Kashmir in the northwestern part of the Himalayas is home to the most prestigious blue sapphires.

The legendary Kashmir mines are situated approximately 5.000 metres above the village of Sumjam, the most remote village on the southwest slopes of the rugged Zanskar Range in the district of Paddar. Heavy snows have limited mining operations to about two months during mid and late summer. For the rest of the year the area is virtually inaccessible.





The stories about the discovery of these gems vary, but the crystals were probably known to local villagers since for centuries. In 1880, a landslide uncovered a pocket with larger crystals, and itinerant traders started to buy them. Initially, they traded for salt and other consumer goods on a weight for weight basis. By 1881, some of these rough sapphires had reached Simla, the summer capital of India where their true value was first recognized. Almost immediately, the Maharadscha of Kashmir prohibited private trading of these sapphires and sent his elite troops to take control of the mines. Between 1883 and 1887, some of the finest large crystals were found. By 1887, the initial mine had been exhausted and all mining activities ceased.
A second mine referred to as the "new mine "was opened only a few hundred yards away but did not bring a good yield. Throughout the following decades, mining operations started and ceased several times with little results.

Modern gemmological research shows that the composition of these stones clearly differentiates them from sapphires of all other origins. In fact, the sapphires found during the short life span of the first mine were of such spectacular quality that there has been none to rival them
Indeed, they are considered the "crème de la crème" of all sapphires, which all others are compared to.
While we are not historians, we believe it is important to understand the basics of the Kashmir sapphire's history in order to appreciate just how rare these stones really are.