What’s the difference between pink Sapphire and Padparadscha?

There’s always been huge demand for the ever rare Padparadscha, which has led to that term being thrown around loosely by less ethical sellers. 

 

Let’s start with the origins of the name ‘Padparadscha’. It’s derived from the Sinhalese word padma radschen (pad-ma rad-shen), meaning lotus blossom, which has petals of a similar blush hue. The name’s Sinhalese origin is extra fitting as Sri Lanka is the most famous source for this ‘King’ of Sapphires.

 

The orangey-pink hue of a Padparadscha can be described as many different things– a sunset, lotus flower or even tropical fruits but one thing’s for certain. The colour range of this beautiful gem falls within a mix of pink and orange. Some may have a more delicate pastel hue, while others are more fiery. Not enough warmth and it’s Pink Sapphire. A little too much, it’ll be an Orange Sapphire.

 

At the end of the day, a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. If you’ve fallen in love with a gem, does it matter if the lab report says that it’s a Padparadscha, an orange Sapphire or a Pink Sapphire? Many a time, when a gem is put against an individual’s skin, the warmth or coolness of their skin tone can bring out different sides to it. At MADLY, we always say that as much as we choose our gem, the gem chooses you.

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