To access the mine, the beginning journey is quite dangerous and challenging. One location, known as the “Old Mine” included the pits within the valley and a second location which included the valley floor just below the Old Mine.

It wasn’t until 1887 that a geologist discovered that the sapphire stones, some as large as eggplants, originated from two separate locations. From the year 1882 to 1887, the mines were worked day and night throughout the summer months until the mines were depleted. When the Maharaja of Kashmir heard of the presence of the bright blue beautiful sapphires, he posted guards outside of the mines to protect their value.

The mines located in the Zanskar range while widely known for bright, blue sapphires, also have been known to produce. In fact, lately, we’ve begun to see more couples shop for the engagement ring together-highlighting a growing desire to ensure that the ring matches their vision.Kashmir sapphires descend from a remote part of the Himalaya Mountains known as the Zanskar range. President of Zales Jamie Singleton explains, “At Zales, it’s possible to build on Vera’s design aesthetic by selecting from hundreds of style variations to pull through the desired emotion-whether honoring the wearer’s personality, family heritage, fashion sense or lifestyle. 'It’s this wonderful puzzle where you imagine something and then you create it, and there’s no better feeling for a creative person than to see something you really believe in worn by people who invested in it and wear and enjoy it!”Īlthough each piece is designed by Wang, the collection still allows wearers to customize the final product, including the shape, setting, style, and metal. It’s about shapes, it’s about proportions,' says Wang. However, what makes Zales’ Vera Wang LOVE collection truly one-of-a-kind is the use of a blue sapphire accent in every single piece-both as a unique design element and a symbol of everlasting love. “I just love the art of jewelry making.

Blue sapphire ring