| There is no universally
accepted definition of padparadscha
sapphire. As a gemstone, it falls
between the classifications of ruby
and orange sapphire, and can be described
as "an attractive pinkish-orange
sapphire of Sri Lankan origin." |
As with any other gemstone,
its beauty is judged by the balance
of the mosaic pattern produced by
its facet arrangement. When dealing
in padparadscha sapphires, the seller
must understand the beauty and characteristics
of the merchandise and be able to
communicate these clearly, to the
buyer's satisfaction. |
An understanding of
this sapphire is best achieved by
becoming familiar with the differences
in the nature of untreated and heat-treated
material, and the possible range
of hues and tones. As a reference,
the value of a three-carat-size,
heat-treated padparadscha sapphire
of jewelry quality is approximately
US $12,000 for the stone alone. (2001) |
