Padparadscha sapphire

[ADjewellery]

Thinking of purchasing this 2.6ct padparadscha for $6,687 USD what does everyone think of it? From Ceylon and heated but no other treatments. Has one inclusion that is noticeable if you really stare at it. Has a CGJ certificate but the local gemologist who is selling it has also confirmed with their own equipment that it is correct.

 

[Niel]

For that price I’d expect a more reputable report and the color leans brown to my eyes

 

[Rfisher]

For that price - I’d want further clarification of what thermal enhancement means and what it doesn’t. And as already said, from a different lab.
As to color - what do your eyes see compared to what posts on your monitor? What can you compare it to?
I know my monitor will be different than what you see as well.
Not to say it isn’t pretty- I think it is- but the amount of mauve I see, if that’s what it look like to naked eye, would give me much pause at that price you’ve stated. Is it priced that way for its beauty or just the name Pad on that certificate?

I know I’ve typed this many times in past weeks and probably everyone’s sick of reading - with just a lazy iPhone - I cannot get a truly accurate photo of my pinky peach sapphire. That said- I can easily get tons of photos that look like the Pad of my dreams.

And if you aren’t in the trade I’d ask the mods to remove the badge on your profile.
If you are - well, what?

 

[ADjewellery]

For that price I’d expect a more reputable report and the color leans brown to my eyes

I'm definitely no regular purchaser of pad's so not really sure what an appropriate price would be, do you think it is priced too high? As far as I know they do vary greatly depending on the colour and size. I was looking at some that were priced around the $3,300 mark but that was for about 1.6ct so I assume when going over 2ct the price would jump higher, but of course I'm wanting other opinions. I'm not really seeing brown, I guess it's hard to show in images but it's pink with a definite orange in the centre in a "Pharoh's eye" type colouring.

They have offered to send to GIA but it will cost an extra 200. They are trained by GIA and have offered a certificate under their company name, but perhaps I will pay extra for the GIA cert.

 

[JackTrick]

I think pads are typically meant to have even color without obvious zoning. The orange center is fun, but moves it out of pad territory for me.

 

[ADjewellery]

For that price - I’d want further clarification of what thermal enhancement means and what it doesn’t. And as already said, from a different lab.
As to color - what do your eyes see compared to what posts on your monitor? What can you compare it to?
I know my monitor will be different than what you see as well.
Not to say it isn’t pretty- I think it is- but the amount of mauve I see, if that’s what it look like to naked eye, would give me much pause at that price you’ve stated. Is it priced that way for its beauty or just the name Pad on that certificate?

I know I’ve typed this many times in past weeks and probably everyone’s sick of reading - with just a lazy iPhone - I cannot get a truly accurate photo of my pinky peach sapphire. That said- I can easily get tons of photos that look like the Pad of my dreams.

And if you aren’t in the trade I’d ask the mods to remove the badge on your profile.
If you are - well, what?

I did ask about clarification on the thermal enhancement and they said it was only gentle heating. I asked about any other treatments including beryllium. They have offered to write up a report under their company but have also said I could get it sent to GIA it would just cost an extra 200.

I would say it changes a lot under different lights so it's hard to describe, but it is more pastel in real life and definitely has the pink and orange tones. I will try to take a video that gives a more accurate colour. In direct afternoon light I can see the purple blue flashes but in more diffuse light it's more orangey pink.

Not really sure why the trade badge is important to you, but I am a jeweller, just not a gemologist.

 

[Rfisher]

Forum policy of what is allowed is different for trade members.

 

[ADjewellery]

I think pads are typically meant to have even color without obvious zoning. The orange center is fun, but moves it out of pad territory for me.

0h really? Do you have examples of what a pad should look like? It is hard with pads because I have tried to do my research on them and avoid "pad's" that are too pink or too orange or with obvious brown or purple and this one seems to be the closest I've come across. But a lot of gem sellers only have local Sri Lankan certificates so I am always nervous about buying an overpriced sapphire because it has been labelled a Pad.

 

[ADjewellery]

Forum policy of what is allowed is different for trade members.

Oh ok, I am a new member so I'll have to look into that.

 

[Niel]

I’ve seen gia graded pads with zoning.
example here

14k White Gold Padparadscha SAPPHIRE & Diamond RING 2.35ctw - Size 6.75 GIA | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 14k White Gold Padparadscha SAPPHIRE & Diamond RING 2.35ctw - Size 6.75 GIA at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Rfisher]

I would love a zoned Pad.

I do wonder, if Pad designation (like from Lotus) needs to keep the color requirement in multiple lighting environments?
Or can the colors shift?

 

[ADjewellery]

I’ve seen gia graded pads with zoning.
example here

14k White Gold Padparadscha SAPPHIRE & Diamond RING 2.35ctw - Size 6.75 GIA | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 14k White Gold Padparadscha SAPPHIRE & Diamond RING 2.35ctw - Size 6.75 GIA at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Thanks, I think I did read that zoning tends to be more obvious with heating as well.

So I guess the question is, what kind of pricing should I expect and would it be worth paying extra to get it certified by GIA?

 

[Rfisher]

Thanks, I think I did read that zoning tends to be more obvious with heating as well.

So I guess the question is, what kind of pricing should I expect and would it be worth paying extra to get it certified by GIA?

Coming from your potential customer
Yes. You pay for the lab report. I hear GIA is more lax with the Pad designation so I’d prefer AGL or Lotus.
And I’d like it at 1k per carat.

 

[ADjewellery]

Coming from your potential customer
Yes. You pay for the lab report. I hear GIA is more lax with the Pad designation so I’d prefer AGL or Lotus.
And I’d like it at 1k per carat.

I would get it certified if I were to purchase it but wondering whether it's worth while going ahead for the price.
Interesting about GIA being lax, in what way? I've heard that they were quite strict in that they tend to only classify the more pastel pink orange tones as pad and not stones with higher saturation?
1k per ct seems pretty cheap, I think the lowest I've seen is about 2k per ct and the highest was about 12k per ct! Where do you look for Pad's?

 

[Rfisher]

I would get it certified if I were to purchase it but wondering whether it's worth while going ahead for the price.
Interesting about GIA being lax, in what way? I've heard that they were quite strict in that they tend to only classify the more pastel pink orange tones as pad and not stones with higher saturation?
1k per ct seems pretty cheap, I think the lowest I've seen is about 2k per ct and the highest was about 12k per ct! Where do you look for Pad's?

I’m being facetious, somewhat.
You, as a jeweler, are on a consumer based forum asking for not so little guidance that in turn,
you will then most likely be passing that same information to your customer?
I would like to think any customer should be able to trust trade member statements and opinions as from knowledgeable scholarly sources and experience.
Not random opinions from a consumer board.
Getting trends info? Sure.
Not this.

 

[Niel]

I would get it certified if I were to purchase it but wondering whether it's worth while going ahead for the price.
Interesting about GIA being lax, in what way? I've heard that they were quite strict in that they tend to only classify the more pastel pink orange tones as pad and not stones with higher saturation?
1k per ct seems pretty cheap, I think the lowest I've seen is about 2k per ct and the highest was about 12k per ct! Where do you look for Pad's?

Are you a jeweler? Are you in the trade? Your name and label indicates you are and is why RFisher is responding the way she is. Is that accurate?

 

[Rfisher]

Not really sure why the trade badge is important to you, but I am a jeweller, just not a gemologist.

Are you a jeweler? Are you in the trade? Your name and label indicates you are and is why RFisher is responding the way she is. Is that accurate?

They have already identified themselves as a jeweler upthread
And yes I should have just walked away and stopped commenting.

 

[fredflintstone]

Pretty stone. Looks Pad like to me. But there are different variations of Pads. Would not be to worried about the heat (BE is not out there like many think here), but I would send it to a better known LAB, say the AGL, Gubelin, Lotus, GRS, AIGS, GIA, Swiss Lab, just for the opinion in writing that it is a Pad. Will mean a higher resale if you ever want to part with it.

 

[fredflintstone]

The orange. Is that just a flash of orange, many will, or is that actual color zoning?

 

[minousbijoux]

While the size is in its favor, I pass on padparadschas with obvious zoning. It also appears to tend ever so slightly brownish given its low saturation. Finally, since its an oval and has not been precision cut to preclude it, it has strong half and half shadowing that I see as a detriment. It would be a pass for me.

 

[ADjewellery]

I’m being facetious, somewhat.
You, as a jeweler, are on a consumer based forum asking for not so little guidance that in turn,
you will then most likely be passing that same information to your customer?
I would like to think any customer should be able to trust trade member statements and opinions as from knowledgeable scholarly sources and experience.
Not random opinions from a consumer board.
Getting trends info? Sure.
Not this.

I guess I have mistaken the purpose of this forum? I assumed it was a place people could freely share interesting stones they found and share knowledge with likeminded people. I don't pretend to know everything about everything. I have my skills base and I am happy to give advice in the areas I am experienced and knowledgeable in and the areas I am less knowledgeable in, I am always wanting to learn. That doesn't mean I'm going to pass on false information to my customers or use this forum as a one stop shop for all my information needs. At the end of the day, the only thing separating a Padparadscha from any other sapphire is the colour, and that always comes down to someones opinion considering there is no standard definition across all gem labs of what a padparadscha colour actually is. I didn't think asking others who purchased Padparadschas more often their opinion would be a problem, but I guess I was mistaken. If the badge means I am not supposed to start these kinds of threads then I apologise and I am happy to remove the badge.

 

[fredflintstone]

I guess I have mistaken the purpose of this forum? I assumed it was a place people could freely share interesting stones they found and share knowledge with likeminded people. I don't pretend to know everything about everything. I have my skills base and I am happy to give advice in the areas I am experienced and knowledgeable in and the areas I am less knowledgeable in, I am always wanting to learn. That doesn't mean I'm going to pass on false information to my customers or use this forum as a one stop shop for all my information needs. At the end of the day, the only thing separating a Padparadscha from any other sapphire is the colour, and that always comes down to someones opinion considering there is no standard definition across all gem labs of what a padparadscha colour actually is. I didn't think asking others who purchased Padparadschas more often their opinion would be a problem, but I guess I was mistaken. If the badge means I am not supposed to start these kinds of threads then I apologise and I am happy to remove the badge.

Well said!

Could not agree more!

 

[ADjewellery]

The orange. Is that just a flash of orange, many will, or is that actual color zoning?

It is colour zoning coming from the culet, here's another image

 

[fredflintstone]

It is colour zoning coming from the culet, here's another image

Then to be very honest, you should pass on buying this stone. The price is way out of line.

I myself was in colored gemstone retail and wholesale fo almost 40 years. I am now retired.

But please do not by this stone for resale. There are many others out there.

Best of luck to you!

 

[icy_jade]

I will pass due to the price and that orange part that may make it harder to sell. Also cannot imagine the resale price. Have been quoted much cheaper for pads from Sri Lanka sellers.

 

[ADjewellery]

Then to be very honest, you should pass on buying this stone. The price is way out of line.

I myself was in colored gemstone retail and wholesale fo almost 40 years. I am now retired.

But please do not by this stone for resale. There are many others out there.

Best of luck to you!

Thank you for your advice. Do you think this would still be considered a Pad? I did feel like the price was quite high, but assumed perhaps because it is 2.6ct and the stone is actually quite nice. What price do you think would be more reasonable?

 

[fredflintstone]

To be honest I would not by this stone for resale.

The orange zone is most likely making the rest of the stone orangish pink through the optics of faceting. But I cannot say for sure unless I was to see it in person.


Would they call it a Pad? Possible, but the zoning would make the stone only of interest to those who truly love gemology and anomalies. Not the average collector or retail jewelry buyer.

 

[Niel]

I guess I have mistaken the purpose of this forum? I assumed it was a place people could freely share interesting stones they found and share knowledge with likeminded people. I don't pretend to know everything about everything. I have my skills base and I am happy to give advice in the areas I am experienced and knowledgeable in and the areas I am less knowledgeable in, I am always wanting to learn. That doesn't mean I'm going to pass on false information to my customers or use this forum as a one stop shop for all my information needs. At the end of the day, the only thing separating a Padparadscha from any other sapphire is the colour, and that always comes down to someones opinion considering there is no standard definition across all gem labs of what a padparadscha colour actually is. I didn't think asking others who purchased Padparadschas more often their opinion would be a problem, but I guess I was mistaken. If the badge means I am not supposed to start these kinds of threads then I apologise and I am happy to remove the badge.

The badge isn’t the problem is that you *are* a tradesperson. Toothpaste is already out of the tube.


I’m confused this is for resale? That price is wholesale? That’s insane to me.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I think it's pretty, but I see quite a few lower priced tourmalines and spinels that look very similar to this stone. I also am not sure if I am seeing some sleepiness in the stone or if the lower saturation is making it appear a bit dull in photo numbers 1 and 3. I think when you spend over 6K on colored stone it should knock your socks off.

 

[lovedogs]

The issue is that there are specific rules on this forum that jewelers need to follow, and this thread breaks those rules (If i understand them correctly).