Until
the discovery of extraordinary stones 4,500 meters up in the Padar region of
Kashmir around 1880, Ceylon was the standard bearer for sapphire. For practical
purposes, it still is. Kashmir's remote mountainside deposits were pretty much
exhausted by 1930, leaving Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to resume playing the leading
role as the world's primary supplier, both for quality and quantity, of blue
sapphire.
In
recent decades, however, various countries in Asia and Africa have begun to
play supporting and, some would say, increasingly major roles in satisfying
world demand for sapphire. Of these new sources, one in particular has caught
the gem world's eye: Madagascar, an island ten times larger than Ceylon off the
east coast of Africa. Indeed, many in the trade find the best of Madagascar's
sapphires virtually indistinguishable from Sri Lanka's finest.
What
is meant by "fine" sapphire? The subject has always sparked a lot of
debate in the gem world. True, experts unanimously agree that nothing tops the
rich velvety blue of Kashmir stones for color. But with mining long halted in
Kashmir, what is the best color coming from active localities? Some
connoisseurs prefer the deep, dense royal blue of stones from Burma's famous
Mogok stone tract. Others lean toward the vibrant, very transparent colors of
Sri Lankan and Madagascar stones.
As
you can see, there is broad diversity of opinion regarding fine sapphire.
Nevertheless, connoisseurs generally want transparent stones with vivid open
color.
The Inspiration:
The Jewelry:
i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
by e.e. cummings
