Padparadscha journey

[voce]

You're making the right choice. The smaller one is more vibrant. Maybe a nice halo is in order if you're concerned it's too small. It's going into a pendant, if I recall correctly?

 

[icy_jade]

Yep, will be looking at another two on Monday! To me, 1.06ct is ok, but we'll see what else is out there,

If you see the right one your heart should miss beat... let us know

From the way you describe, don’t think the 1.06ct is the one

Ok isn’t fabulous...

 

[Lilith112]

Based in your pics I would say the smaller one

Yep, so far my preferred contender!

I like the smaller one better. It looks like it has a nicer orange- pink color mix compared to the larger one. I also see lavender and some slight brown in the larger one, neither of which I like in a pad (almost disqualifying as a pad in my opinion).

The larger one also has these extinction zones which....not a fan of. Still waiting to see a 1 ct one and a 2ct+ one tmrw.

You're making the right choice. The smaller one is more vibrant. Maybe a nice halo is in order if you're concerned it's too small. It's going into a pendant, if I recall correctly?

Yep, pendant! I'm thought of maybe a flower halo?

If you see the right one your heart should miss beat... let us know

From the way you describe, don’t think the 1.06ct is the one

Ok isn’t fabulous...

It didn't immediately set my heart aflutter....but there was a bit of a jump! Still want to see more options in person though

 

[Lilith112]

Just saw another three today (over WeChat, not in person) that look very promising:


1.83ct, RMB26000, Sri Lanka


3ct, RMB120000


2.01ct, 28000

What does everyone think? My heart definitely stuttered a bit this time!

 

[voce]

3 ct one is the nicest, but these all seem to have huge windows, so I think that you need to be okay with it.

 

[Lilith112]

3 ct one is the nicest, but these all seem to have huge windows, so I think that you need to be okay with it.

True. Thought from looking at pads, I think I don't mind windows to a degree. I requested more pics from the vendor in different lighting, so we'll see how much the windows affect the color.

Other than that, what do you think of the color? I'm currently split between the 2.01 and the 1.83ct since the 3ct one is waaaay out of my budget (despite being gorgeous)

 

[Lilith112]

1.61ct, unheated, Madagascar, USD2100:



Vendor says it's 50-50, but I can't really tell if there's orange mixed in :/

Also regarding its window, I'm aware there is one, but it doesn't seem too bad compared to some others that I've seen.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

Small window, yes. Maybe it would close up in the right setting? It looks a tad more pink than orange, but still very pretty. It actually reminds me of my pad, color-wise. I would have preferred a bit more orange in mine, but was stymied by budget. I see more orange in real life than in photos, though, and the color still mesmerizes me. So overall, I think this one is promising, but I'd keep looking if your budget is generous and your wants specific.

 

[Lilith112]

Small window, yes. Maybe it would close up in the right setting? It looks a tad more pink than orange, but still very pretty. It actually reminds me of my pad, color-wise. I would have preferred a bit more orange in mine, but was stymied by budget. I see more orange in real life than in photos, though, and the color still mesmerizes me. So overall, I think this one is promising, but I'd keep looking if your budget is generous and your wants specific.

True, I think I've been bothered since I usually prefer just a tad more orange. Searching for pads really is difficult! I have a better idea now of what makes my heart sing...now it's finding one that's within my budget (under 2ct) in my preferred shape that's the real issue.

 

[Lilith112]

Does this look brownish to anyone? The one on the left:

 

[voce]

Does this look brownish to anyone? The one on the left:

The more brown exists in these pictures, the more orange there'll be. Some cameras capture the color orange much like brown (Yvonne Raley's spess pictures).

So, when it comes to a stone like padparadscha, I think you should see anything in person before you commit to a purchase, and shouldn't necessarily rule a pad out just because it photographs as brown-ish.

 

[ChaiK]

I love everything, even if I am not a padparadscha person. So lovely . I am not much help though. I don't think straight sometimes when it comes to gems.

 

[CSpan]

This is a stupid question, and may be my browser but can someone circle or point to the windows? I'm an idiot and am not sure what I am looking at and I want to be able to ID a window should I see one I the wild.

 

[Jsand]

Have you tried this seller on IG?

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Lilith112]

The more brown exists in these pictures, the more orange there'll be. Some cameras capture the color orange much like brown (Yvonne Raley's spess pictures).

So, when it comes to a stone like padparadscha, I think you should see anything in person before you commit to a purchase, and shouldn't necessarily rule a pad out just because it photographs as brown-ish.

True! I just asked the vendor to double confirm her return policy....the price is ok (RMB15000) and I'm curious to see what it looks like in real life. As long as she offers a reasonable viewing window, might purchase just to see it in person.

@ChaiK happy that you're enjoying this thread! Pads really are tricky....I find w/pads, I care mostly about color evenness, tone, and saturation (evenness is directly correlated w/windows) and then cut. It's a much more difficult hunt imo than for cornflower blue, but I'm enjoying the experience.

 

[Lilith112]

Have you tried this seller on IG?

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Thank you! Just contacted him; he says he has a 2.35ct one...but it's USD10,000 lol, way out of budget. Fingers crossed!

 

[Lilith112]

So some new options; a 1.7ct one:



And a 1.65ct one for USD2600:




Any thoughts/comments?

 

[T L]

Thank you! Just contacted him; he says he has a 2.35ct one...but it's USD10,000 lol, way out of budget. Fingers crossed!

I have an almost three carat spinel that color. Are you sure you wouldn’t want a spinel instead, considering your budget? Mr. Spinel in IG has tons of divider to colors.

 

[Lilith112]

Also, updated setting ideas! Depending on the size of the pad I choose:

 

[natasha-cupcake]

I like both settings! I'm no help there. As far as the two pads, the 1.7 looks a little more promising to me than the 1.65, but it just might be because the photos are clearer. I think I see a small window in the 1.7 and a larger one in the 1.65, but since the photos are not head on for the second stone, it's just hard to tell.

This is hard, too, because the vendor photos always make the gems look good. I wish there was a giant gem store where you could go and look at thousands of stones in every variety. And that the store was close to all of us!

 

[Lilith112]

This looks promising:

 

[CSpan]

This looks promising:

I am just along for the ride but that color is amazing.

 

[suzanne2]

This looks promising:

I chime in when I see the color I like, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. This one shouts "look at me!" I know many people say the soft pastel stones are true pads yet I love the saturation on this one.

 

[Lilith112]

I am just along for the ride but that color is amazing.

Vote for seeing it in person?

I chime in when I see the color I like, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. This one shouts "look at me!" I know many people say the soft pastel stones are true pads yet I love the saturation on this one.

Yep, definitely more of a fan of the saturated tones. I think pastel and pinky pads just disappear on my skintone. Plus the pink tends to pick up a lavender hue in dim lighting which is unflattering imo

 

[CSpan]

Vote for seeing it in person?

Absolutely. Is this one local?

 

[Lilith112]

Absolutely. Is this one local?

Yep!

 

[suzanne2]

Vote for seeing it in person?

I vote Yes!

 

[Lilith112]

Just saw the 2.03ct pad and a 1.51ct one. In person, the 2.03 one is more like 70-30 orange-pink which I'm not a fan of. The 1.51ct one was more promising, but a bit washed out w/more of a peach, not orange, shift. Pics turned out more intense than colors really are:

Bright store lighting:



Next to window, cloudy weather:

 

[suzanne2]

That's too bad. I had hopes for the larger one.

 

[voce]

The 1.51 ct is better in my opinion because too much orange can quickly go brown in certain lighting.