Monday, November 5, 2007

Padparadscha sapphires

Padparadscha sapphires are a special variety of the gem class termed
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:

Anonymous said...

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.

hem said...

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.

Unknown said...

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.

Like & Share on Facebook

Categories

Ceylon Gems (157) Blue Sapphire (110) Ceylon Sapphire (92) Sri Lanka Gems (60) Spinel (42) Precious Gemstones (31) Gem News (23) Diamonds (22) Star Sapphire (20) history of gems (16) Gem Therapy (15) Garnet (14) Birthstones (13) jewellery show (10) Gem Enhancements (8) Trade Fairs (8) Ruby (7) Gem Shows (6) Semi Precious Gemstones (6) Amethyst (5) Facets Gem Show (5) Gem Exporters (5) Gem Lab (5) Sri Lanka Diamonds (5) gem dealers (5) jewelry dealers (5) Emerald (4) Facets Sri Lanka (4) Gem Export (4) Gem and Jewelry (4) Sri Lanka Business (4) Sri Lanka Jewelers (4) jewelry events (4) Buying Guide (3) Gem Care (3) Gem Industry (3) New Arrivals (3) Sri Lanka Ruby (3) Yellow Sapphire (3) gemstone articles (3) Citrine (2) Gemstones (2) Goa India (2) India (2) Kornerupine (2) Opal (2) Pearls (2) Pink Sapphire (2) south india (2) special events (2) Address (1) Aquamarine (1) Asia (1) Blue Star Sapphire (1) Business Promotion (1) Chamber of Commerce (1) Color Cards (1) EDB (1) Education (1) Facets 2008 (1) Freight Forwarders (1) GJX Tucson (1) Gem Classes (1) Gem Exhibitions (1) Gem Stories (1) Gems of India (1) Gemstones and Health (1) Geuda (1) Gift Jewelry (1) Gift Stones (1) HS CODES (1) Harmonised System Codes (1) Hong Kong (1) IIJS (1) IJV (1) Important Contact (1) Industry News (1) International Jewelry Vietnam (1) Iolite (1) Knowledge Management (1) Laboratories (1) Lapidary (1) London jewellery (1) NGJA (1) Padparadscha Sapphire (1) Peridot (1) Purple Sapphire (1) Rare Gemstones (1) Sapphire (1) Stock Value (1) Tarquoise (1) Telephone Numbers (1) Testing (1) Tips (1) Topaz (1) Trading Associations (1) Turkey (1) angara jewelry (1) contact details (1) ecommerce (1) ejewel (1) email promotions (1) gemstone enhance (1) heat treatment of gems (1) history (1)