Padparadscha is a light- to medium-toned pink-orange sapphire that is the rarest and most prized of all the fancy sapphires. The name is believed to have come from the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom, which has a similar color. The main sources have been Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania.
Frequently, orange-colored sapphire is called padparadscha, but most sapphire dealers agree that both pink and orange hues must be visible for a stone to be a true padparadscha and that the color must not be the result of irradiation or foreign elements such as beryllium.
Padparadscha can range from a light to medium tone and from a pinkish orange to orangy-pink hue. If the colors look a bit brownish, the value is greatly reduced, and it may lose its classification as a true padparadscha. As with other sapphires, the purest colors are the most prized.
True padparadschas are rare, but they’re more available now than in the 1990s. Nevertheless, finding a good one is a challenge. Expect high prices. In their finest qualities, padparadschas in large sizes have wholesaled for more than $20,000 per carat.
Based in Aptos, California, Philip Zahm is an award-winning designer who features natural colored gems in one-of-a-kind designs. See more examples at www.PhilipZahm.com and Instagram @philipzahm
More information on sapphire is in my “Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Buying Guide.” www.reneenewman.com/ruby/htm Even though the book is technically out of print, it is still available for sale from Jewelry Television
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About the author:
Renée Newman is a gemologist (GG, GIA), lecturer, writer and author of 15 books on gems and jewelry. Her goal is to provide consumers and jewelry professionals with unbiased, affordable information on how to buy, evaluate and appreciate gems and jewelry. She can be reached through her website:
