Kashmir sapphire comes from a single historical deposit in the Zanskar Range, discovered in 1881 after a landslide exposed gem-bearing rock. Intensive mining followed through the 1880s and into the early twentieth century. By then the most accessible material was largely exhausted.
The mine sits above 5,000 metres with extreme weather. Year-round habitation is impossible. Subsequent government and private expeditions produced negligible commercial quantities compared with the first rush.
Stones from the primary era define the Kashmir look: velvety saturated blue with fine silk that softens the crystal without killing transparency. That combination, plus extreme scarcity, drives auction records.
No new Kashmir rough means every stone is resale of historical inventory. Provenance documentation and period jewellery context become part of value. Forgeries and mislabeled origin are persistent risks requiring top-tier laboratory opinion.
Understanding Kashmir as a closed chapter explains why Ceylon is the working alternative for buyers who want fine blue sapphire they can actually source today.