Among all the varieties of sapphire, none captures the imagination quite like the padparadscha. This extraordinary gemstone, celebrated for its delicate blend of pink and orange, is widely regarded as the rarest and most valuable form of September’s birthstone. Often likened to the hues of a lotus blossom or a tropical sunset, padparadscha sapphires hold a singular place in the world of fine jewelry.
Like all sapphires, padparadscha belongs to the corundum family of minerals, which also includes ruby. Its distinctive salmon-to-apricot color arises from a rare interplay of trace elements: chromium, which lends red tones, and iron, which produces yellow. When perfectly balanced, these elements create the elusive pinkish-orange glow that defines the padparadscha. This harmony of color is so unique that connoisseurs describe the gem as “a true Rembrandt among gemstones.”
The name itself reflects its poetic beauty. Derived from the Sanskrit padma raga, meaning “lotus color,” padparadscha has long been treasured for evoking both natural tranquility and artistic brilliance. In gemological terms, it is categorized as a “fancy sapphire,” since any sapphire outside the traditional blue hue falls into that classification. Among all fancy sapphires — yellow, pink, purple, etc. — the padparadscha remains the most coveted.
Rarity is at the heart of its allure. Fine-quality stones above two carats are scarce, while gems over five carats are virtually museum pieces. The most historically prized examples come from Sri Lanka, though deposits are also found in Madagascar and Tanzania. Collectors prize unheated specimens with vivid, well-balanced color and exceptional clarity, and prices can rival or exceed those of top blue sapphires or Burmese rubies.
The gem gained global fame in 2018 when Princess Eugenie of York became engaged to Jack Brooksbank with an oval padparadscha sapphire encircled by a halo of white diamonds. In interviews, Brooksbank described the stone’s ability to shift color in changing light, calling it a perfect reflection of Eugenie herself. The royal engagement spotlight cemented the padparadscha’s reputation as a gemstone of romance, individuality and distinction.
Padparadscha sapphires consistently command impressive prices when they appear at auction, reflecting both their rarity and enduring demand. At Christie’s Hong Kong in 2013, a 73.98-carat oval padparadscha ring framed in diamonds achieved a pre-sale estimate of $1.55 million. More recently, fine-quality stones of five carats or more have sold for six-figure sums per carat, depending on origin, treatment status and overall balance of color.
Beyond its rarity, the padparadscha carries symbolic depth. Its colors are said to embody a union of passion (pink) and vitality (orange), while the lotus flower reference evokes renewal and love. Combined with sapphire’s legendary durability — a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale — the gem offers both beauty and resilience, making it an exceptional choice for heirloom jewelry and engagement rings alike.
For those born in September, the padparadscha offers a birthstone unlike any other: rare, radiant and endlessly captivating. In a market where collectors seek both beauty and exclusivity, this lotus-colored sapphire continues to shine as one of nature’s most unforgettable creations.
Credit: AI-generated artwork created by The Jeweler Blog using OpenAI's DALL-E 2.