Kashmir Sapphire
Kashmir sapphire characteristics, diagnostic inclusions, velvety appearance, historical significance, and market premiums.
origin/kashmir sapphire velvety cornflower
Introduction
Kashmir sapphires are the most prized blue sapphires, known for their unique
"velvety" or "sleepy" appearance. The deposit in the Zanskar range of the
Himalayas was discovered in 1881 and largely exhausted by the early 1900s.
The combination of historical prestige, distinctive appearance, and extreme
scarcity makes Kashmir the most valuable designation for blue sapphire.
Discovery and History
The Kashmir sapphire story:
Discovery
- 1881: Landslide exposed sapphires at ~15,000 ft elevation
- Location: Sumjam, Zanskar range, Jammu & Kashmir
- Initial finds: Large crystals; exceptional quality
- Peak production: 1881-1887
Decline
- Primary deposit quickly exhausted
- Sporadic production since
- Modern mining attempts largely unsuccessful
- Most Kashmir sapphires are antique or estate pieces
Characteristic Appearance
The distinctive Kashmir "look":
The Velvety Effect
- Velvety lustre: Soft, sleepy appearance from micro-inclusions
- Cornflower blue: Medium-toned, slightly violet-blue
- Haze: Fine particulate inclusions scatter light internally
- Effect: Colours appear to glow from within
Colour Description
- Medium to medium-dark saturation
- Pure blue to slightly violet-blue
- Often shows lighter and darker areas (zoning)
- Saturation remains attractive even in low light
Kashmir Velvet
Diagnostic Inclusions
| Inclusion | Description |
|---|---|
| Tourmaline crystals | Black prismatic crystals (schorl); diagnostic |
| Zircon with halos | Zircon crystals with tension fractures |
| Pargasite | Amphibole needles |
| Fine particulates | Microscopic particles causing haziness |
| Colour zoning | Irregular blue/colourless zones |
| Fingerprints | Healed fractures with fluid remnants |
| Negative crystals | Angular voids, may contain fluid |
Tourmaline as Diagnostic
Market Position
Kashmir's place in the market:
Value Premium
- Premiums of 50-100%+ over comparable Ceylon sapphires
- Fine stones: $100,000-200,000+ per carat at auction
- Record prices regularly broken
- Demand exceeds available supply
Certification Importance
- Laboratory certification essential
- Multiple labs may be consulted for high-value stones
- Provenance documentation adds value
- Treated Kashmir sapphires exist (lower value)
Authentication Challenges
Confirming Kashmir origin requires expertise:
- Some Ceylon/Madagascar sapphires share characteristics
- Heavily heated stones may lose diagnostic features
- "Kashmir-like" appearance doesn't confirm origin
- Laboratory analysis of multiple features required
- Historical documentation valuable but not sufficient alone