corundrum. A natural padparadscha sapphire is a delicate color that
is a combination of pink/red and orange and the best specimens are
from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Padparadscha is derived from the Sanskrit
word padmaraga meaning lotus flower: The petals of the finest lotus
blossoms are a blend of pink and orange.
Padparadscha sapphires are one of the world's most expensive gems,
with prices similar to those fetched by fine rubies or fine emeralds.
Prices for padparadscha sapphires are difficult to determine because
some sources value them at the highest range of a pink sapphire at
$3,125/carat, whereas others value them in their own category at up to
$30,000/carat.
Padparadscha sapphires tend to demand a greater clarity than an
equivalent ruby since an inclusion is more prominent in the
padparadscha sapphire. Nevertheless, an equivalent sized padparadscha
sapphire is much more rare than a ruby. Any fine padparadscha
sapphire greater than 2 carats is a real rarity. And a padparadscha
sapphire above five carats can be considered a world-class gem. The
largest gem quality paparadscha sapphire is 100.18 CT and can be found
in the New York's American Museum of Natural History. Furthermore,
only a handful of star padparadscha sapphires have been reported in
the world!
When buying a padparadscha sapphire make sure that the seller states
that the origin is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the color is a red/pink
and orange, and that they seller mentions that the gem is "natural" or
"genuine." Recently, celebrities have been proposing with
padparadscha sapphires instead of the classic diamonds... and why not
since a fine padparadscha sapphire is much rarer than a diamond.
3 comments:
This was informative. For some really nice sapphires and other colored gemstones visit ANGARA. You get an option to get your gemstone mounted on a setting of your choice.
This Padparadscha sapphire in shades of pink-orange are very rare. What you get in the market are orange sapphires which have been wrongly given the padparadscha status. If you go to sell a orange sapphire it does not sell all that well compared to mandarin garnet's or topaz. If you sell a orange sapphire as pad it is more likely to attract attention from uneducated customers at least.
My father (a gemologist) purchased a 6-carat padparadscha in 1952 and put it into his safe deposit box. I inherited it a few years ago. It had never been worn. It was difficult to get an appraisal because none of the local jewelers had ever seen one. I had to go to St Louis to get two appraisals. It's back in my safe deposit box now. I wear it one or two days a year. And yes, it will take your breath away. Someday my daughter will inherit it.
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