Geographic Origin:
Kashmir - India

Gemologist's Comments on Origin:
Discovered in 1881 in the Zanskar range of the Himalayan mountains in northwest India, the legendary Kashmir sapphires are the most beautiful and treasured of all blue sapphires.

The finest sapphires from Kashmir have a highly saturated color, along with a characteristic "silkiness" or velvety glow that makes them a phenomenon of nature. With the original mines long depleted, Kashmir sapphires are a rare find and among the most prized of all gemstones today.

Treatments:
No Treatments (Unheated/Untreated)

Transparency:
Transparent

Clarity Grade:
Slightly Included

Clarity Grade Description:
Inclusions are slightly visible at eye view

Velvety Appearance:
This gemstone exhibits an appearance that is classified as "velvety". Such an appearance results from very fine microscopic particles that scatter light, causing the coveted visual effect without negatively affecting the gem's transparency. Gemstones with a velvety appearance have little to no extinction, display a warm glow, and look very pleasing to the eye. Therefore, velvety appearance is considered a highly sought-after trait in gemstones. The most prominent examples of gemstones coveted for their velvety appearance are the legendary Kashmir sapphires.

This item is accompanied by the following gemological report. We will ship the original report along with the item.

Gemological Institute of America report # 7523906557

• The accompanying GIA report authenticates this gemstone as a "Natural Sapphire" of "Kashmir" origin with "No Indications of Heating".

• At our request, the girdle of this gemstone is laser-inscribed by GIA with its logo and the report number ("GIA 7523906557"). This security feature gives buyers a unique way of linking the GIA report to the physical gemstone.