Padparadscha Sapphire;
Unearthing Earth's Rarest Gemstone
The Sapphire Merchant Custom Designed Padparadscha Ring
Table of Contents
- What is a Padparadscha Sapphire?
- What is the Origin of Padparadscha Sapphire?
- Is a Padparadscha Sapphire Heat Treated?
- Why are Padparadscha Sapphires Expensive?
- A Journey to Find Padparadscha Sapphire: My Story
- Buying a Padparadscha Sapphire
"The padparadscha sapphire holds the colours of a tropical sunrise, a rare blend of pink and gold that whispers of nature’s most fleeting and beautiful moments."
1. What is a Padparadscha Sapphire?
Padparadscha is known as the 'king of sapphires ', a title that underscores its exceptional rarity and beauty. This sapphire is so unique that it was given its own trade name, 'padparadscha ', derived from the Sinhalese word 'padmaraga ', meaning 'lotus flower'. This name pays homage to the gem's delicate blend of orange and pink hues, a rare sight in the world of precious gemstones.
Padparadscha Sapphire Belongs to the Corundum Family
Sapphire is an aluminium oxide which belongs to the corundum family. As the corundum forms, the specific geological conditions and the trace elements of chromium and iron create the unique pinkish-orange hues characteristic of padparadscha sapphires. The refractive index (RI) of sapphire is 1.76 - 1.77, and it displays birefringence, which means it has double refractive. When a sapphire exhibits double refraction, light entering the gemstone is split into two rays travelling at different speeds and exiting the gem in slightly different directions. This optical property is due to sapphire's anisotropic crystal structure, which interacts with light differently depending on the entry angle.
The Marriage Between Lotus Flower and a Sunset
The definition of a true padparadscha sapphire has been a subject of debate in the gemological community. The gemstone incorporates hues ranging from lighter reds (pinks) through to shades of yellow and orange to rich aurora reds. Said to be the marriage between the colour of a lotus flower and a sunset, the padparadscha defies definition. These unique sapphires display subtle colour shifts under different light sources. In daylight, their colours may appear more vivid, while under incandescent light, the pinkish or orangish tones might dominate.
Padparadscha Sapphire Crystal in its Rough Form
2. What is the Origin of a Padparadscha Sapphire?
Padparadscha Sapphires Mined in Sri Lanka
Padparadscha sapphires are primarily found in specific gem-producing regions of Sri Lanka, historically known as Ceylon. The most significant areas for padparadscha mining include Ratnapura, Elahera, Balangoda and Kataragama. Sri Lanka's reputation as the premier source of padparadscha is closely tied to these regions, which consistently yield gemstones that meet the strict colour, clarity, and quality criteria.
The sapphire deposits in Sri Lanka are primarily alluvial gravel beds called illam. These deposits formed millions of years ago due to the erosion of metamorphic rocks in the island's gem-rich highlands.
Padparadscha Sapphires Mined in Madagascar
Padparadscha sapphires were discovered in Madagascar in the late 1990s during a significant gem rush in the island's Ilakaka region. Madagascar, which had long been recognised for its gemstone potential, has emerged as a significant source of sapphires in modern times, including the coveted pinkish-orange hues of the classic padparadscha sapphire.
The discovery of padparadscha-like sapphires in Madagascar generated excitement within the gem trade because the stones closely resembled the traditional Sri Lankan variety. However, there have been ongoing debates over whether the Madagascan stones should be classified as true padparadscha, as some exhibited slightly different colour tones or characteristics. Over time, most gemological laboratories have recognised Madagascar-origin padparadscha sapphires as legitimate if they meet the strict colour criteria.
Madagascar is now considered one of the most important sources of padparadscha sapphires, alongside Sri Lanka and Tanzania, with many of there discovered sapphires featuring exceptional clarity and desirable hues. The Ilakaka deposits remain one of the world's largest sources of sapphires today.
3. Is Padparadscha Sapphire Heat Treated?
As with all gem-grade sapphires, 98% have undergone standard heat treatment to clarify the sapphire and enrich the colour. Unheated padparadscha sapphires are exceptionally rare, and this is reflected in their high prices. An unheated padparadscha sapphire is an investment-grade gemstone, especially in larger carat sizes.
Beryllium Treatment in Sapphires to Create Padparadscha Colours
Beryllium treatment was pioneered in Thailand (specifically the Chanthaburi area) and is a treatment given to sapphires that changes them into more desirable colours. A reputable gemological lab will test for Berylium treatment (BE), so it is crucial to have your padparadscha sapphire tested before you commit to purchasing it. Berylium treatment will significantly reduce the value of a padpadscha sapphire.
4. Why are Padparadscha Sapphires Expensive?
Padparadscha sapphires hold such a high value due to their scarcity and beauty. This unusual blend of pink and orange is significantly rarer than blue sapphires. Blue sapphires are iconic and are mined in numerous deposits worldwide. In contrast, padparadscha sapphires are far more elusive due to the narrow band of colour grading that allows them to be classified with the padparadscha trade name, and there are only a handful of known deposits globally.
5. A Journey to Find Padparadscha Sapphire: My Story
Before The Sapphire Merchant was established in June 2021, I took a trip to Sri Lanka in pursuit of a padparadscha sapphire. This trip planted a seed that grew into a burgeoning passion for coloured gemstones and the industry. Here is my story:
Gemma from The Sapphire Merchant observing a sapphire mine in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka - In search of Padparadscha Sapphire
From New Zealand to Sri Lanka in Search of Padparadscha Sapphire
I wanted to create a custom-designed padparadscha sapphire ring for myself. After searching around local jewellers and online gem sellers based in New Zealand for many months, my inability to find a Padparadscha sapphire here in New Zealand led me on a journey to the gem-rich island of Sri Lanka in search of the 'King of Sapphires'. I had discovered that 'true' padparadscha hails from Sri Lanka, so it seemed the most logical place to travel to find what I had been hunting for.
My quest to find a padparadscha sapphire began in Colombo, the bustling capital of Sri Lanka. From there, I embarked on a journey to Ratnapura, known as 'the city of gems' in Sinhalese. Armed with the knowledge that Ratnapura was surrounded by gemstone mines and had an uncut gemstone market that operated daily, I was filled with hope and anticipation. Despite the pouring rain and the challenge of finding suitable accommodation, I was undeterred. I was not a tourist, but a gem enthusiast on a mission. I checked into a quaint hotel on the outskirts of town, ready for the adventure that awaited me the next day.
Early the following day, I travelled to a nearby town, Nivithigala, to the open-air gemstone market. I had no address; my only information was that it began at 6:00 am. Driving into the town centre, I spotted congregating men, many wearing binocular head-mounted loupes. I joined a group of local gem dealers who showed me their gemstones. At the time, I was entirely out of my depth, and the gemstones were mostly in their raw form. I asked about Padparadscha or Padparaga as it is referred to in Sri Lanka, and I was shown many other types of raw stone, but nothing resembled a Padparadscha sapphire.
I spent the next few days visiting various gem dealers around the Ratnapura area. Though all had beautiful sapphires for sale, I had yet to find a Padparadscha sapphire. While visiting these dealers, I stopped at various roadside mining operations. The workers at these mines were happy to share with me their operations and showed me how the process worked. As no commercial mining is allowed in Sri Lanka, all mines are smaller operations out of hand-dug pits on the ground.
Mining for sapphires - A basket full of gem rough
After 3 days spent in the Ratnapura area with no sign of the elusive padparadscha, I headed south towards the coast; my destination was China Fort in a town called Beruwala, home to one of the largest gem markets in the world. The market was easy to locate. Hundreds of men gathered in a street lined with gemstone brokering shops. I was hopeful I could find a Padparadscha sapphire in this busy gemstone hub. And so my day began sitting in an air-conditioned brokering office with hundreds and hundreds of beautiful sapphires from a multitude of sapphire dealers laid before me. I had no idea what I was doing; this was a new experience. Finally, a seller came forward with a small bag of padparadscha sapphires in smaller carat sizes. I began narrowing down the lot, finally settling on what I thought was a Padparadscha sapphire (which later turned out to be a ruby, but that's a story for another day!) I worked on personal appeal, choosing a gemstone that I loved the look of. I bartered a price, then closed the deal.
Word had travelled around the local market that a foreigner was hunting for padparadscha sapphire. Sitting in the courtyard of the shop broker's home, sipping on black coffee, a man on a scooter pulled up. After some back and forth in Sinhalese with the other gemstone dealers accompanying me, he produced a folded piece of white paper from his pocket. Enclosed in this small parcel was a huge and spectacular Padparadscha sapphire. I had found it! Negotiations opened, and an animated haggle ensued over the next 3 hours. The man with the padparadscha was selling on behalf of another, so there were multiple phone calls from his end relaying proposed prices. Finally, we settled on a final price, and the deal was closed. This sapphire was an expensive buy for me at the time, but now it would be impossible to find a padparadscha at this price point.
After 10 days of travelling through Sri Lanka to buy a sapphire, I discovered that even on the 'Island of Gems, ' padparadscha was a rare and exciting find.
Lotus Tower, Colombo, Sri Lanka
6. Buying a Padparadscha Sapphire
The Sapphire Merchant is New Zealand's premier precious gemstone retailer and custom jewellery house. We travel to source and hand curate Earth's most exquisite gemstones.
Padparadscha Sapphire's are extraordinarily rare gemstones in lesser supply than sapphires of other colours. If you are in the market for a padparadscha sapphire, allow us the honour of brokering you an investment-grade padparadscha. With an office in Christchurch, New Zealand and an office in Bangkok, Thailand, we collaborate closely with a handful of trusted gem dealers to source sapphire options that are rarely seen on the market. Contact The Sapphire Merchant to start your gem hunt.