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28 octobre 2015

Important sapphire and diamond ring

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Lot 510. Important 16.40 carats Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring. Estimate 1,750,000 — 2,730,000 CHF. Lot sold 2,770,000 CHF. Photo Sotheby's

Set with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 16.40 carats, between baguette diamond shoulders, size 56.

Accompanied by Gübelin report no. 11085093 and AGL report no. CS 45823, each stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating.

NoteThe world's finest and most sought-after sapphires are those coming from the legendary mines of Kashmir. They were discovered by chance as a result of a land slide between 1879 and 1882, in the Kudi valley, above the almost inaccessible village of Sumjam, in the Padar Himalayan region of Kashmir. 

Initially these stones were traded for salt and other consumer goods. However, in 1882 they began to appear in the markets of Simla, the official summer capital of India. Their popularity grew and their true value was recognised. As a result, the Maharaja at the time immediately sent his troops to protect and control the Kashmir mines and prohibited private trading. 

The high altitude and the harsh weather conditions limited the mining operations to approximately three months of the year, from July through to September. Despite these constraints, between 1883 and 1887, a labour intensive production yielded some of the regions finest large crystals. By 1887 the original 'Old Mine' was exhausted and its replacement, the 'New Mine', located one hundred meters south, was later abandoned in 1908, as a result of poor weather conditions and moreover the limited quantities of fine gemstones. Since those early times, the mining of Kashmir sapphires has been only sporadic and their supply limited, due to the remoteness and political unrest of this region. In addition, the government would always take control of the mines when mining became profitable. 

What elevates Kashmir sapphire above all others is the unique combination of a rich, intense blue colour, with a soft and velvety appearance. Such attributes have often been compared to the vibrant blue hue of the cornflower. This outstanding colour, which is accentuated under artificial light, is unlike that of sapphires from other sources. 

"Few gemmologists would dispute that a fine Kashmir stone displays a character that sets it apart in a world relatively abundant in corundum gems. Over the years, the term Kashmir has come to signify the most desirable and expensive of blue sapphires" (David Atkinson and Rustam Z. Kothavala, “Kashmir sapphire”, in Gems & Gemology, Summer 1983, pgs. 64-76).

Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, Genève, 11 nov. 2015, 10:00 AM

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