Duneg. This lab doesn’t have an internet site, however they’re one of many prime authorities.
5. GIA – Gemological Institute of America. The GIA isn’t really helpful. See beneath.
6. AGTA – American Gem Commerce Affiliation. The AGTA Labs now not exist, and their sapphire certificates are strongly flawed. See beneath.

When you’re trying to purchase a real Kashmir sapphire, you want affirmation of its origin. And never simply any affirmation, both; you’ll need an official certificates from a good supply confirming that it got here from the Himalayan valley.

Within the Nineteen Eighties, there have been many problematic certificates that confused the origins between Kashmir and Madagascar. In consequence, we strongly advocate not utilizing AGTA and GIA to find out the origin of a sapphire. AGL, SSEF, Gubelin, and Christian Duneg are the best authorities figuring out origin.

3. Desired Shade and Saturation of Kashmir Blue

The strongest distinguishing function of any sapphire is its blueness — the extra intense the blueness, the extra priceless the stone. Kashmir Sapphires aren’t any exception to this rule. You possibly can encounter pale or much less intense blue sapphires, however they don’t maintain the best worth.

There are three sorts of Kashmir Colours:

1. Essentially the most fascinating colour for a Gem High quality Kashmiri Sapphire is Cornflower Blue. This has at all times been the best colour metric for the reason that opening of the mines within the Eighteen Eighties. This blue is lighter than the extra famend Royal Blue Sapphire. The cornflower blue colour also needs to function a deep saturation, as discovered on the petals of the Cornflower.
2. One other colour of observe for a Gem-High quality Sapphire is Royal Blue. Royal Blue has a darker saturation of blue than cornflower blue, however many collectors gravitate in direction of the darker shades and prize them forward of Cornflower Blue. It should even have deep saturation to qualify as a Royal Blue colour.
3. The least costly Kashmir sapphires have subpar saturation or non-deep blue colours, making them seem pale. There are many these in the marketplace. They’re not Gem-High quality Kashmir and won’t demand excessive premiums. They normally promote at related costs (or barely increased) to common non-gem-quality sapphires.

Moreover, you need to at all times give attention to the purity of the colour. There shouldn’t be overtones of every other colour, particularly purple and violet. Gem-quality Kashmir sapphires ought to have a good unfold of blue colour from prime to backside.

Necessary Word: Concerning the colour high quality of a Kashmir sapphire, you’ll not get an correct studying from any certificates. That is one thing that solely a extremely certified sapphire knowledgeable can decide.

4. Readability Vary of Kashmir Sapphires (and Silk Inclusions)

Probably the most well-known qualities of Kashmir sapphires is their silk-like rutile needles. This titanium oxide (TiO2) inside needles cut back the gem’s transparency however, in return, current a gorgeous velvety shine that’s virtually fully unique to Kashmir sapphires.

These inclusions additionally enable mild to journey evenly all through the gem. When you shine a lightweight into the gem, it signifies a real Kashmir sapphire if it lights up all sides.

These skinny inclusions are an excellent indicator of authenticity. When you don’t discover these tiny needles (also called inside silk) all around the core of the gem, it might be a superb trigger to lift your suspicion in regards to the stone’s origin.

Necessary Word: A average quantity of velvety silk in a Kashmir Sapphire is taken into account very fascinating. If, nevertheless, there may be an excessive amount of velvety silk, the desirability of the stone will begin to go down.

5. Lower and Shapes of Kashmir Sapphires

There are two issues to know when analyzing the minimize of a sapphire:

1. How completely the sapphire is minimize (High quality of Lower)
2. The kind of gemstone form (Form of the Perimeter)

You’ll hardly ever discover a completely symmetrical minimize of blue Kashmir, and there are a number of causes for that.

First, Kashmir Sapphires are outdated. They’ve been round for no less than 100 years, and all through that point, it’s virtually not possible that they wouldn’t have gotten a small bump right here and there.

Secondly, the jewelers who minimize the sapphire would have lived over 100 years in the past. Stone-cutting know-how has come a good distance. Within the early 1900s, gemstone-cutting methods weren’t very exact.

Moreover, Kashmir Sapphires would require a lot persistence and experience to chop as a result of tiny inclusions.

Concerning form, sapphires are normally minimize in an vintage cushion minimize, emerald minimize, or oval-cut shapes. The much less deep the stone, the higher. Reducing the sapphire to somewhat shallow permits much less mild into the stone and retains the stone with a deeper saturation.

However it’s really the intact gems – those who aren’t minimize in any respect – which are the most costly. Actually, the aforementioned record-breaking stone was an uncut gem.

6. Costs of Kashmir Sapphires

Now that you simply perceive all of the figuring out components, let’s speak in regards to the value vary of those gems.

On account of their rarity, there isn’t an extended path of established costs for Kashmir sapphires. Most stones are already within the fingers of collectors, traders, and jewelers. Subsequently, sellers can set the worth at liberty.

The costs for these sapphires can range considerably primarily based on components like carat weight, colour high quality, and total situation. On common, a high-quality Kashmir sapphire can fetch wherever from $40,000 to over $200,000 per carat, with the best stones reaching even increased costs.

A number of components contribute to the premium value of Kashmir sapphires, together with their intense, velvety blue hue, the status of their origin, and rarity. In consequence, collectors and connoisseurs are prepared to pay prime greenback for these uncommon gems. Moreover, uncommon items of knickknack that includes Kashmir sapphires, particularly classic or vintage items, have a tendency to hold a major historic and aesthetic worth, additional driving up their price.

“The costs for Gem-High quality Kashmir Sapphires at the moment are greater than 20 instances what they have been within the Nineteen Eighties,” says Michael Khordipour, founding father of Property Diamond Jewellery. “And I anticipate it to rise even quicker over the subsequent few years.”

In conclusion, if a jeweler is promoting you a Kashmir Sapphire for “a superb deal,” suppose very onerous earlier than you settle for the supply. Test its high quality, colour, and readability. Most significantly, carry it to an knowledgeable who can decide whether or not there’s something suspicious.

Store for Gem-High quality Kashmir Sapphires

We’ve curated one of many rarest collections of Kashmir Sapphires on the earth. Most of it’s a part of our personal assortment (and never on-line), however listed below are just a few of our sapphires we’ve made obtainable on-line.

Contact us on to view our personal assortment of Kashmir Sapphire Stones and Kashmir Sapphire Jewellery.

Why are Kashmir Sapphires so Costly?

The worth of Kashmir sapphires is rising each day. Actually, it’s at the moment one of many strongest funding items of knickknack in the marketplace.

Lately, Christie’s Public sale Home offered a 35.09-carat Kashmir blue sapphire for $7,357,999. For context, that’s $209,689 per carat. That’s the present world file. Anticipate it to go up within the following years.

Three main components make Kashmir so costly:

1. High quality. The Kashmir Sapphire instructions a excessive value as a result of many include a top-quality sapphire specimen. You could come throughout different blue sapphires, however solely these from Kashmir have what specialists name blue velvet – a dreamy cornflower blue that displays mild below all angles. See beneath.
2. Rarity. The Kashmir Sapphire is the rarest sort of sapphire in the marketplace.
3. Status. The popularity of Kashmir Sapphires has taken on a lifetime of its personal. Most vital items of sapphire jewellery worldwide showcase the Kashmir Sapphire within the middle.

On prime of its texture and tint, the unimaginable public demand has elevated its value additional.

General, Kashmir sapphires characterize the crown of all sapphire gems, the right sapphire to mount on a hoop, necklace, or earring.

The dialogue of the Kashmir Sapphire vs. Ceylon Sapphire vs. Burma Sapphire at all times ends with professionals agreeing that Kashmir is way superior.

Very Necessary Word: For a Kashmir Sapphire to be fascinating, it first must be a “gem-quality sapphire”. A poor-quality sapphire that occurs to come back from the Kashmir Mines is not going to have the premium funding qualities talked about above.

The place to Purchase Kashmir Sapphires?

As mentioned, it gained’t be straightforward to search out real Kashmir Sapphires. You possibly can’t simply go into your native jewellery retailer and anticipate finding them. When you really need genuine gem-quality Kashmiri Sapphire Jewellery, you’ll need to look very onerous for them.

When you discover a vendor, there are some things to think about:

1. Retailer Fame – The shop must be reliable and dependable. It’s best to analysis a vendor very rigorously earlier than contemplating coping with them. Additionally, you will wish to be certain that the vendor is an knowledgeable in Kashmir Sapphires.
2. Picture of the Sapphire – Request to see high-res photographs of the Sapphire. Dependable sellers will make obtainable images that you would be able to zoom in on. That is particularly vital for Kashmir sapphires, because it allows you to discover the silk-like inclusions and the reflective hue.
3. Certificates – Crucially, a dependable on-line retailer may have official certifications vouching for the gem’s authenticity. It ought to at all times come from an internationally acknowledged gemologist establishment and solely those talked about above. Most can affirm the geographic origin, situation, form, transparency, and so forth.

At all times keep in mind that ready for the true factor is healthier than letting down your guard and ending up with a pretend.

Necessary Word: To view our complete uncommon assortment of Kashmir Sapphires, please contact us straight and make an inquiry.

Historical past of Kashmir Sapphires

Kashmir sapphires’ historical past began in 1880 within the Kashmir area on the Indian subcontinent. A landslide atop the Himalayas revealed an uncommon sort of rocks below the standard layer of soil. These rocks have been virtually utterly naked aside from the occasional protruding blue stones.

It took the locals an inexpensive time to understand that the stones have been sapphire. This caught the attention of the Maharajah (a regional ruler in India), who despatched a regiment of guards to guard the mine and miners to dig out extra of the sapphires.

By the tip of 1887, the well-known Kashmir Mine was exhausted. Hungry for extra, the Maharajah sought the help of the British, who had dominated India for greater than a decade. And with the assistance of British geologists, they discovered a brand new mine within the valley beneath. Nevertheless, they rapidly exhausted the opposite mine, too.

To at the present time, no different Kashmir deposits have been discovered. All that is still is what is obtainable for buy or in personal collections.

The Timeline of Kashmir Sapphire Historical past

Right here is the timeline of the occasions that led to the invention and depletion of Kashmir Sapphires:

• 1880. Discovery of the primary Kashmir Mine.
• 1882. The biggest Kashmir Mining discoveries. Most Kashmir gem stones have been mined throughout these 5 years.
• 1887. Depletion of Kashmir Mine.
• 1906. C.M.P. Wright and the Kashmir Mineral Co. leased the mines and dug in a brand new location (with out realizing that he found the New Kashmir Mines). He finally gave up because of difficulties with digging situations.
• 1927. The final recorded small discovery of any Kashmir Sapphires was from new mines.

Are you searching for a Kashmir Sapphire? We’ve a really uncommon personal assortment of Kashmir Sapphires and Jewellery.

Right here’s what we advocate mentioning with the intention to make it easier to higher: your approximate funds, sort of Jewellery (ring, earrings, brooch, necklace, bracelet, or unfastened stone), and dimension of the stone.