crashoveroide, the problem is that this isn't a cornflower blue sapphire. It's far too dark in tone and saturation to fit into that color description. To quote the GIA on blue sapphire quality:
"Color has the most important influence on blue sapphire’s value. The most highly valued blue sapphires are velvety blue to violetish blue, in medium to medium dark tones. Preferred sapphires also have strong to vivid color saturation. The saturation should be as strong as possible without darkening the color and compromising brightness. Sapphires with these qualities command the highest prices per carat."
You're correct about the light-scattering effect of tiny inclusions in fine Kashmir sapphire. But sapphire from that source hasn't been a factor in the market for over 100 years. I strongly doubt the subject sapphire here is of Kashmir origin.
The two most important sapphire sources today are probably Madagascar and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). It's well known in the industry that much Mada sapphire is being cut in Sri Lanka and is often sold as Sri Lankan in origin. New Sri Lankan gem discoveries are limited by that country's laws that require artisanal mining methods only. The same laws don't apply in Mada and lots of new material is entering the market.
For those who are interested in such stuff, the properties of sapphire from those countries are nearly identical. That's because they were formed in the same geological event. Due to the effects of plate tectonics, Mada has drifted across the Indian Ocean to its present location near Africa while Sri Lanka remains near the Indian subcontinent. Both countries are prolific producers of not just sapphire but many other fine gems like alexandrite, Tsavorite, other chrysoberyl varieties, tourmaline, garnet and many others.
Cornflower Blue Sapphire (GIA)
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