Latest news with #KashmirSapphire
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Regent Kashmir Sapphire Makes Jewelry History By Reaching $9.5 Million
A Regent Kashmir piece that set a new world record for the per carat price of a sapphire at auction ... More ($271,515 per carat, according to Christie's website, soaring past the previous record of $243,703 per carat, which was for the Jewel of Kashmir sold in 2015 at Sotheby's Hong Kong). On Tuesday, 27 May 2025, an exceptional 35.09-carat Regent Kashmir sapphire made jewelry history at Christie's Hong Kong: it broke the record for price per carat ever fetched for a sapphire at auction. The piece in question achieved $9.5 million, with a colossal per carat price of $271,515 (as per Christie's website). It soared past the previous record of $243,703 per carat, which was achieved by another Kashmir jewel sold in 2015 at Sotheby's Hong Kong. The distinct Regent Kashmir is a unique 35.09-carat antique, unheated and cushion-shaped gemstone—a royal blue Kashmir sapphire. Set in a sapphire and diamond ring, it is mounted in platinum with small round diamonds. A saleroom shot of the International Head of Jewellery at Christie's Hong Kong, Mr. Rahul Kadakia, ... More hammering for this lot According to the Gem Society, sellers at the Tucson Gem Shows have reported that their dealers agree that buyers this year are noticeably calmer, more settled, and less interested in fads. Dealers have also observed that the gem selling the most consistently is the timeless blue sapphire. The London DE Group also state that in the world of luxury and finance, sapphires hold a unique position—not just as one of the most captivating colored gemstones, but also as a valuable investment. Gaia Bespoke Engagement Ring With a diamond-set band that gently tapers to the centre sapphire, the ... More Gaia ring is a treasure of glittering gems. Two diamond clusters frame the centrepiece and elevate your chosen design in a sparkling crown. Available in 18k white gold, 18k yellow gold, 18k rose gold and platinum. Known as September's birthstone, and sometimes referred to as the stone of wisdom, these gems are celebrated for their striking blue color and historical significance. Like the ruby, they belong to the corundum family and are considered one of the world's four precious stones alongside diamonds and emeralds. Sapphires come in several colors, including pink, yellow, purple, orange, and green, but are known mostly for their intense blue shade. The blue sapphire is, in fact, often associated with royalty and nobility. Princess Diana's blue sapphire engagement ring, for example, a 12ct oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds and set in white gold, is regarded as one of the most iconic pieces of jewelry in recent history. Princess Diana Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images) FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder The Kashmir Sapphire Mines, located in a remote part of the snow-capped Zanskar Range of the Himalayas, are known for producing some of the finest blue sapphires in the world. The gems were first discovered there in a mine in 1881, following an avalanche in the region. From 1882 to 1887, this mine was the source of the largest and finest stones ever discovered, making these sapphires among the rarest in the world. As explained by Tobias Kormind, managing director and co-founder of 77 Diamonds, Kashmir sapphires are known for their pure cornflower blue and velvety glow, and are highly prized for both their aesthetics and their rarity. He tells me that natural, unheated Kashmir sapphires often command prices above $1 million. Tobias also informs me me that the previous world record holder for price per carat, for a sapphire sold at auction, is the 27.68 carat Jewel of Kashmir that sold for $6.7 million and achieved the price of $243,703 per carat at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2015; and the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction (The Pink Star) was also sold in Hong Kong for $71.2 million in 2017 by Sotheby's, setting a precedent for significant jewelry sales taking place in the city. A further detail shared with me by Tobias over email is that the Regent Kashmir sapphire's record-breaking price of $271,515 per carat (with a total price of $9.5 million), is a landmark moment for the sapphire market—proof that the rarest gems still command unstoppable power. He tells me that the previous record was $243,703 per carat, for The Jewel of Kashmir, sold in 2015 at Sotheby's Hong Kong and that 'while the region of Kashmir continues to be conflict-ridden, nature's glittering gifts are still there to be discovered'. He adds that when it comes to sapphires, the old property adage holds true: it's all location, location, location. Due to its history, the geographical origin is as important as the quality itself, so, as in this case, you have both a truly royal blue Kashmir sapphire that is unheated, clean and large in size, and you also have something incredibly rare that collectors truly desire. 'Gemstones of this calibre continue to be sought after and go up in value," he concludes. Gaia ring by 77 Diamonds Orion cocktail ring by 77 Diamonds
BreakingNews.ie
14-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Kashmir sapphire, originally valued €8,000 to €12,000, sells for €550,000 at Dublin auction
An extremely rare Kashmir sapphire has sold at auction in Dublin for €550,000 – the 'highest price ever seen' in Ireland for a gem of its kind and almost 70 times its original estimated value. The highly sought-after sapphire on a ring – originally estimated to be valued at between €8,000 and €12,000 – was brought to auction in Adam's auction house by a French woman who did not want to be identified. Advertisement Claire-Laurence Mestrallet, head of the jewellery and watch department at Adam's, had the sapphire and diamond ring tested in a lab specialising in identifying gems. To her surprise, the stone was identified as a Kashmir sapphire, with the estimate rising up to €150,000. Ms Mestrallet sought further confirmation of the stone's origin, having it tested at the world-renowned Swiss Gemological Institute (SSEF) which found it was a high-quality Kashmir sapphire. She said the sapphire ring generated 'wide international interest' due to its rarity and a large number of prospective buyers 'flew in to view it'. Advertisement 'This is the highest price ever seen in Ireland for such a ring, and the most spent on a piece of jewellery so far this year here,' Ms Mestrallet said. 'It is a really rare sapphire. There were a lot of bidders online, on the phones and in the room, so the bidding was frenetic.' The ring was sold to an international agent bidding in person so Ms Mestrallet said she did not know yet whether it would be staying in Ireland or going overseas. The ring carried a 25 per cent sales commission of €130,000. Advertisement 'Kashmir sapphires have tripled in value in the last decade and this Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring is part of a private collection of eight pieces, which the French seller inherited from her parents,' said Ms Mestrallet. Kashmir sapphires are prized for their unique colour and texture – a vivid and well saturated blue sometimes described as cornflower blue with a slightly velvety appearance – and their rarity. The gems were first found in 1881 when a landslide in the Zanskar mountains – a remote Himalayan area in northern India – exposed a 30m-wide (100ft) area of pegmatitic rock with blue crystals. Locals began to trade the stones for salt. By 1882, the blue gemstones had reached Delhi and other areas of India. Sapphires have been a symbol of power, strength and wise judgment for centuries.
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Kashmir sapphire originally valued at €8,000 to €12,000 sells at auction in Dublin for €550,000
An extremely rare Kashmir sapphire has sold at auction in Dublin for €550,000 – the 'highest price ever seen' in Ireland for a gem of its kind and almost 70 times its original estimated value. The highly sought-after sapphire on a ring – originally estimated to be valued at between €8,000 and €12,000 – was brought to auction in Adam's auction house by a French woman who did not want to be identified. Claire-Laurence Mestrallet, head of the jewellery and watch department at Adam's, had the sapphire and diamond ring tested in a lab specialising in identifying gems. To her surprise, the stone was identified as a Kashmir sapphire, with the estimate rising up to €150,000 and €200,000. READ MORE Ms Mestrallet sought further confirmation of the stone's origin, having it tested at the world-renowned Swiss Gemological Institute (SSEF) which found it was a high-quality Kashmir sapphire. She said the sapphire ring generated 'wide international interest' due to its rarity and a large number of prospective buyers 'flew in to view it'. 'This is the highest price ever seen in Ireland for such a ring, and the most spent on a piece of jewellery so far this year here,' Ms Mestrallet said. 'It is a really rare sapphire. There were a lot of bidders online, on the phones and in the room, so the bidding was frenetic.' The ring was sold to an international agent bidding in person so Ms Mestrallet said she did not know yet whether it would be staying in Ireland or going overseas. The ring carried a 25 per cent sales commission of €130,000. 'Kashmir sapphires have tripled in value in the last decade and this Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring is part of a private collection of eight pieces, which the French seller inherited from her parents,' said Ms Mestrallet. Kashmir sapphires are prized for their unique colour and texture – a vivid and well saturated blue sometimes described as cornflower blue with a slightly velvety appearance – and their rarity. The gems were first found in 1881 when a landslide in the Zanskar mountains – a remote Himalayan area in northern India – exposed a 30m-wide (100ft) area of pegmatitic rock with blue crystals. Locals began to trade the stones for salt. By 1882, the blue gemstones had reached Delhi and other areas of India. Sapphires have been a symbol of power, strength and wise judgment for centuries.
