Padparadscha Sapphire Pricing Guide (What Determines Its Price)
There are many factors that when taken together, determine the price of Padparadscha Sapphires. Padparadscha sapphires are sought after for their beautiful salmon color reminiscent of the sunset. Their rare, captivating glow that only nature can perfect, make them one of the most expensive and popular gemstones in the world.
In recent years, demand for Padparadscha Sapphires have exploded. Like all Sapphires, they rank 9.0 on the Moh’s scale of hardness, and are only second to diamond in hardness, making them very durable and suitable for everyday wear. With Padparadscha’s popularity only increasing overtime, especially since they joined the ranks of Sapphire as a royal engagement ring ala Princess Eugenie, they are great long-term investments. Our Padparadscha pricing guide is here to provide the necessary information you need when looking to purchase this fascinating gem.
In this article will we cover the factors that influence and determine the price of Padparadschas by breaking them down into six main topics.
- Color
- Country of origin
- Treatment
- Clarity
- Cut
- Carat
1. Color
Padparadscha Sapphires are an extremely rare variety of corundum. It is characterised by its exquisite mix of red and yellow hues reminiscent of the sunset. Like all colored gemstones, the biggest price determining factor is a gem’s color, and even more so with a stone as unique as the Padparadscha. There are two distinct ways Padparadschas may display their beautiful colors: either with an orange base or with a pink base. Both are equally prized so the type of base color is really up to personal choice. Just like every gem, the more saturated and even the color, the more valuable the stone. The best range is an intensity that is not too light and not too deep, with an even tone throughout the whole gemstone.
2. Country of Origin
All Sapphires form in igneous rock as magma cools and are a variety of the mineral corundum, which consists of aluminium oxide and a number of trace minerals. Other examples of Sapphires are the more famous Blue Sapphire and Ruby.
Padparadscha Sapphires were first discovered in Sri Lanka, and its name was derived from the Sinhalese word “Padmaraga'', meaning lotus blossom. Today, the majority of Padparadscha Sapphires available in the world still originate from Sri Lanka.
Much like other gemstones with specific trade names such as the Paraiba Tourmaline, Padparadscha Sapphires from the mines in Sri Lanka command higher prices and are considered to be true Padparadscha Sapphires. With the recent discovery of deposits in Madagascar and Tanzania, similarly colored Sapphires have entered the market, and there has been debate about whether they can also be classified as Padparadscha Sapphires. With that said, Madagascan Padparsdachas are also highly regarded, and are certified by major labs as high quality fine specimens. Like with all gemstones, make sure that you are presented with a gemstone certificate (link to certificate article)specifying origin when considering a purchase.
3.Treatment
Most Padparadscha Sapphires undergo heat treatment to enhance their appearance. This results in consistency of color and has consequently become very common. Finer quality Padparadscha Sapphires that have been heat-treated are typically more affordable as they are not considered to be as rare or valuable as untreated stones. Due to their rarity, untreated Padparadschas are much pricier than treated ones. For example, a high quality, 3 carat, heated Padparadscha can be priced up to $5000 per carat, whereas a similar quality untreated Padparadscha of 3 carats such as this ring, is $9,000 per carat.
Due to frequent fraudulent treatments of gemstones, we source our Padparadscha Sapphires directly from our mining partners, meticulously test each gemstone, and send our gemstones for independent certification to guarantee their quality.
4.Clarity
Internal inclusions in a Padparadscha Sapphire is common and it is very rare for Padparadscha Sapphires to have perfect clarity. Because of this the clarity doesn’t affect the price of Padparadascha Sapphires as significantly compared to other precious stones like Rubies or Blue Sapphires. However, due to the delicate shades of color of Padparadscha Sapphires, inclusions and blemishes can be quite visible to the naked eye. For this reason, we take great care to source Padparadschas with the best clarity without compromising on its color.
5.Cut
Because of Padparadscha Sapphire’s crystal structure in its rough form, oval and cushion cuts are the most common so there is as little wastage as possible when cutting and polishing the stone. Of course round Padparadscha Sapphires can also be sourced as can other standard gemstone shapes such as the emerald cut, however, due to the rarity of Padparadscha Sapphires, there is a slight premium for those cuts.
6.Carat
Of course, the larger the stone, the more valuable it is. Due to the extreme rarity of Padparadscha Sapphires, large specimens are hard to come by. The most common Padparadscha Sapphire carat weight is between 1 and 2 carats, and anything above 2 carats is considered extremely rare and highly valuable. For example, a high quality, heated padparadscha sapphire such as this ring, is around $3500 per carat for a 1 carat stone, whereas a three carat heated stone can fetch up to $6000 per carat.
Conclusion
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right Padparadscha Sapphire for you. They are among the rarest and most sought after stones so it’s important to be informed when picking a gem that will give you the best bang for your buck.
The most important feature to keep in mind is color. Stones that are pale, too light and unsaturated, are priced much cheaper compared to stones that are saturated with a good blend of pink and orange. The second most important feature is treatment. Unheated padparadscha are priced exponentially higher than heated Padparadschas, and are much rarer, making them excellent investments. Origin and clarity don’t play as big a role in pricing like it does in Rubies and Blue Sapphires, but they are still important points to keep in mind.
We hope our Padparadscha pricing guide helped you get a clearer picture of the factors to consider when looking for the best value for your investment.
For more useful information about gemstones checkout our other gemstone guides or our blog. And if you’re considering purchasing Padparadscha Sapphire jewelry, browse our range of available rings or consult our specialists for our bespoke service to select the perfect Padparadscha and design for your jewelry.
Alternatively, book a free consultation with our jewelry specialists to discuss anything about Padparadscha Jewelry