The Vazir Neelam 

When I saw this fountain pen I was taken back to the valleys by the Zanskar River, the abode to the rarest Sapphires. Kashmiri sapphires descend from a remote part of the Himalaya Mountains known as the Zanskar range.Historically, 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. From the year 1882 to 1887, the mines were worked day and night throughout the summer months until the mines were depleted.

It wasn’t until 1887 that a geologist discovered that the sapphire stones, some as large as eggplants, originated from two separate locations. 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.

To access the mine, the beginning journey is quite dangerous and challenging. The journey started by traveling over the Chinab and Wardwan River to cross a rope bridge which was elevated 11,550 ft in the mountains. The Chinab River ran through deep and quite narrow canyons which made traveling even more difficult. This portion of the travel took 5 days, even though it was only 24 miles long. The mines have been worked many times since these dates, but few sapphires have been produced as a result.

The Rarity of the Kashmir Sapphire

The Kashmiri sapphire is the most famous type of sapphire in the world. Newly discovered ones are extremely rare as the material existing still was discovered well over 100 years ago. They are highly sought after because they are the epitomy of a near perfect sapphire if there ever was one. They have a superior cornflower blue hue to them with a mysterious and almost sleepy quality. Some gem enthusiasts describe this as ‘blue velvet”.

Why I Choose this Name

Hooded nib pens are a rarity in Indian fountain pen brands . This pen with semi hooded reminds me of the hidden and rare beauty of fountain pens with hooded nibs found in only few brands just like the popularity yet rarity of the Kashmiri Neelam. 

Vazir’s hidden and rare beauty is epitomised by Neelum....

--- Major Nithi C.J (Retd)