The Ultimate Guide to Padparadscha Sapphires
Meet the Padparadscha Sapphire - one of the rarest gemstones, known for its unique blend of orange, pink and red tones which create a truly stunning gemstone.
Read on to discover our expert gemmologist’s guide to Padparadscha Sapphires, the history of this gemstone, how much they cost, and how to identify one, plus some stunning alternative gemstones which offer a similar colour!
What Is A Padparadscha Sapphire?
They are a variety of Sapphire which exhibit a specific blend of pink and orange or red or yellow colours. Records show the name was first coined in Sri Lanka in the 19th century, and comes from the Sinhalese word for “Lotus Colour”.
How Is The Colour Of A Padparadscha Sapphire Defined?
The term Padparadscha was coined by eastern gemstone dealers in reference to the stunning colour of the lotus flower just before blooming, which is a bright red-yellow. As this ‘saffron’ colour is holy in the East, this variety of Sapphire was highly prized and was not sold in bulk to Western jewellers.
Once they did start to appear on the Western market, the name “Padparadscha” became a game of Chinese Whispers, and over time the idea of Padparadscha colour in the West became that of a lighter, softer, orangey pink that is prized today by such fans as Princess Eugenie.
If you ask any dealer in the East what they deem a Padparadscha to be, they will still refer to the original idea of colour which is any blend of red, pink and yellow - not specific to a particular tone or saturation. It is the Lotus flower on the verge of bloom, or the colours of a dramatic sunset, that are natures other means of displaying this rare and incredible blend of colour.
In the West however, it is the Lotus flower in full bloom, soft and pink, matching those colours of a peaceful sunrise, that come to mind when you ask a dealer to describe Padparadscha colour. The GIA even went as far as publishing a report in the 1980s stating “... the GIA’s opinion that this colour range should be limited to light to medium tones of pinkish orange to orange-pink hues”.
The issue jewellers and gemmologists face is that this difference of opinion still exists in a big way today, making it terribly difficult to certify any sapphire as a true Padparadscha, because no one actually knows what that is. Each lab has created their own set of standards for Padparadscha colour and so jewellers are at the behest of such labs who may or may not certify their stone as Padparadscha depending on the day, the gemmologist, the market at that time.
This is why we do not work with this trade term, and will not guarantee a Padparadscha sapphire certification. We will however be very happy to look for beautiful and unusual sapphires so long as you have the time to spare!
Can Fenton source me a Padparadscha sapphire?
At Fenton, we believe in the power of colour over the power of a trade name. Whilst we are happy to source various colours of sapphire or other gemstones, we are all limited by what mother nature has to offer and then even more so by what is available on the market at any given time. We will not guarantee to source “Padparadscha” sapphires, nor “Royal Blue” sapphires or “Pigeon Blood” rubies. The reason is the same - these are not standardised terms, they will differ from one expert to another, and as gemmologists we like to call a spade a spade and have the actual colour of the stone stated instead of a label that may allow some retailers to charge an unnecessary premium.
Whilst we may consider a particular colour to be a Padparadscha at Fenton, we will not guarantee stating this on any certification and instead will follow the practices of established labs to refer to the colour instead, for example Orangish Pink, or Pinkish Orange.
What Do I Do If I Want A Padparadscha Sapphire?
If you did want to find a sapphire with a both pink and orange color tones, then our gemmologists have a few top tips to help you with your search.
1. Avoid Trying To Colour Match Gemstones You Find Online.
Often these are retouched images and paint an unrealistic colour expectation. Some are even images of synthetic gemstones, which are engineered to look ‘perfect’ but do not resemble the real life of a natural gemstone.
2. Be As Specific As Possible Regarding The Colour You’re Dreaming Of
Rather than using terms like Padparadscha (or Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue), think of the colour and saturation you might like. A soft pink or orange? A darker reddish orange?
If you’re unsure you can speak to your jeweller and they should be able to help, but being as specific as you can be about colour and saturation will aid communication between you and your jeweller and ultimately the gemstone dealer.
3. Be Aware that Padparadschas come at a Price
Typically the colour variations of Sapphire which people consider to be Padparadscha, demand a premium due to their rarity and often sell for more than other types of Sapphire (of course dependent also upon other factors such as clarity and weight).
For example, Christie’s auctioned a ‘Padparadscha’ sapphire in 2005, which ended up selling for $18,000/ct. At 20.84ct, the stone sold for a total of more than $375,000. Different blends, hues and saturations of pink and orange will demand different prices - so it’s important to know what it is you’re looking for, and your jeweller will be able to provide a quote for you based upon this. Please contact our concierge team here to submit a bespoke jewellery enquiry. We would be delighted to help you in creating your perfect piece!
If you have a particular colour (shade, hue and saturation) which you are looking for, our team of gemmologists will advise on what is possible, and share examples of gemstones we have sourced in the past as reference where possible, and through the sourcing process if you wish to proceed in creating your piece with us.
3. Be Aware that Padparadschas come at a Price
Typically the colour variations of Sapphire which people consider to be Padparadscha, demand a premium due to their rarity and often sell for more than other types of Sapphire (of course dependent also upon other factors such as clarity and weight).
For example, Christie’s auctioned a ‘Padparadscha’ sapphire in 2005, which ended up selling for $18,000/ct. At 20.84ct, the stone sold for a total of more than $375,000. Different blends, hues and saturations of pink and orange will demand different prices - so it’s important to know what it is you’re looking for, and your jeweller will be able to provide a quote for you based upon this. Please contact our concierge team here to submit a bespoke jewellery enquiry. We would be delighted to help you in creating your perfect piece!
If you have a particular colour (shade, hue and saturation) which you are looking for, our team of gemmologists will advise on what is possible, and share examples of gemstones we have sourced in the past as reference where possible, and through the sourcing process if you wish to proceed in creating your piece with us.
What If I Want A Lab Cert Stating Padparadscha?
As mentioned above, even amongst the most prominent international gem labs there is a lack of clarity and consensus on what can be considered a Padparadscha Sapphire. As such, it becomes very difficult to ensure Padparadscha certification on stone unless you are buying one already certified by a lab of your choice.
As we work with individual dealers sourcing directly from mines or countries of origin, this means it is unlikely that our gemstones will undergo certification from a prominent lab before we source it. We are always happy to provide extra third-party gem lab certifications, but this will not guarantee that we can certify your gemstone as a Padparadscha, and rather we would state the true colour your individual gemstone will exhibit.
