More sapphires over 100 carats in size have come from Sri Lanka than any other location. 423.00 ct Logan Sapphire in the Smithsonian (wikipedia.com) Sapphires have been mined in Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) for over 2000 years. These sapphires are known for their brilliance due to their generally lighter tone than Kashmir or Burmese sapphires. This lighter tone is, in general, due to a lower iron content found in those sapphires. The cornflower blue color of these gems is normally...

Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is known for its exceptional rubies. It is not widely know that Myanmar also produces very fine quality sapphires. Sapphires from this country command very high prices for the top quality gemstones with intense or vivid saturation with rich royal blue color. The best sapphires maintain their exceptional color under all lighting conditions, incandescent, daylight and fluorescent, something you rarely see in sapphires. These sapphires do not have the velvety appearance that Kashmir sapphires are known for. Just as with any origin, not all sapphires from Myanmar are so outstanding. Some sapphires are dark or even very light in color.

Sapphires have been mined all over the world and each location produces characteristically different colors and qualities of sapphires. The locations include Kashmir, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Montana. Determining a sapphire’s exact origin can require sophisticated testing and a sapphire’s pedigree plays an important role in its value. This post will focus on the most famous sapphire location, Kashmir. Kashmir is located high up in the Himalayan mountains in the disputed border area between India and Pakistan. The climate is exceptionally harsh and geographically inaccessible most of the time.

IntroductionAlthough sapphire means blue in Latin, sapphires can be found in a rainbow of colors. Kings once believed these stones offered protection form harm and envy. Sapphires are calm and relaxing. Until the discovery of extraordinary stones in Kashmir in 1880, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) was the standard bearer of sapphire. The Kashmir supply was essentially exhausted by 1930, leaving Sri Lanka as the location of the world’s most beautiful sapphires. In the 1990's Southern...