For Good Padparadscha Sapphire Offers A Recommendable Destination

By Donna Gibson


Members of the public are not well conversant with gem stones known as sapphire. However, these stones are highly valued and treasured by traders in the gem industry. This is because they have a high value and are also beautiful. Padparadscha comprises of various types of gem stones. Colors and luster of sapphires in this category greatly vary. When in search of padparadscha sapphire should be given priority.

Some colors are more common than other. The rarest colors are in fact hardly seen. The name Padparadscha is derived from the Sinhalese word, which means aquatic lotus blossom when translated into English. The color can range from salmon color with an orange hue to pinkish hue. The colors are usually not even because it is possible to find a stone that has yellow and pink hints around the salmon color.

The exact valuation of the gem is often topic of discussion, with some people holding the thought that it should cost more. Another debate that surrounds the stone jewel is the source of its name. Although current classification places the gem in a class of its own, this was not always the case. It was considered a sub-variety of ruby some years ago.

Sri Lanka is the major source of the gem and the name is influenced by a local Sri Lankan language. The Umba valley in Tanzania is also a source of some sapphires in the market. Umba valley supplies sapphires with a darker color and brownish overtones. The darker hue is considered a deviation from the standards and as such, Tanzanian sapphire does not qualify as a Padparadscha to many traders.

The finest color of Padparadscha is not a function of color intensity like it is the case with other sapphires and ruby. Instead, they display a delicate mixture of orange and pink. The color is displayed best when viewed under daylight or fluorescent light. When using daylight, one should view the gem just after sunrise or before sunset. Incandescent lights do not bring out the color best.

Padparadschas are cleaner than ruby in most cases. Stones that have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye should be avoided when buying padparadschas. The presence of pastel shades in padparadschas makes it overly possible to see any inclusions. That is why one should only spend their money on stones that are eye-clean.

Padparadschas available on the market are cut and shaped in a wide variety of styles. Ovals ad cushions are seemingly the commonest shapes on the market. Other shapes such as rounds are also available but one would have a harder time accessing them. In fact, rounds cost a small fortune to buy. Some of the rarest shapes are cabochons.

In general, it is very costly to buy padparadscha gems. The cost of these stones is almost the same as that of ruby and emeralds. One may have to spend about 30,000 USD to acquire one carat. However, gems of low quality have flooded the market because of limited supply of pure padparadschas. One carat of low-quality gems costs only a few dollars.




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