You may have seen some incredible auction prices for sapphires from the fabled Kashmir mines in recent years. Could that sapphire ring in your jewelry box possibly be one? First, a bit of a background on these sought-after stones. In 1881 in the Zanskar Range of the Himalayas, a landslide revealed a remarkable deposit of sapphires. These sapphires had a unique velvety cornflower blue appearance and were brighter than other stones. Mining began in 1882 and continued until 1887 when the mine was depleted.… Read More

Important Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Cartier, c. 1950s, sold for $873,000

BOSTON, MA – September 19, 2019. The top lot of Skinner’s September 17, 2019 Important Jewelry auction was a remarkable twin stone Kashmir sapphire ring by Cartier.

Antique Ruby and Diamond Ring, sold for $171,000

Owned by one family since the 1950s, the ring soared to more than double its pre-sale estimate to $873,000. The sapphires were a classic example of the cornflower-blue stones from the famed Kashmir mines, before they closed in the 1880s.… Read More

BOSTON, MA – April 27, 2018 – Skinner is pleased to announce May 15th as the date for our first Important Jewelry auction of the year. Collectors and buyers who wait in anticipation of this event will be pleased with the breadth and content of this auction, featuring over 400 lots of diamonds, colored stones, and antique and period jewelry.

Rare Colombian Emeralds

Our Important Jewelry auction features several exceptional Colombian emeralds.… Read More

BOSTON, MA – Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers presents its third Fine Jewelry auction of 2017 on Tuesday, September 19 at 10AM in Boston. The auction will feature over 300 lots of diamonds, colored stones, and antique and period jewelry.

Diamonds

Leading our collection of diamonds this auction are several over 5 carats including a brilliant-cut diamond weighing 7.69 carats (Lot 320, estimated between $35,000-55,000), a brilliant-cut weighing 6.17 carats (Lot 319, $30,000-50,000), and an oval-cut diamond weighing 6.05 carats (Lot 317, $40,000-60,000).… Read More

BOSTON, MA – Skinner, Inc. presents two Fine Jewelry auctions to close out 2016. The live auction on December 6 will feature over 450 lots, including the collection of noted jewelry expert Rita Goodman. The online auction, which is open for bidding until December 7th, features over 200 lots including many signed pieces by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Bulgari, and Chanel. Both auctions will be available for public preview on December 4th and 5th in the Boston gallery.… Read More

BOSTON, MA – March 4, 2016 – Skinner, Inc. will present its first Fine Jewelry auction of 2016 in its Boston gallery on Tuesday, March 22 at 10AM. With over 500 lots on offer, the auction will feature a selection of fine colored stones including Kashmir sapphires and Colombian emeralds; large diamonds; signed pieces from world-renowned jewelers; and antique and period jewelry of impeccable provenance.

Colored Gemstones

We are excited to offer two Kashmir sapphires in this sale.… Read More

When it comes to colored stones, geography is often as important as gemology. While it is their gemological properties that ultimately make them so coveted, collectors have long sought out colored stones based upon their place of origin.

For sapphires, the scarcest and most rare stones come from Southeast Asia. To trace their origin, first we must travel high in the Himalayan Mountains, in very inhospitable terrain, to a deposit of sapphires discovered in the late 19th century.… Read More