Padparadscha Sapphire – sapphires in the color of lotus flowers
The name Padparadscha (also spelt Padparadja) comes from the Sinhala language of Sri Lanka. “Padma raga” means “lotus flower” and alludes to the color of this sapphire, which is neither clearly pink nor clearly orange.
The colors pink and orange must always be present simultaneously in a padparadscha. This mixture is very rare and therefore also of great value. If pink predominates, it is called an orange-pink padparadscha. If orange predominates, it is called a pink-orange padparadscha.
The color dispute
Whether or not a particular stone may be called padparadscha often leads to discussions.
One example of this is the sapphires from the Umba Valley in Tanzania. Padparadschas with a strong orange to yellow-brown color come from there. These are the most valuable sapphires found in this region.
The decisive factor in the dispute was the origin of the color. The coloration of the Umba Padparadschas comes from chromium (red) and iron (yellow).
In contrast, Padparadscha sapphires from Sri Lanka also get their reddish tone from chromium. However, the yellow comes from defects in the lattice structure and only to a small extent from iron molecules.
The Sri Lankan Mahinda Gunawardene believed that sapphires from Umba should therefore not be allowed to use the Sinhalese term Padparadscha. Since then, the term “Umba Padparadscha” has often been used in the trade for Padparadschas from Tanzania.
The color spectrum
In addition to the structure, the color spectrum has also led to uncertainty and discussion. In the past, many yellowish-orange and reddish-orange sapphires were classified as Padparadscha.
Today, renowned gemological laboratories tend to narrow down the choice to a narrower color spectrum. Only sapphires with a pink-orange to orange-pink color and medium saturation may be called padparadschas. The color must also be evenly distributed.
These restrictions mean that high-quality padparadschas are very rare and therefore very valuable.
Use of the padparadscha
Padparadscha are used in all kinds of jewelry, from rings to earrings to necklaces. Thanks to its light color, which goes well with yellow, red and white gold, it is a particularly popular stone for engagement rings. Its high hardness (9 on the Mohs scale) also makes it a popular choice for rings. The wearer does not have to fear scratches or the like.
Like all sapphires, the padparadscha is the birthstone of the month of September and is therefore suitable as a birthday present for those born in September.
Origin & mining sites
In addition to the mining sites in Sri Lanka and in the Umba Valley in Tanzania, padparadschas are also found in Vietnam, in several regions of Africa and in Montana (USA).
Properties
Like all sapphires, padparadscha is a corundum. Corundum is a mineral with a high Mohs hardness. In mineralogy, the hardness of minerals is evaluated on a ten-point scale according to Carl Friedrich Christian Mohs. With a Mohs hardness of 10, diamond is the hardest mineral in the world, followed by corundum with a hardness of 9.
This makes the stone very robust against environmental influences.
Inclusions & Treatment
Like rubies and sapphires of other colors, padparadscha sapphires are often heated to improve the color quality. This type of treatment is accepted in the trade as long as no beryllium is added.
Beryllium can transform the less valuable light pink sapphires into a sapphire with the color of a Padparadscha. You can recognize sapphires that have been altered in this way by checking the certificate. Laboratories identify these stones as “lattice diffused” and do not describe them as Padparadscha, even if they meet all the other conditions.
Most common cuts for Padparadscha sapphires
The cut depends on the rough stone. If a rough stone has the characteristics of a padparadscha, the cutter will try to emphasize these characteristics with the cut. Most often, padparadschas are found with a round, oval or step cut.
