Victorian Charm: Kashmir Sapphire amidst Diamonds

It was a weekend afternoon when the ladies decided to meet for some lunch. The driver was early so I figured a short stroll in the mall wouldn't hurt anyone...

A hour later, I found myself in an old dusty shop with a tiny old Indian lady selling some hand made quilts and cushions. It started with a diamond ring that I was wearing... after comparing rings and exchanging tips on cleaning jewelry, she took out a stash of rings and bracelets from a tiny drawer in her shop.

When I saw it, I felt like I was in love. Tiny though it may be, this is a kashmir cabochon sapphire set with diamonds, said to from the Victorian age. I couldn't bear leaving that poor thing in the shop and now, I am happy to say that it has found a new home amidst my other babies.

Sapphires: Kashmir Blue

It is always nice to be able to retreat, once is a while, from my tai tai duties, focus over a cup of good tea and do some serious business: Blog! Of late, I have been feeling a little blue... thinking a little blue. To be more precise, Kashmir Blue!

Once upon a time, there was a man called Alexander II who happened to be a Russian Emperor, he bought a 260.73 carat Sapphire for his wife, Empress Maria Alexandrovna. If this is an expression of love, he must then really love his wife. Sapphires have been, since anyone can be bothered to remember, been coveted gems. These stones that conjure up brilliant images of blue... Kashmir Blue, Cornflower Blue, Ceylon Baby Blue, Royal Blue...

At the top of my list would be Kashmir Blue:

Kashmir Sapphires were discovered in 1889 in a small Indian state northwest of the Himalayas! Apparently, these sapphires were so abundant that they have been once used as flint stones. (What were they thinking!) Unfortunately by the early 1900s, the mines were plundered to their deaths and depleted of their gems. Hence, it is only natural that their value multiply. Stones from 2 - 3 Carats have become items much sort after by collectors and large ones can only be found in museums, at once in a while, at auctions.

If one is so fixed that the gem is born from that particular Indian state, then be disappointed to know that it is almost impossible to prove the origin of the gem with a simple Lab report. Having said that, Sri Lanka, one of the world's most respected sources of Sapphires, does produce a gems that have the "Kashmir Colour" and it is regarded by many as being collection worthy and is almost identical to a stone from Kashmir.

Qualities of Kashmir Sapphires:

Despite the fact that I do not own a Kashmir Sapphire, at least not yet, I understand that they have amazing, legendary qualities. These gems are a velvety, soft, lazy luxurious cornflower blue. Imagine a premium grade cornflower blue sapphire that has a velvety quality to its luster, a soft, lazy, sleep glow. It does not scintillate like most sapphires do, instead it has a idlic lazy glow. Well, nothing beats seeing the real thing but unfortunately, I do not have any to show. (Not yet, at least) but here are some famous Kashmir Sapphires! Enjoy!

Hill's Kashmir Sapphire: 22. 66 Carats

(Photo Credits: Christie's)

(Credits: gemsauction.com)

Pink Sapphires: Fancy Colour Sapphires

I have always loved sapphires more than other precious gems because it is the most fancy stone in the family of precious gems! This stone comes in different blues (cornflower blue, kashmir blue, midnight blue, royal blue and the list goes one) yellow, pink, orange, green, lavender, lilac, white and a whole spectrum of off-whites on top of colour-change sapphires. Now, how fancy is that?!

This one in the photograph is a 6 stone pink sapphire ring set in white gold, shaped in a laurel. Pink Sapphires come a host of different shades of pink. From light, off white-pink to deep reddish pinks... I have even seen some that are peach in colour.

Treatment of Sapphires:

You have to know that almost 95% of Sapphires that you now see are heated and this form of treatment is internationally accepted. Of course if you have a certified natural, untreated sapphire, it only means that the value if much greater because of its rarity. But having said that, even reputable labs have made mistakes during identification. Horrors of Horror!

Technically, Sapphires are Aluminium Oxide, though I personally prefer the former name. It is a rather tough stone (9 on the moh scale) but please do not try knocking on glass table tops and on stone walls with a sapphire ring on. Not even with Diamonds!

Diffusion: Cosmetic Surgery of Gems!

Diffusion of sapphires is a treatment that is rather common. In fact, the technique was patented in the mid 1970s. Diffusion is a treatment during which a colour causing chemical is used to coat a colourless or a light blue sapphire to give it great colour. Much like a coat of permanent concealer or painting blue on a white or light blue wall.

One can, and should only find out if diffusion has been done on a sapphire through tests at a reputable lab. You can always re-cut a sapphire and if it has been diffused, the inside will be a different colour. But who in the right mind will re-cut a sapphire just to find out if it has been diffused?

Now there are also techniques known as deep surface diffusion techniques and super deep surface diffusion techniques which only means that you have to dig deeper for the truth! Literally!

Back to Pink Sapphires:

In the many hues of Pink Sapphires, I personally feel that fuscia pink sapphires should be the colour that one goes for, though some out there tend to go for the deeper pinks close to red.

My rationale is, if you want such a deep pink Sapphire then one should go for a Ruby. Technically Rubies and Sapphires are both Corundum. At the end of the day, I think what is most important is how the stone makes you feel. If it is a light pink that turns you on, then who is to say that it is less precious or valuable? This ring just makes my heart glow with a smile when I wear it.

Color:

Colour in Gems are brokendown to hue, saturation and tone. Hue is most commonly understood as the colour of the gem while Saturation refers to the brightness or how vivid the stone is. Hue indicates the lightness to darkness of the stone and it is not uncommon for one stone to have a mixture of colours, the primary colour, the secondary colours, various tones, shades and different levels of saturation.

For different colours of Sapphires, different colours are coveted and conisdered premium. That I will leave to a later post.

(Credits: Info: http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/)