Padparadscha sapphire, a fascinating and rare gemstone

Padparadscha sapphire is one of the least-known sapphires, yet one of the most coveted by connoisseurs and gemologists alike. Discover this extraordinary gemstone, as bewitching as it is hard to find.

What is padparadscha sapphire?

Padparadscha sapphire is a pink and orange stone in the same family as other sapphires. Its name comes from a word meaning "lotus color" in Sinhalese. However, they are not exclusively Ceylon sapphires. There are deposits in Madagascar and Tanzania, but Sri Lankan padparadscha is renowned for its exceptional quality.

Uniquely beautiful, padparadscha sapphires are rare, even rarer for unheated sapphires. Their weight almost never exceeds 2 carats. They are cut specifically to lose as little material as possible (like the cushion cut). The significance of the padparadscha sapphire is associated with healing the spirit.

The color of Padparadscha sapphire: orange or pink?

There is no strict consensus on the color of a padparadscha sapphire, in the sense that gems can have more or less pink or orange.

In any case, these are slightly to moderately saturated stones, with two colors that don't quite blend. Padparadscha has more orange and pink parts, as well as touches of yellow. It literally evokes a tropical sunset.

Some stones are called peach sapphires. They are superb, but do not have these different zones. Padparadscha is not an orange sapphire with pink hues. Nor is it a pink sapphire with orange hues.

However, Madagascar padparadscha sapphires tend to be pinker, and some rough padparadscha sapphires are more salmon-pink.

Trends for a padparadscha sapphire ring

Most sapphire engagement rings feature a blue sapphire, but sapphires in other colors are becoming increasingly popular. The same applies to the exceptional rings offered for sapphire nuptials. On rings, the highly original padparadscha sapphire is commonly surrounded by small diamonds. Alternatively, sapphire padparadscha rings have a diamond-paved band. Sometimes, a padparadscha is also set between two diamonds. This type of atypically colored sapphire is a good option for a 10-year wedding ring or another decade.

The diamonds contrast beautifully with the softness of the padparadscha sapphires. maison Bonnot lets you choose every stone in your ring, to be created in white or yellow gold. Although less commonly used, rose gold is a possibility for a padparadscha sapphire ring. After all, the choice of gold is yours, as is the design of your unique ring.

Where can I buy a padparadscha sapphire?

As an expert gemmologist working without intermediaries, Bonnot knows the provenance of any padparadscha sapphire offered for purchase, and it is always sold with a certificate of authenticity.

You have to be demanding when buying a padparadscha sapphire, especially if you're looking for authenticity, i.e. no synthetic treatment. Treated pink-orange sapphires are sold under this name. And determining what is a "real" padparadscha based on its nuances is sometimes subjective.

About the price of a padparadscha

Read our article on sapphire prices. The price of padparadscha sapphire (heated but untreated) is higher than many other sapphires. For the same number of carats, they are commonly more expensive than blue sapphire, costing upwards of €10,000. A fine Ceylon padparadscha is more expensive than many diamonds or rubies. There are, however, variations in price, depending, for example, on the color (particularly crucial for padparadscha), clarity (purity) and quality of cut.