Kashmir Sapphire

In the old days blue stones were exposed by a landslide in the hills of Kashmir. A band of men, with a mule caravan on its way to Delhi, saw the stones as curiosities, picked them up and traded them for salt in Calcutta. They were sold again and resold. News of these transactions reached the Maharaja, who in great wrath demanded them back. This was done all along the line until they were returned to the Maharaja.
- Indian Post - 1934

I don't want to say the days of Kashmir sapphires are over, but it's likely that we are going to see less specimens; the distinct, velvety (cornflower) blue color, the best quality Kashmir sapphire, the benchmark for color excellence. Nature always like to surprise us one way or the other so let's keep our fingers crossed. Most likely what you are going to see in Kashmir today are synthetic flame fusion blue sapphires or low quality blue sapphires.