The "Perfect" Padparadscha

[demantoidz]

Would the oval count as a Padparadscha? I do like this tone. There is more orange in real life, it photographs very very cherry-pink, but there is orange in it.

Beautiful and big stone, what is it? I see a strong purple modifier in the pic, which for me would exclude it from being a padparadscha color - though you did say it photographs differently from how it looks.

 

[JackTrick]

I’m pretty slutty when it comes to pads, and have a love of pretty much any stone with a good amount of pink and orange. Delicate, vivid, saturated, all are welcome.

although I will say I’m not quite as keen on the ones that come across more obviously purple or obviously orange to me. It’s the mixture that feels so special.

not enough pink


mostly just a light purple

and my little bit of personal perfection

 

[margauxmines]

Beautiful and big stone, what is it? I see a strong purple modifier in the pic, which for me would exclude it from being a padparadscha color - though you did say it photographs differently from how it looks.

It is a lab sapphire! I think this shows the colour a bit better…

 

[Autumn in New England]

Have to say I’m one of those “purists” referred to above. I do love the more saturated colours but to me one of the defining terms for a padparadscha is the word “delicate”. A vibrant stone is a joy in itself but to me it’s a different (not lesser) category.

To me the more important aspect in terms of colour is that there isn’t any other modifier aside from pink / orange - no brown, purple, greyish overtone.

Agreed!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Would the oval count as a Padparadscha? I do like this tone. There is more orange in real life, it photographs very very cherry-pink, but there is orange in it.

That asscher is gorgeous!! My favorite cut too. To me, the oval looks like a really beautiful pink sapphire.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Absolutely stunning example of the more delicate pink-leaning material!

 

[Autumn in New England]

For me, my perfect pad is:

-No grey/brown/violet modifiers.
-Vivid but delicate coloring
-eye-clean and no extinction
-50-50 pink-orange mix with a bit more orange base

Pictures of my pad necklace:

Stunning piece! And I agree with you... I would only add that I also don't want to see any distinct yellow. I like an even distribution of color without zoning or centers. But, certainly, I've seen color zoned pads receive the designation from reputable labs.

 

[margauxmines]

That asscher is gorgeous!! My favorite cut too. To me, the oval looks like a really beautiful pink sapphire.

Thank you, the asscher is pretty little thing! Natural peach sapphire. I’m still thinking of how to set it. I want a vintage with a big halo, maybe rose or white gold? I posted about it in a different thread.

The oval was sold to me as a lab Padparadscha but they didn’t charge a premium for it or anything so I still think it’s a good buy whatever it’s colour, I absolutely love it, it’s the juiciest little pop of cherry! I can’t wait to set it. Now if I can only decide on a design

 

[Autumn in New England]

I love the idea of a halo in rose gold, @margauxmines! You could also do a rose gold head/basket and white gold shank. That will make the color of the stone pop even more.

 

[margauxmines]

I love the idea of a halo in rose gold, @margauxmines! You could also do a rose gold head/basket and white gold shank. That will make the color of the stone pop even more.

Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[margauxmines]

Here's is another lab Padparadscha I once had. Precision cut by Gene at Precision Gem. Not for the faint (hue) of heart!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Here's is another lab Padparadscha I once had. Precision cut by Gene at Precision Gem. Not for the faint (hue) of heart!

I remember your thread on this stone! Maybe not the traditional color, but very pretty.

 

[Lilith112]

Stunning piece! And I agree with you... I would only add that I also don't want to see any distinct yellow. I like an even distribution of color without zoning or centers. But, certainly, I've seen color zoned pads receive the designation from reputable labs.

Awww thank you! Yes, no yellow would be nice too! RE: color zoning, it depends. I like a more blended look, but a bit of color zoning isn't too bad either.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Well, since you invited the country cousins of spinel to the party, I have a few small @2-2.5 ct ones of the sunset(?) variety. It depends on who you ask whether these count as traditional pads- but they are my favorite of the pad colors. They just glow in ridiculous wanton fashion when they fluoresce in the sun and I love that they're absolutely shameless about it They show up pretty pink dominant in these pictures; if you ignore the terrible blurriness and my utter lack of talent with the phone camera I'm too lazy to understand, they have a pretty nice balance in real life.
View attachment 877147


This little cut corner one almost made it, but looks more Sakura blossom pink because of it's purple modifier.
*Totally screwed up formatting, sorry about that.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I really like that top oval, @ItsMainelyYou! It's glowy... you can tell it fluoresces.

 

[elle_71125]

I’m fair skinned so the pale pads just don’t do it for me. I’m all about those bold saturated pads. My favorite one was from Jupiter gems. It was years ago (and how I wish I had the money for it back then).
I compare all pads to this one…

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Well, since you invited the country cousins of spinel to the party, I have a few small @2-2.5 ct ones of the sunset(?) variety. It depends on who you ask whether these count as traditional pads- but they are my favorite of the pad colors. They just glow in ridiculous wanton fashion when they fluoresce in the sun and I love that they're absolutely shameless about it They show up pretty pink dominant in these pictures; if you ignore the terrible blurriness and my utter lack of talent with the phone camera I'm too lazy to understand, they have a pretty nice balance in real life.
View attachment 877147


This little cut corner one almost made it, but looks more Sakura blossom pink because of it's purple modifier.
*Totally screwed up formatting, sorry about that.

Country cousins…good one.

These definitely qualify in my opinion. Spinels are giving the sapphires a run for their money.

 

[LilAlex]

Saw this on IG and immediately thought of this old thread.

(I feel I can criticize because they are one of my absolute faves even though I know we will never own anything from them.)

When your ad copy-writer and IG photo editor are not in the same room...

 

[Ionysis]

Saw this on IG and immediately thought of this old thread.

(I feel I can criticize because they are one of my absolute faves even though I know we will never own anything from them.)

When your ad copy-writer and IG photo editor are not in the same room...

Ha ha! I also saw this and could barely restrain myself from commenting. So NOT pads!

 

[thirdrock]

I find this color appealing.

 

[Kalynna]

Oooo, fun thread, all of your stones are so pretty!

Here are three that I found. I would consider this one to be "ideal" by the definitions I've found. It looks to be an even mix of pink and orange and reminds me if salmon flesh.


This one apparently sold in the high six figures and was described as a pad, but I personally think it's a bit too pink/lavender.




But I loooove this one and it definitely has a lot of purple. Maybe I just have a think for warm, saturated, funky stones that look like a vivid sunset!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Saw this on IG and immediately thought of this old thread.

(I feel I can criticize because they are one of my absolute faves even though I know we will never own anything from them.)

When your ad copy-writer and IG photo editor are not in the same room...

lol! That has to be a mistake, right?! O.H. knows better!!

 

[Autumn in New England]

@Kalynna Even though I love the super bright pink-orange stones like @thirdrock posted (lovely, my friend!), I would agree that the first stone you shared is my idea of pad perfection!!

 

[idola]

Is it weird to say that I think mine is my ideal?



It does have some zoning, but if I'm being honest, I think that zoning in padparadschas is what really makes some of them pop - without it, some stones look downright peachy to me.



Here's someone else's pad in a similar color (at least, similar to what I see in real life). So beautiful!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Is it weird to say that I think mine is my ideal?



It does have some zoning, but if I'm being honest, I think that zoning in padparadschas is what really makes some of them pop - without it, some stones look downright peachy to me.

Your stone is not the more delicate variety, but it's also not so strongly saturated (or overly saturated), that I'd say it falls outside the designation. Honestly, it's one of the prettiest I've seen! It looks like the flesh of a juicy guava fruit, and I want to eat it.

 

[OreoRosies86]

I am under no delusions that mine even qualifies as an industry padparadscha sapphire, BUT I really love it. The vibrant pink and the splotches of orange are so different and galaxy like. It’s fun knowing no one I know in real life has anything like it

 

[minousbijoux]

Is it weird to say that I think mine is my ideal?



It does have some zoning, but if I'm being honest, I think that zoning in padparadschas is what really makes some of them pop - without it, some stones look downright peachy to me.



Here's someone else's pad in a similar color (at least, similar to what I see in real life). So beautiful!

@idola, if it's weird, then sign me up for weird. I think yours is stunning!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I am also blown away by how differently labs view pad designations... here are some really cool variations.

GRS certified this stone a pad, which some might find too pink.


AGL certified this stone a pad. I see a purple modifier.


This stone is so gorgeous... but some might find it too saturated to be a true pad. GIA certified it a pad.


On the flip side of that coin! GIA certified this a pad, but some might find the saturation to be too low, which can cause gray/brown.



GRS certified this a pad. I see a yellow modifier.


Lastly, here is a suite from The Natural Sapphire Company's blog. I don't think any of these guys qualify as pads using the LMHC's definition. But clearly others disagree!

What do you think they would set like ?
Would they keep their colour ?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I’ve always admired this photo of a padparadcha. BTW, I hate the abbreviation, “pad,” female hygiene products come to mind. Lol

Yip
absolutly
But at least i can pronounce it

 

[LilAlex]

Just saw this on MS Rau -- not where I shop, btw -- but it reminded me of this thread.

The "DuPont Padparadscha" at > 24 its with an AGL appendix (they say) highlighting it's vibrant hue for this color type.

I love this intense color. Not much orange but who am I to argue with an AGL super-duper appendix. I guess the skin tone pulls a little purple so the video (this is a frame-grab) may not be 100% accurate. But even factoring that in, it's truly amazing. I guess it was good to be a DuPont back in the day, travel to Ceylon, and say "show me your best sapphires" (as the retelling went on the Rau video).