In the northwestern part of the Himalayas at altitudes exceeding 15,000 feet lies the source of the ‘Creme de la creme’ of the Sapphire family: The Kashmiri Blue Sapphire.

The discovery of these spectacularly colored gems took place in 1880 as a result of a landslide that uncovered the source. Word spread quickly via villages to traders, and eventually reached the ears of the Maharaja of Kashmir who quickly sealed off the area to control the theft of the ‘Peacock’ Blue Sapphire. Legend has it that over the years the Maharaja accumulated an unbelievable collection of these fine gems, it was said that he even owned one crystal of gem quality measuring one foot in length.

By 1887 the Kashmiri mining locales were soon depleted. Since this time, Sapphire mining has continued in Kashmir but with no comparable results to those of its first discoveries. However this scarcity has only added to the legend of Kashmir Sapphire, so that when these precious gems do find their way onto the market they command a price far beyond any other Sapphire. Today the mined regions of Kashmir are a closely guarded secret, and so inaccessible that they can only be reached by foot. Mining is sporadic and