Information
INTRODUCTION PADPARADSCHA SAPPHIRE
Padparadscha Sapphire is perhaps the most valuable gemstone when in good colour; the best have a pinkish tinge :a particularly striking stone and highly collected Padparadscha is derived from the Sanskrit/Singhalesepadmaraga,a color akin to the lotus flower (Nelumbo Nucifera ‘Speciosa’).Most lotus blossoms are far more pink than orange, and in ancient times, padmaraga was described as a sub variety of Ruby .Today, some define the gem’s color as a blend of lotus and sunset.
COLOR,CLARITY & CUT
Padparadschas display a delicate mixture of pink and orange. Sapphires generally look best viewed with fluorescent light or daylight (particularly around just after sunrise and before sunset).Incandescent lights, whose output is tilted towards the red end of the spectrum, do not do most Blue Sapphires justice. In terms of clarity, Padparadscha Sapphires tend to be cleaner than Ruby. Buyers should look for stones which are eye-clean, i.e., with no inclusions visible to the unaided eye. Because of the pastel shades of most Padparadschas, any inclusions will be quite visible. Thus again, the emphasis is on eye-clean stones. Padparadschas are found in a variety of shapes and cutting styles. Due to the shape of the rough, stones are often cut with overly deep pavilions. Ovals and cushions are the most common, but rounds are also seen, as are other shapes, such as the emerald cut. Slight premiums are paid for round stones. Cabochon-cut padparadschas are not often seen (this cut is used for star stones, or those not clean enough to facet). The best cabochons are reasonably transparent, with nice smooth domes of good symmetry.
Today, many Padparadscha sapphires are heat-treated to improve their appearance. The resulting stones are completely stable in colour. In lower qualities, heat treated stones sell for roughly the same as untreated stones of the same quality. However, for finer qualities, untreated stones fetch a premium that is sometimes 50% or more when compared with treated stones of similar quality.
A fraudulent treatment sometimes seen is where a pink stone is irradiated to give it a Padparadscha color. The resulting color is unstable and will fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight. Other treatments, such as oiling, dying and surface diffusion are seen on occasion.
PADPARADSCHA SAPPHIRE GEMSTONE PROPERTIES
| Composition | Al2O3 |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 9 |
| Specific Gravity | 4.00 |
| Refractive Index | 1.762–1.770 (0.008) Uniaxial negative |
| Crystal System | Hexagonal (trigonal) |
| Colors | Mixture of pink and orange |
| Pleochroism | Weakly dichroic: two shades of the body color |
| Phenomena | None |
| Handling | Generally no special care needed; all ruby and sapphire jewelry can be cleaned using hot soapy water, or detergent. Make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards as detergents can cause dermatitis and allergic reactions. Enzyme cleaners should be avoided for the same reasons. Brushing with an old tooth brush to remove dirt and grease will also help. Cleaning agents containing chlorine may have a detrimental effect on low-carat gold alloys, so are best avoided. |
| Enhancements | Frequently heated; occasionally irradiation, oiling, dying, surface diffusion |
| Synthetic available? | Yes |
VALUE
Padparadscha is one of the world‘s most expensive gems, with prices similar to those fetched by fine Ruby or Emerald. But like all gem materials, low-quality pieces may be available for a few dollars per carat. Such stones are generally not clean enough to facet. Prices for Padparadschas vary greatly according to size and quality. At the top end, they may reach as much as US$30,000 per carat. Visit our dubai online shopping and we can assist you with the right information about the value of Sapphires and about any other gold stones.
ORIGINS & IMITATION
Original locality for Padparadscha is Sri Lanka ,fine stones have also been found in Vietnam’s Quy Chau district, Tanzania’s Tunduru district, and Madagascar. Stones from these latter three areas are often heat-treated and may reach rich “orange-juice” or “Papaya” oranges that are quite beautiful. Tanzania’s Umba Valley also produces Orange Sapphires and some dealers argue that these qualify as Padparadschas. However, their color tends to be much darker than the ideal, with brownish overtones. Synthetic Padparadscha Sapphires have been produced by the Verneuil process since about 1908 and cost just pennies per carat. They have also been produced by the flux, hydrothermal, floating zone and Czochralski processes, but such stones are rarely encountered. Doublets consisting of natural sapphire crowns and synthetic sapphire pavilions are sometimes seen, particularly in mining areas. Synthetics are also common at the mines, in both rough and cut form.
NAME , FAME & LEGEND
The name is derived from the Sanskrit/Sinhalese Padma Raga, meaning “Lotus color” and refers to the orange/pink color, similar to the Lotus flower. Padparadscha Sapphires, bring the wisdom of loving creation from the heart to the world. Their joyful orange energies activate the Sacral Chakra, the seat of one’s sexual energy and the fountain of creativity. Padparadschas is a solar stones, bringing warmth and physical comfort, and are connected to Mars, the planet of action.
