The facts
What padparadscha actually is
Padparadscha is classified as corundum, with the composition Al₂O₃. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from a balance of chromium and colour centres, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.762–1.770. Specific gravity around 3.95–4.03. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where padparadscha comes from
Padparadscha is produced at Sri Lanka, Ilakaka, Madagascar and Tanzania.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How padparadscha is treated
Heat is common. Beryllium diffusion can imitate the colour and laboratories disagree on the boundary of the name itself.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What padparadscha is confused with
In the trade padparadscha is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Orange sapphire, Spessartite or Beryllium-diffused corundum.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.762–1.770 and specific gravity 3.95–4.03 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What padparadscha is used for
Demand for padparadscha comes from jewellery and mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Padparadscha is 9 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What padparadscha costs
As a guide, padparadscha trades around $1,000–30,000/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is padparadscha treated, and how?
Heat is common. Beryllium diffusion can imitate the colour and laboratories disagree on the boundary of the name itself.
Where does padparadscha come from?
Sri Lanka, Ilakaka, Madagascar and Tanzania. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is padparadscha hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 9 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does padparadscha cost?
Indicatively $1,000–30,000/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is padparadscha confused with?
Most often Orange sapphire, Spessartite and Beryllium-diffused corundum. A refractive index of 1.762–1.770 and a specific gravity near 3.95–4.03 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for padparadscha?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about padparadscha