strong, orange fluorescence in unheated Padparadscha

[Sunset]

Hi - new here (long-time lurker)

. I have a question about fluorescence in padparadscha sapphires. My fiance and I recently bought a pad sapphire (from a well respected source) for my engagement ring. It is AGTA certified (2004) as a natural, unheated padparadscha and the dealer also certified it as natural, unheated (and from Madagascar). We looked at lots of pads before we chose this one - because of its cut and color.

It is about 2.4 carats and in most settings it is a light orangey-pink color (a light salmon color). The stones was described as medium-light but was definitely one of the lighter stones on their website - I prefer lighter sapphires to darker ones. In some light the pink is definitely more predominant (sort of the color of Amazing Grace body wash, but a little darker) but I have noticed that in certain lighting conditions it flashes and glows brilliant orange (like it has captured the sunset inside itself!!) - it is truly beautiful to see the color change. In some lighting the orange becomes more predominant and in some light the orange streaks through the stones like a setting sun. I thought it might have some fluorescence from the way it glowed. So, yesterday, my fiance got out his purple-y light thing (sorry I don't know what these types of lights are called but the bulbs look violet-purple). We took the ring into a closet and...oh my gosh! It the entire stone was neon orange! It was stunning and shocking! The flourescence definitely adds character to the stone - it's like I have my own little sunset on my hand.

So my question is - is it normal/not normal for padparadscha to have orange fluorescence? Does this mean anything?

Thanks!

 

[innerkitten]

Hi, I don''t know a lot about pad sapphires though I''m sure someone here will. I was just wondering if you could post a pic because it sounds really nice

 

[LizzieC]

I second the request for pics! It sounds stunning!

 

[Linda W]

Yes PLEASE post pics. Pads are one of my favorite stones. I also own a pad ring.


Linda

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Hi Sunset. Sounds like a beauty.

I''m familiar with some (not all) Padparadschas from Sri Lanka having a moderate to strong orange or apricot colored fluorescence.

Apparently the Madagascar stones can as well. Anybody familiar with that phenomena in Madagascar pads?

It would seem to be a plus, just as red fluorescence gives a ruby that extra "kick".

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Well, of course I am jealous. No, very jealous--pics of this beauty please!!!!!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Sunset]

Thank you for the replies and thank you for the information on Sri Lanka pads - it does give it a nice kick - just so shocking to see the first time. I was like, "My engagement ring is possessed!"

That is the thing I like so much about sapphires, each one is unique and has its own special beauty.

I'm going to try to take some pics tonight and post

Hope I can get some of the fluorescence.

 

[portoar]

Your pad sounds so lovely . . . I can''t wait to see pictures.

 

[colorchange]

"Idealy" a pad should not be colorchanging, but many Ceylonese padparadsha have a slight to medium orange fluorescence... and I heve never heard of any stone claiming a lower value because of this. (the most important is saturation)
I''m not very familiar with Madagascar stones, but your''s must be awesome and you shouldn''t doubt of it''s beeing natural because of that !
Indeed the only completely straight pads I have seen up to now are from Burma

 

[Sunset]

Thanks for the further info on fluorescence. I love this site because it is such a wealth of great information and ideas.

It's a funny little stone (a chameleon) - definitely a light salmon color (heavy on the pink) most of the time, except when it hits sunlight, then the orange comes out. All the pads we looked at seemed to vary greatly in color from one to the other. I was floored and confused at the difference! But none really seemed made for me. I looked at pads on other websites, and at some local SF Bay Area stores that I trusted (where prices were through the roof!), but I just couldn't find the right stone. I almost gave up and went with a diamond instead.

I passed my stone over several times in my search because the picture on the dealer's website made it seems soooo light in color. But, when I finally decided to see it in person, I was won over. The dealer's website described my stone as "angelic", and I think that is a perfect description for it. The fact that it already had its "papers" sealed the deal - and the price (after setting and all) was far less than my fiancé had budgeted.

This picture isn't the best representation of its color - I hope to take some more that really capture it (if that is possible). It has two trillion side stones ~.50 tcw and is set in 18k wg.

 

[Linda W]

Oh your ring is BEAUTIFUL, WOW. I love it. My pad turns pink when it hits sunlight or artificial light. Isn''t it funny how they are all different? Mine is natural too, and unheated.

I adore yours. What a beautiful engagement ring it makes too. Congratulations. Looking forward to seeing more pictures.



Linda

 

[innerkitten]

it''s so beautiful and sparkly! Lucky you

 

[Dee*Jay]

Wow, it''s georgous! And love the setting too!

 

[Sunset]

Thanks everyone

Linda W - do you have a picture posted of your ring? Sounds fabulous. It is strange how they are all so different.

I do love my stone - it is definately more me than a diamond (not that I don''t adore diamonds). I just couldn''t image looking down at my finger for the rest of my life and not see something PINK. That is really why we went with a sapphire over a diamond - when I think of love, I think of color - and pink is my favorite color and orange is his, so we thought this was the best representation/token of our love.

Thanks again for all the information. Hope you all have a great day!

 

[Linda W]

Hi Sunset,

No, I haven''t taken any pictures of it yet, although I should and post them here. I purchased mine from The Natural Sapphire Company. Someone here recommended them, but I can''t recall who.

I would love to purchase another one someday. I simply love those sapphires. They simply amaze me, the different colors they come in. They are so expensive though.

Enjoy yours and again congratulations.

Could you please post more pictures of yours????????????? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE???????? Would love to see yours in the daylight too.

Linda

 

[Sunset]

I got mine from the Natural Sapphire Company too (after reading good things about them here) : ) I still browse their website looking to see what else is out there - I''d like to get more sapphies in the future - maybe a pendant or something.

I will post more pics. We are going to take some more this weekend to send to his family - who has yet to see the ring.

 

[Linda W]

Hi Sunset,

I still look at their website too. LOL. I would love a pendant too.

I am looking forward to seeing more pictures of your beautiful ring.

Linda

 

[portoar]

I''ve been looking at the sapphires on their website (the natural sapphire co). Took a look through all the Pads (now that I''ve seen your ring of course I want one!) and notice that some are cut deep, some very shallow. Are these generally cut shallow because deep color isn''t desireable in a pad? I can''t figure out the cutting on these things. What do I look for?

 

[Linda W]

Good question. I noticed the same thing when I bought mine from them. Mine is cut deep. I have no idea why some are cut deep and some shallow. Maybe some of the experts will help us. Maybe some of them are just cut poorly because the are in-house cut??? I don''t really know. I did see that some of them are cut lopsided though.


Linda

 

[portoar]

Linda, what size is yours, and can we see some pictures? Is it a pinkish-orange or an orangish-pink? Pictures, please!

 

[Linda W]

Mine is a .90 orange-pink. Now that I saw the other colors I like the pink orange better, that will be my next one. Mine looks to orange to me, but in the light, it turns pink anyway, if that makes sense.

Our digital takes awful pictures, we need a new camera, but I will have hubby take a picture soon.

Linda

 

[widget]

My pad changes personality in different lighting, too. More orangy sometimes, more pinky other times. Now I want to get one of those flashlight thingies and see if it floresces!!

Sunset, your ring is just beautiful!

widget

 

[Linda W]

Widget, I do too. LOL. I love Sunsets ring too and yours. I never knew pads came in so many colors.


Linda

 

[widget]

Well, this thread got me trying to see if I could capture the different "personalities" of my pad in different lighting....this is the best I could come up with. (I didn''t alter the pictures any...it looks like I have "color-change skin!

)

(Sunset, your stone is a lot cleaner than mine. Mine has lots of silk in it, which accounts for its almost "fuzzy" glow...)

widget

 

[Linda W]

Widget, Color changing skin, ha ha ha ha ha. Your pad is really pretty, I love it. We tried to posts pics of mine tonight, and it didn''t work. We have to try again tomorrow. The digital didn''t work with my new computer. I will have my daughter try on her computer at her house.