Because of its remote location mining techniques were always primitive. By 1882 the Maharaja of Kashmir had taken control of the mine that could only be worked from July-September each year due to the high altitude and near perpetual heavy snowfall. Kashmir sapphires were first discovered in the late 1870s/early1880s high up in the snow-clad Great Himalayas of north-western India where a landslide revealed hitherto unknown deposits in a rock valley 4500m above sea level.

They are among the most highly-prized gems due to their rarity and their scarcity while there are still superfine sapphires to be found in Burma and Sri Lanka, no mining activity has taken place in Kashmir for many decades and the mine that yielded the finest specimens was largely exhausted by 1887, after only six years of production. Sapphires hailing from Kashmir display a vivid velvety blue hue that is unique to the region. For further details please contact the Jewellery Department.Īccompanied by a report from AGL stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin, with no evidence of heat or clarity enhancement.

Cashmere sapphires