KL Report
SRINAGAR
The Kashmir sapphire called ‘The star of Kashmir’ has smashed all records after it was sold for the highest per carat price of a sapphire in London. The 19.88 carats cushion-shaped sapphire’s auction by Christie’s saw it being sold for a whopping $3,483,017 or nearly Rs 20 crore.
As per a Delhi based newspaper the auction came just weeks after an Indian pink diamond Princie – named after a 14-year-old prince of Baroda and belonging to the Nizam of Hyderabad sold for $40 million or nearly Rs 200 crore – a new record in itself.
Christie’s has said, “The Star of Kashmir is part of the exclusive family of the rarest Kashmir sapphires ever to be offered at auction. This superb gemstone combines an exceptional size with a richly saturated and homogenous cornflower blue colour that is highly desired in Kashmir gems.”
