What Is A Padparadscha Sapphire? Learn All About This Elusive Gem

When it comes to the sapphire family, it’s no secret that blue sapphires often claim the spotlight. However, did you know that the padparadscha sapphire is just as dazzling and priceless as its sky-colored cousin?

Named after the sacred lotus flower, padparadscha sapphires are a prized rarity in the gemstone world. With their striking shades of orange and pink, padparadscha gems are sure to take your breath away!

These summer-colored stones are cherished by regular folks and royalty alike. In 2018, Princess Eugenie made headlines with her stunning padparadscha engagement ring.

So, what exactly is the mysterious padparadscha sapphire, and why is it so popular among gemstone fans? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll be digging into the sunset-colored sapphire’s history, meaning, and various physical properties.

Let’s first get started with the basics.

What is a Padparadscha Sapphire?

Padparadscha sapphires come from the corundum mineral class. These gorgeous gemstones are incredibly rare and unique, even among sapphires.

Although commonly categorized as the “pink” or “orange” sapphire, padparadscha stones contain a combination of both colors. Genuine padparadscha sapphires, which are untreated and hard to come by, have a salmon-colored tone.

Even rarer than padparadscha sapphires themselves is the revered star padparadscha. Like all star sapphires, star padparadscha stones reflect light with a starry twinkle thanks to their smooth and polished shape. Although high in demand, star padparadscha gems are scarce since not many sapphires can produce this quality.

Now that we’ve covered the essentials, let’s explore where padparadscha sapphires come from and their metaphysical properties.

Padparadscha Meaning and History

Padparadscha sapphires aren’t just fabulously stunning jewels – they’re also precious gemstones full of history and significant symbolism.

Padparadscha stones were first discovered in Sri Lanka nearly two millennia ago. While the largest padparadscha deposits are in Sri Lanka, these salmon-colored sapphires also come from Vietnam, Tanzania, and Madagascar.

Meaning

The name padparadscha originates from the Sinhalese word “padmaraga,” or “aquatic lotus blossom.” Like its namesake, the padparadscha sapphire represents many desirable spiritual, emotional, and wellness qualities that will enrich your life.

For example, padparadscha stones symbolize purity of the heart and mind. With the power of these magnificent gems, you’ll unshackle from any forces poisoning your soul. Your heart and mind will once again be light, free, and innocent. It’s almost like your inner child’s come home.

For those seeking to gain insight and willpower, owning a padparadscha stone will strengthen your wisdom and determination. You’ll develop a shrewd sense of judgment and crush any goals you set. Having these qualities can help you evolve both personally and professionally.

These gems also build honor, manifest good fortune, and grant the wearer a long and healthy life. For those who travel often, padparadscha gems will act as protective talismans against any dangers on your journeys. As such, these rare sapphires make great gifts for solo travelers.

Spiritual Significance

The padparadscha is tied to chakra healing and balancing energy too. The stone corresponds to the sacral chakra, which is located just below the belly button. Sacral chakras are responsible for activating your passion centers, regulating your reproductive system, and stimulating your sex drive, creativity, and sense of adventure.

When there's a blockage in the sacral chakra, it can cause reproductive issues, lower back pain, and diminished sexual interest. You might deal with bladder and kidney problems as well. Emotionally speaking, you may find yourself creatively burnt out and uncomfortable with your sexuality.

Thankfully, the padparadscha sapphire has the power to balance the sacral chakra. The padparadscha’s blush pink tones embody love and creativity, nurturing your inner muse and romantic relationships. You’ll find your sexual energy realigning itself, allowing you to feel comfortable in your own body once again.

Meanwhile, the sapphire’s fiery orange hues represent passionate devotion and a zest for living. This gemstone will allow you to experience all that life has to offer. You’ll be able to reach new heights of consciousness and expel negative energy.

It’s clear that the padparadscha possesses exceptional properties. Now, let’s dive into a conversation about its gorgeous colors!

Padparadscha Color Range

Although their colors are orange and pink, padparadscha sapphires fall on a diverse light to medium-tone spectrum. The gem’s colors are frequently called “peach,” “sunrise,” or “apricot.” However, true padparadscha sapphires are salmon-colored when exposed to sunlight.

Padparadscha sapphires derive their extraordinary colors from trace elements of iron and chromium, and we’ll dive more into this in the next section.

Since padparadscha gems have a wide color range, you might consider your favorite shades when sapphire shopping.

For example, padparadscha stones with medium saturation and pastel coloring are trendy since their even tones are pleasing to the eye. Be sure to keep in mind that genuine padparadscha sapphires are highly treasured as well.

However, no two gems share the same coloring. Each gemstone shines with a uniqueness of its own. Like the lotus blossom, all padparadscha gems are equally mesmerizing with their shimmering orange-pink streaks.

Specifications

So far, we’ve covered the padparadscha’s history, symbolism, and color range. Now let’s dive into some of the padparadscha’s physical characteristics.

Make-up and Composition

Like all mineral corundum, the padparadscha sapphire’s composition is a chemical compound called aluminum oxide, or alumina. All sapphires carry traces of iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. It’s the unique combinations of these elements that produce different-colored sapphires.

While most sapphires are blue because they contain iron and titanium, padparadscha stones get their sunrise shades from iron and chromium. While chromium is typically used in stainless steel, it’s also responsible for the padparadscha’s bright pink tones.

Thanks to its chemical makeup, the stone ranks an astonishing 9.0 on the Mohs scale. Invented by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in the 19th century, the Mohs scale ranks minerals by hardness and scratch resistance from 1-10.

As a point of reference, the padparadscha sapphire is literally tougher than a Masonry drill bit! Although, we’re not suggesting you should use it to burrow a hole in the wall — despite its capability to do so!

Without a doubt, padparadscha sapphires are incredibly sturdy gemstones. The only mineral that surpasses the padparadscha in density is the diamond at a whopping 10. For those interested in wearing gemstone jewelry daily, the resilient padparadscha will weather mostly anything.

So, it’s easy to see why padparadschas are trending as engagement ring center stones!

Cut

Thanks to their hexagonal crystalline structures, sapphires can be cut into many different shapes that are resistant to wear and tear. Sapphires are commonly oval, round, or cushion-shaped for engagement rings, pendants, and other jewelry.

Of course, the free-spirited padparadscha likes to play by a different set of rules. Cutting these rare sapphires asymmetrically preserves as much material as possible. After all, with a gemstone as priceless as the padparadscha, more material means more value.

So, the next time you’re on the market for a padparadscha sapphire, don’t be alarmed by its unusual shape! It only means you’re getting more quality for every penny.

Clarity

When shopping for gemstones, be sure to keep an eye out for something called clarity.

Clarity assesses how inclusions, fractures, and blemishes can affect a gemstone’s appearance and structure. Inclusions refer to any crystal, gas, or liquid particles trapped inside a jewel. With a rare and prized gem like the padparadscha sapphire , having inclusions will enhance its value. That’s because these crystallized particles add a celestial beauty and depth guaranteed to enchant anyone.

So, how is clarity related to inclusions, and why is it a critical factor to keep in mind when sapphire shopping?

Well, clarity grade evaluates how “eye-clean” or clear a gemstone is. The more clarity a gemstone has, the more visible its inclusions will be to the naked eye. For a padparadscha sapphire, this is a good thing.

In other words: the more opaque or “clouded” the gem is, the lower the value.

While high-clarity padparadscha sapphires are prestigious, these gems are already so rare that you may have to compromise clarity when buying one.

Even so, padparadscha gems are still priceless jewels with more clarity than even rubies. Noticeable inclusions or not, you’ll be sure to find yourself amazed and delighted by this compelling gem.

Size

You should also consider size and carat weight when shopping for your sapphire. But wait, aren’t they the same thing? On the contrary.

While people use gemstone size and weight synonymously, they’re two different metrics.

Gemstone size is measured in millimeters, while weight is calculated in carats. As a reference guide, a single carat equals 200 milligrams.

When it comes to size, padparadscha sapphires are often sold in a broad range from 3-11 millimeters. Generally, the larger a gemstone is, the pricier it’ll be. Unless, of course, the large gem is riddled with visible inclusions, then even a large diamond won’t catch a high price tag.

Carat Weight

In terms of weight, the heaviness of most padparadscha sapphires is usually similar to that of rubies. Most of them weigh under two carats (400 milligrams). Stones that exceed this mass are super rare to find.

If you’re lucky enough to obtain a padparadscha that weighs over five carats? Then you’ve got a world-class gem in your hands worthy for auctioning.

So, are you wondering just how heavy the world’s largest padparadscha sapphire is? Believe it or not, the colossal gem weighs an astounding 100.18 carats (20,036 milligrams)! This mighty jewel is currently preserved in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Padparadscha Sapphire Price

Now that we’ve covered the padparadscha sapphire’s main specifications, let’s chat about pricing. Because padparadscha gemstones are so rare, they’re as valuable as emeralds and rubies.

For many, these elusive gems are equally unattainable because of their high price points. But it isn’t always so.

When setting the price for these unique jewels, several factors come into play.

• How large is the sapphire?

• What is the gem quality?

• How has the stone been cut and polished?

• Is the color deeply saturated?

Speaking of coloring, padparadscha sapphires with deep, vivid tones are usually more coveted, which is where sapphire treatments come into play.

Sapphire treatment is the process of enhancing a sapphire’s clarity and color, typically by adding heat. One standard method is Beryllium diffusion, a complicated procedure where diffusing Beryllium into the sapphire at sweltering temperatures enhances the stone’s coloring.

While this method produces more vibrant colors, treated sapphires are considered to be less valuable as a result.

Thanks to all of these various elements and standards, padparadscha sapphires can cost anywhere between $1k–$200k per carat. Remember to keep in mind that large, medium-toned, high-clarity, and untreated gems will fetch higher prices.

Of course, you’ll secure a better bargain by buying stones directly through a reputable gem agency!

Choosing the Right Padparadscha Sapphire

At last, we’ve reached the end of our virtual padparadscha sapphire tour! But before we let the sun set on this striking jewel, let’s recap.

As we’ve learned, padparadscha stones are more than just sparkling “pink-orange” sapphires. These unique gems are rich in history, meaning, and color range. They’re quite diverse in terms of cut, clarity, size, weight, and pricing too.

When it comes to choosing which padparadscha gemstone to buy, know that there is no “right” sapphire out there. Think about the features you value most and which are relevant to your needs and desires.

Maybe finding a true padparadscha sapphire is at the top of your list. Perhaps you’re looking for gemstones with a high clarity grade. Maybe you want something more budget-friendly yet still valuable, in which case a treated padparadscha may fit the bill.

Whatever your criteria may be, we’re confident that any padparadscha gem is sure to turn heads wherever you go. After all, these rare sapphires carry the lotus flower’s vitalizing spirit and splendor.

So… what are you waiting for?

Check out our selection of padparadscha sapphires today!

Padparadscha Sapphire Gemstones