Pink sapphire and padparadscha
Pink sapphire has won over engagement jewellery. Padparadscha, between pink and orange, is its rarest and most debated variety.
Maiwis editorial team
Pink sapphire
Pink sapphire owes its colour to chromium, the same element that colours ruby. The more saturated the colour, the closer it gets to ruby, and the boundary between the two varies by laboratory and by country. Shades run from pale pink to vivid pink, sometimes slightly purplish.
Padparadscha
Padparadscha is a sapphire whose colour blends pink and orange in a delicate balance. Its name comes from the languages of Sri Lanka and evokes the colour of the lotus flower. It is among the rarest and most expensive sapphires.
The name is not automatic. Each leading laboratory has its own criteria, and it is its mention on the report that counts.
What gives it its value
| Criterion | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Colour | For padparadscha, the balance between pink and orange. For pink sapphire, a vivid, luminous pink. |
| Stability | Some orange-pink sapphires lose a little of their colour in light. A stability test can be requested. |
| Clarity | We expect a stone with no inclusion visible to the naked eye. |
| Treatment | Unheated, heated or diffused. Diffusion changes the value entirely. |
| Origin | Sri Lanka is the benchmark for padparadscha. |
Treatments to watch for
In the early 2000s, the market saw orange and orange-pink sapphires treated by beryllium diffusion arrive in large numbers. Many were presented as padparadschas. This treatment introduces a foreign element into the crystal and can only be detected with certainty by equipped laboratories. For a padparadscha, the report of a leading laboratory is not optional.
Origins
Sri Lanka is the historical source of padparadscha and also produces beautiful pink sapphires. Madagascar has become an important source of pink and orange-pink sapphires. They are also found in Tanzania.
Pink sapphire and padparadscha: the weight and cut you choose
The House does not hold a fixed stock. You describe what you are looking for, we search through our sources and present a short selection.
The weight
From a few tenths of a carat up to major collector pieces. Give us a range, for example 2 to 3 carats.
The cut
Oval, cushion, emerald cut, round, pear, heart, radiant or cabochon: the shape is chosen according to the jewel you will have made.
The colour
The shade, the intensity and the treatments you accept or exclude. The more precise the request, the faster the search.
As soon as a stone matches, we send you its photographs, a video, its laboratory report and its price, with no obligation. You then decide. The House supplies the exceptional stone; the jewel is made by the jeweller of your choice. Orders are taken worldwide, and stones can be viewed in person in Paris, by appointment.
Place an orderFrequently asked questions
What makes a true padparadscha?
A balanced mixture of pink and orange, of medium to strong saturation. Each laboratory applies its own criteria to grant the name, which then appears on the report.
Where does padparadscha come from?
Sri Lanka is the historical source. Madagascar and Tanzania also produce orange-pink sapphires. Origin is established by the laboratory.
Is pink sapphire suitable for an engagement ring?
Yes. Its hardness of 9 makes it a very resistant stone, and its colour is among the most in demand today.
