English : • The sapphires of Kashm...
Deutsch : • Die Saphire aus der Re...
French : • Les saphirs du Cachemi...
Italian : • Gli zaffiri del Kashmi...
Spanish : • Los zafiros de Cachemi...
Chinese : • 克什米尔的蓝宝石紀錄片Patrick Voi...
Russian : • Сапфиры Кашемира докум...
Japanese : • カシミールのサファイアのドキュメンタリーP...
Jammu Kashmir is one of the most dangerous regions of the world. There is an undeclared war, and daily guerrilla raids are powered from the border of India and Pakistan.
It is also a region of high mountains that hold the finest sapphires in the world. They are of a blue velvet color whose sweetness and beauty has no equal in the world of gemstones.
Since the split between the two countries, and before this expedition, no westerner has visited this mine.
This film will takes you on an extraordinary expedition: 25 quarries, 5 yaks traversing the High Himalayas; and 150 miles on foot between 3500 meters and 6000 meters (11,000-19,685 feet)... It reveals the extraordinary measure it took to get into the mine, and most notably demonstrates that this is where these rare sapphires are always found.
The expedition starts in the Zanskar Valley; after having passed the Umasi La (5900 meters) in the Himalayas, you will discover the verdant valley of Cashmere.
After several days of walking to reach the summit of the mountain, the Padder mine emerges at 4500 meters; before accessing this mine, there is a police station made of a few stones piled on each other for shelter and few men an inhabited village, called Sumchan.
In this mine, three tents protect all the bare necessities for ten men who work at this vertiginous altitude a few months per year during the summer.
The geologist responsible for this operation, you will enter into the mines with a torch in hand to show you the vein.
You will understand how these exceptional stones are transported on foot by crossing the various hazards such as guerrillas, weather, and other unexpected predators.
Immerse yourself in the Buddhist traditions of these regions; you will see the consecration of a Buddha in the temple of Karsha.
Obviously, the road to sapphires does not stop there. It is Delhi where we find jewelers and lapidaries who are cutting and mounting these stones into jewelry.
Then this film will take you deep into the universe of Maharajas of Jaipur, Kashmir and especially their jeweler who now has the most exceptional of stones and gems; especially Gem Palace with its owner, Sanjay Kaslival.
You will finally enter into the secrets of buyers and creators of the grand house. Place Vendôme, Boucheron.