shape
carat
color
clarity

How can you tell if you have a real Kashmir Sapphire?

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.

Gemlover2

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
2
I recently bought a sapphire, from a reputable jeweler in another city, that was sold as a natural Kashmir sapphire. A jeweler (who has not seen the stone) thinks it is unlikely that it is a real Kashmir at the price I paid. I showed it to a jeweler in my city that may be setting the stone for me. She remarked that it had a "velvety texture" and was probably a Kashmir. How can you tell for certain?
 

Harriet

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
12,823
There are sapphires from other sources that resemble the Kashmiri ones. The only way to ascertain the origin of yours is to send it to a lab, such as Gubelin. Even then, the report may not be conclusive. Also, as I don''t know how much you paid for the stone, I''m not sure if an origin test will be cost-effective.
 

Pandora II

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
9,613
There is also a big difference between:

- A sapphire that happens to come from Kashmir - which could be amazing, good, bad or indifferent.

- A ''kashmir'' sapphire such as those of legend - sadly mostly mined out over 100 years ago.

Sapphires with silk and a sleepy, velvetly look can come from lots of places - I have a few from Sri Lanka. The stone may well be unheated if it has good silk which does convey a premium as regards price.

If you have a great sapphire, adding a lab report confiriming that it comes from Kashmir could significantly up the price. If the sapphire isn''t top quality and top colour then it''s a case of whether you are prepared to pay for the lab report for your own satisfaction (if they are able to ascertain locale at all - not always possible).
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top