Padparadscha sapphire: what it is and how dealers record it
· GemColony
What padparadscha is
Padparadscha is a rare sapphire with a delicate pink-orange colour, often compared to a lotus flower or a sunset. The word is usually traced to a Sinhala term for the lotus blossom. Fine stones were first known from Sri Lanka, and similar stones are now found in Madagascar and Tanzania.
Why the name is argued over
There is no single colour boundary. Laboratories use their own criteria, so a stone one lab calls padparadscha might be reported as pink or orange sapphire by another. Treatment status also affects how the stone is described and priced.
What to keep on file
The lab name, report number and date, the exact wording used on the report, the treatment status, origin if stated, weight and dimensions. If a stone is re-submitted to a second laboratory, keep both reports.
Why it suits software
Padparadscha is sold one stone at a time at high prices, so each sale needs the report, photographs under consistent light, and a history of who has seen or held the stone on memo.