What is a Padparadscha sapphire?

A Padparadscha sapphire is a very rare type of corundum showing a singular mixture of pink and orange. It is named after a Sinhalese term for a water lotus blossom. Mostly, you can find it in Sri Lanka, and it is often treated as one of the most coveted and priciest gemstones on the planet.

Its colour has to land inside a tight, delicate band. If the stone is too dark, too pink, or too orange, then it fails the Padparadscha label, and it ends up in the fancy coloured sapphire group instead. Because these gems are scarce, even stones with mild inclusions can be quite sought after, and top-tier unheated examples are usually obtained by major high jewellery houses plus elite collectors.