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Lot 8529
Important Sapphire Ring
3 December 2006, 11:00 PST
Los AngelesUS$80,000 - US$100,000
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Find your local specialistImportant Sapphire Ring
Kashmir, India
The famous sapphires of Kashmir were mined from a remote region high in the Himalayan mountains of northwestern India. Lying at an elevation of approximately 4,500 meters, they were located in small inaccessible valleys in the Padar region of Kashmir reachable only on foot or by mule.
Sapphires were first discovered in Kashmir accidentally around 1880 when a deposit was exposed during a landslide in the hills. Their value was so little known by locals that they bartered them for grain or salt in the nearby village. Once word got out, however, jewelers from Delhi and other places bought the entire find and the prices rose. The peak period of production for this mining area was only seven short years, from 1881–1887. By 1925, the mines were all but depleted. Even during peak productivity mining was sporadic and could only be attempted for a few weeks in the summer due to weather conditions. Presently, newer mining endeavors cannot be expected to commence in Kashmir due to political issues. A politically disputed region for nearly 60 years, India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir since both gained independence from Britain in 1947. Since 1989, Islamic militant groups have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India and its merger with Pakistan. Sadly, all of these factors have limited the supply and further discovery of these fabled sapphires during the last several decades. Stones available on the market today are only those which have come from old estate jewelry. Today, Kashmir sapphires are at the top of the sapphire hierarchy above both fine Burmese and Ceylon stones and are capable of commanding prices many times in excess of gems from those two other localities.
The best Kashmir sapphires are a fantastic blue color, which possess just the right hue, without any black or inky darkness (or a quality that is called “extinction”). They are beautiful in any light. The present sapphire perfectly illustrates the most sought-after hue of Kashmir gems and the velvety texture which has made stones from this locality so famous. It also possesses excellent clarity and luster and is rare due to its size. Flush-set with this fantastic rectangular-cut unenhanced sapphire, weighing approximately 5.86 carats, this elegant, yet simple custom-made ring of 18K white gold is pavé-set with diamonds having an approximate weight of 0.65 carats, size 6 ½ . This is a gem-quality sapphire which is both wearable and an excellent choice for the serious collector of rare gemstones.
The famous sapphires of Kashmir were mined from a remote region high in the Himalayan mountains of northwestern India. Lying at an elevation of approximately 4,500 meters, they were located in small inaccessible valleys in the Padar region of Kashmir reachable only on foot or by mule.
Sapphires were first discovered in Kashmir accidentally around 1880 when a deposit was exposed during a landslide in the hills. Their value was so little known by locals that they bartered them for grain or salt in the nearby village. Once word got out, however, jewelers from Delhi and other places bought the entire find and the prices rose. The peak period of production for this mining area was only seven short years, from 1881–1887. By 1925, the mines were all but depleted. Even during peak productivity mining was sporadic and could only be attempted for a few weeks in the summer due to weather conditions. Presently, newer mining endeavors cannot be expected to commence in Kashmir due to political issues. A politically disputed region for nearly 60 years, India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir since both gained independence from Britain in 1947. Since 1989, Islamic militant groups have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India and its merger with Pakistan. Sadly, all of these factors have limited the supply and further discovery of these fabled sapphires during the last several decades. Stones available on the market today are only those which have come from old estate jewelry. Today, Kashmir sapphires are at the top of the sapphire hierarchy above both fine Burmese and Ceylon stones and are capable of commanding prices many times in excess of gems from those two other localities.
The best Kashmir sapphires are a fantastic blue color, which possess just the right hue, without any black or inky darkness (or a quality that is called “extinction”). They are beautiful in any light. The present sapphire perfectly illustrates the most sought-after hue of Kashmir gems and the velvety texture which has made stones from this locality so famous. It also possesses excellent clarity and luster and is rare due to its size. Flush-set with this fantastic rectangular-cut unenhanced sapphire, weighing approximately 5.86 carats, this elegant, yet simple custom-made ring of 18K white gold is pavé-set with diamonds having an approximate weight of 0.65 carats, size 6 ½ . This is a gem-quality sapphire which is both wearable and an excellent choice for the serious collector of rare gemstones.
Footnotes
Accompanied by a Gübelin Laboratories Gemological Report # 0404617 dated 22 April 2004, stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin and shows no evidence of thermal enhancement.