Opulence Defined: The Kashmir Sapphire
- September 09, 2015 12:58
Veiled by its legendary reputation and virtually unobtainable rarity, Kashmir sapphires are counted alongside the finest diamonds and Burma rubies in terms of scarcity. The mere mention of the term “Kashmir” is synonymous with the ultimate sapphire, possessing an incomparably deep, velvety blue color that seemingly glows from within.
Discovered around 1880 in the city of Kashmir located in the northwest corner of India, the historic Kashmir minds are imbedded thousands of feet high in the Himalayas. The heyday of sapphire mining lasted between 1882 until 1887, and no significant deposits have been found since. In other words, the scant few of true Kashmir sapphires that are available today were likely mined over 100 years ago.
Weighing an astonishing 18.50 carats, this incredible Kashmir Sapphire Ring is the star of M.S. Rau Antiques selection of important colored gemstones. This emerald-cut rarity achieves its prized velvet-like blue hue without having undergone any type of color-enhancing treatment. Even the certificate of authenticity from the American Gemological Laboratories concurs by stating “The combination of size and origin for the sapphire described in this report signifies a gem worthy of distinction.” Certified to be of Kashmir origin and completely untreated, a breathtaking jewel of this type and caliber is simply never seen on the market. Accompanied also by certifications from the Swiss Gemological Institute and Gübelin Gemlab, this Kashmir sapphire is an undeniable masterpiece of nature.
Just one look at this jewel and it is clear to see why sapphires have been revered for thousands of years. Believed to represent divine favor, truth, loyalty and sincerity, the hypnotic beauty of the Kashmir sapphire is beyond compare.
Learn more about M.S. Rau Antiques selection of Kashmir Sapphires here.
About M.S. Rau Antiques:
M.S. Rau Antiques has spent over 100 years earning the trust of discerning collectors world-wide. Located in the heart of New Orleans’ historic French Quarter, our peerless showroom houses one of the world’s most extensive and stunning collections of important fine art by artists such as Monet and van Gogh, rare 18th-and 19th-century antiques and breathtaking jewelry, including rare colored diamonds.
_-Closing-the-Distance_100x100_c.jpg "Lot 204: Bob Kuhn (1920–2007),Closing the Distance, 1977, acrylic on masonite, 24 x 48 in, Sold: $409,500")
![A 19th century Seven Piece "Chrysanthemum" Pattern Sterling Silver Coffee & Tea Service, which was exhibited in the Tiffany & Co. booth at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago](/images/c/78/96/Tiffany___Co__Makers_Seven_Piece_"Chrysanthem100x100_c.jpg "A 19th century Seven Piece \"Chrysanthemum\" Pattern Sterling Silver Coffee & Tea Service, which was exhibited in the Tiffany & Co. booth at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago")
