Kashmir blue sapphires occupy a near-mythical place in the world of gemstones. Their short-lived 19th-century mine production, the singular “velvety” cornflower-blue color and the tiny global supply of genuinely classic Kashmir material all combine to make any large, well-proven Kashmir stone an object of intense desire and close-scrutiny. At the center of current attention is The Spirit of Kashmir, officially recognized as the largest known Kashmir blue sapphire, and the growing chatter about a rival — the so-called Zanskar Crown Sapphire — which some sources claim may weigh well over 170 carats.
THE SPIRIT OF KASHMIR
The Spirit of Kashmir is listed by Guinness World Records as the largest Kashmir sapphire. According to the Guinness entry, the gem is a wholly natural, untreated cushion cut sapphire weighing 150.13 carats and its record, was recognized in Dubai on 10 November 2023. This listing gives the stone an authoritative standing in record books and in the public mind as the measure against which any “largest Kashmir” claim will be compared.
There are two practical reasons why claims of a larger Kashmir sapphire excite both collectors and sceptics. First, Kashmir sapphires of the classic, deep velvety blue are extremely rare — specimens above a few dozen carats are already exceptional. Second, the original Kashmir deposits were worked intensely and then largely exhausted within a few years in the late 19th century; as a result, large, gem-quality Kashmir rough simply isn’t available from active commercial sources today. The short historical mining window (often cited as roughly 1881–1887 for the original “Old Mine” activity) and nearly 150 years of dormancy at the important high-altitude azan (Zanskar) workings mean that truly new large Kashmir finds are quite unlikely.
SIZE AND PROVENANCE MATTERS
Kashmir sapphires don’t only command attention for beauty; proven provenance and large size multiply value at auction. Recent high-profile sales of Kashmir stones — often unheated and of reliable provenance — have set price records per carat and generated headline news in the trade, reinforcing the idea that a newly surfaced, very large Kashmir blue sapphire would disrupt the market and attract intense interest from labs, auction houses and private buyers. That commercial pressure is why any claim of a larger Kashmir sapphire is excitedly investigated.
THE ZANSKAR CROWN SAPPHIRE
Interest in a candidate larger than The Spirit of Kashmir has focused on the Zanskar Crown Sapphire. Reporting about this stone is captivating but few details have emerged so far. A few reports and social posts have circulated estimates suggesting the Zanskar Crown could weigh between about 170 and 220 carats. If more details do emerge about this big Kashmir sapphire, it would — on weight alone — exceed the Spirit of Kashmir and therefore challenge the current record.
Collectors and serious gem enthusiasts, would undoubtedly keep a tab on the Zanskar Crown Sapphire. Some reports add a royal touch to this big Kashmir sapphire, mention is made about the sapphire being worn in a high value necklace – worn by Maharaja Pratap of Kashmir.
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