Let me try to explain the rarity of the coveted Padparadscha Sapphire. Out of ten Jewelry stores, nine probably never had them in their store. Out of those nine, more than half have probably never heard of Padparadscha Sapphire. Go even further, if you survey any gemologist you know, he or she will likely tell that they were not tested on it, that they never actually seen one in person during their gemstone courses, and have maybe only seen a few in their lives. Its unavailability is only matched by its exceptional beauty.
So what is a Padparadscha Sapphire? The actual word “Padparadscha” means “lotus flower” in the Sri Lankan language (Sinhalese). In addition to the exotic origins of the name, the gemstone is a variation of sapphire that has a delicate balance of a mixture of pink and orange colors. In other words, as my father likes to describe: “the color of the sun right before it sets.”
Many labs have their own interpretation of what is classified as Padparadscha. Moreover, the ultimate seeker of this gemstone usually has their own interpretation of what Padparadscha variation they are looking for. Some desire lighter tones, more orange, more pink, more pastel, pinches of yellow, pinches of red, pinches of brown, and other tones and saturations. Ultimately what matters most to us is that the Padparadscha gemstone incorporates both orange and pink hues. While this may seem subjective, it probably is and two labs may in fact conclude differently on the lab reports.
Next time you visit your jeweler, or any jewelry store for that matter, ask them if they have any Padparadscha Sapphires. You would be surprised on the responses. Go even further, and request a certain shape, certain size, and a color combination you personally like, and just make note of the responses. You will barely see any.
Make 2016 different, and begin the journey to standout with uniqueness. Hunt out the Padparadscha color that you love, and be confident that it will be unmatched anywhere in the world. A diamond may be forever, but remember: A Padparadscha is rarer.
Justin Zaroovabeli is one of the founding partners of The Rare Gem LLC (Exclusive purveyor of Padparadscha Sapphires)
