Unique padparadscha sapphire: description and properties

Historical reference

In its pure form, the stone is colorless aluminum oxide. But thanks to certain impurities and various effects of the crystal lattice, the gem acquires a bright and amazingly beautiful color. The mineral will become unique only when it can go through several cycles of irradiation and heating.

Padparadscha was known to our distant ancestors, but no one knows the exact year of its discovery. The name comes from the Sinhala language and literally translates as “morning dawn”. In mineralogy, until the very end of the 19th century, the nugget was stubbornly called ruby.

Another version of the name of the stone leads us to the word “raja” (i.e. prince). Some experts believe that he is endowed with princely dignity.

Place of Birth

Padparadscha sapphire crystal
In Sri Lanka (Ceylon), solar sapphires have been discovered in placer deposits near Ratnapura and Elahera for 2000 years. For a long time these were the only sources of stones. Quite recently, similar gems were discovered in Vietnam, Thailand, Tanzania and Madagascar.

Most often, crystals of 1-2 carats are found, 5 carat specimens are very rare.

Physicochemical characteristics

Padparadscha has a chemical formula of the form: Al2O3. It does not have cleavage and is therefore very fragile. Its melting point reaches 2050 degrees. It can fuse quite slowly with phosphorus salt and borax, resulting in the formation of light glass. It does not fuse with soda at all.

Physical properties

Two types of gems are considered real padparadscha:

• pink color gradually turns into red, then into orange (the phenomenon of pleochroism);
• the boundaries of the listed shades are clearly visible.

The unusual color of sapphire is given by an admixture of chromium in the chemical formula. Moreover, this element was exposed to high temperatures and radioactive radiation millions of years ago.

Among the crystals mined outside Ceylon, sapphires that are pure orange or have a brown tint are sometimes found. They are not genuine lotus stones.

It is very rare to find gems with an asterism effect: star-shaped microcrystals with four or six rays inside a large stone. Such specimens are valued much higher.

Sun-hued sapphires have a hardness of about 9 on the Mohs scale, which means they can only be processed using diamond cutters, and they themselves scratch glass. Their transparency and fragility are high. There are several types of crystal shapes:

• in the form of a barrel;
• bipyramidal;
• prismatic;
• lamellar.

Synthetic padparadscha sapphire

Padparadscha sapphire, synthesized by hydrothermal method
The high retail price of padparadscha is an incentive for craft creativity. Moreover, colorless artificial corundum is produced in tons.

To produce color, an already cut, unpainted or lightly colored stone is placed in a chromium-containing charge and sent to a furnace to be heated to 1800°C. High temperature diffusion colors the outer layers of sapphire, but not always evenly.

The ion implantation method produces less waste. However, ion accelerators, magnetic selectors and other laboratory equipment are inaccessible to most craftsmen, and therefore annealing is used more often. However, ion implantation changes the structure of sapphire to a depth of only one tenth of a millimeter, and this method cannot be called revolutionary.

An experienced jeweler, using a simple magnifying glass, will notice both traces of annealing (which creates a special kind of fracturing) and signs of ion implantation.

Treatment of lightly colored sapphires with warm tones with gamma radiation gives a greater effect. Unfortunately, the energetic restructuring of the crystal lattice is a short-lived phenomenon. Over time, crystals irradiated to Padparadscha standards fade again.

Colors and varieties

Padparadscha does not have a clear color, that is, it can be of different colors, combining orange, pink and red tints. The ideal stone in this case is considered to be one in which these three colors are separated and easily visible. But there are only a few such representatives and they are incredibly expensive.

Most corundums are distinguished by a blurred color with the presence of designated colors in varying degrees of saturation. The situation with the search for the ideal is aggravated by the fact that over time the colors in Padparadscha can fade and slightly change shade. Therefore, today corundums of this family include all warm-colored sapphires, the color range of which includes at least pink and orange tones.

Jewelers and gem dealers, in order to bring some clarity, have come up with their own system of dividing padparadscha into pink, orange and even sometimes yellow sapphires, which are practically not found in nature.

How does a mineral get its color? Physics explains this quite simply. Initially the stone is colorless. It is crystalline aluminum oxide. The appearance of beautiful warm colors is made possible thanks to the following factors:

1. Various impurities - mostly chromium, as well as titanium, vanadium and iron.
2. All kinds of defects in the crystal lattice.
3. The energy state of atoms in a crystal.

The value of padparadscha is determined not by saturation and brightness, but by the combination of colors. The more shades of pink, red and orange, the more clearly they are visible and the more complex they shimmer, the more expensive the stone will be.

According to scientists, almost any colorless corundum containing chromium among the impurities can, under the influence of certain conditions (heating and irradiation), turn into beautiful padparadscha. Enterprising traders did not fail to take advantage of this. They learned to artificially transform uncolored or lightly colored corundum into analogues of a curiosity created by nature.

Pre-cut stones are placed in a chromium-containing charge and heated to 1800 degrees - this is the first method. The second - ion implantation - is a more complex method, but gives excellent results. Counterfeits look beautiful, cost less, and therefore sell with a bang, but do not have the unique properties of the original padparadscha.

Healing properties

Padparadscha
Padparadscha has an amazing effect on the human body. With it, the immune system is protected from any viruses.

• If the nugget is worn in a gold frame, it will provide adequate resistance to bronchial asthma.
• This is an excellent addition to the main treatment: with the help of the stone, the effectiveness of all tablets is increased.
• It is considered a way of rejuvenation.
• It has a good effect on the genitourinary system and fights inflammatory processes.

Medicinal properties

Padparadscha is unique for its healing properties, such as:

• Strengthening the body's immunity and resistance to viral respiratory infections.
• Alleviation of the condition or complete relief from bronchial diseases, including bronchial asthma. A gold frame enhances these properties.
• Increasing the effectiveness of medications taken.
• General rejuvenation of the body.
• Reducing joint pain.
• Versatile normalization of the cardiovascular system.
• Accelerating wound healing and cleansing the skin from various dermatological ailments.
• Beneficial effects on the central nervous system, increasing stress resistance, returning mental balance and cheerfulness.
• Stabilization of sleep, improving the quality of rest, easy awakening.
• Normalization of blood pressure, reduction of headaches.
• Normalization of the genitourinary system, increasing potency.

As can be seen from the list, the stone has a lot of healing properties. Moreover, not only amulets help, but also infusions. You need to keep the padparadscha in a glass of water for a day, and then take a small amount orally or wipe the affected areas.

The magical properties of padparadscha

Padparadscha, like many natural stones, has strong energy and mystical properties. Regular wearing of the mineral protects the owner from dark forces, damage and the evil eye, protects against accidents, but the main magical property of the crystal is the ability to attract love.

padparadscha ring

It is believed that single people who own padparadscha will quickly cease to be alone - the gem will help them find their soulmate and maintain love feelings.

Esotericists recommend wearing jewelry with orange sapphire to those who cannot tolerate lies - the mineral will bring the liar to light. The stone will help expand your circle of friends, establish new connections and strengthen existing relationships.

Stone jewelry

Padparadscha Sapphire Ring
Sun sapphire has a high price due to its unusual colors, iridescence and rarity. Real and expensive stones can be found in jewelry collections. Jewelers emphasize the beauty of the mineral with a frame made of gold or platinum. Padparadschas are harmoniously combined with diamonds and pearls, creating delightful ensembles and compositions.

Padparadscha sapphire is cut into emerald, diamond or oval. They are not processed cabochon. Most often, one stone is set into jewelry. The shades and tints of solar sapphire allow jewelers to create real masterpieces.

Among the famous jewelry with a solar sapphire, the Cartier ring stands out, which combines a ten-carat padparadscha with diamonds. One cannot help but admire the beauty of this necklace from the Cartier collection, which combines sapphires with cascading pearls. Caf collection? Society complements the camellia necklace with padparadscha sapphires and diamonds.

Magic of stone

Endowed with padparadscha sapphire and magical properties. The main sphere of its action is love feelings. As a talisman, the stone protects against love spells and at the same time gives the owner energy that can attract any person. With its help, you can distinguish true feelings from lies and thereby protect yourself from fatal mistakes. For married couples, it will help strengthen relationships, bring harmony and warmth into them.

An amulet with a padparadscha stone promotes the development of ambition, virtue, and the search for reliable friends. With its help, you can learn unknown secrets and expand your own horizons.

Padparadscha sapphire is the strongest protector from the machinations of envious people and ill-wishers, damage, the evil eye and evil intentions. It instills confidence and will help overcome phobias and fears. The stone makes its owner more attractive, kind, open to communication with others, and ambitious.

The mineral is considered a talisman for people with creative abilities. He is able to awaken hidden talents, develop imagination, and contribute to the birth of new ideas and ideas.

People who practice yoga love to meditate with padparadscha, as the stone absorbs “dirty” energy and returns purified energy.

How much does padparadscha cost?

Padparadscha sapphire pendant
The main thing about padparadscha is the impeccability of the color scheme. The intensity of color has little effect on the cost of the stone. A carat of padparadscha, which combines the classic three colors (pink, orange and red), is valued at no less than ten thousand dollars. Moreover, such inserts do not weigh more than two carats: red corundums are naturally small.

Pink-orange padparadschas are also very expensive. True, such crystals can be quite large and can weigh (already cut) ten carats or more. The price, accordingly, ranges from a thousand or one and a half thousand dollars per carat of a flawless “baby”, and up to thirty to fifty thousand dollars per carat - if we are talking about a two- or even one-gram stone.

How to distinguish an original from a fake

It is almost impossible for an uninitiated person to distinguish original corundum from a fake. However, this will not be difficult for jewelers. When examining artificial stone through a magnifying glass, traces of firing and other influences are easily detected. Ordinary consumers first need to pay attention to the cost. Nature's Padparadscha is never cheap. The minimum level is about $5,000 per carat. Everything that is sold at a lower price is a beautiful fake that does not have the unique healing and magical properties of the original.

How to recognize a fake

Padparadscha
To attract buyers, jewelers often assign a similar term to stones that have nothing to do with sapphires and even rubies. The trade name is also used as a trick, calling a crystal of a similar shade Padparadscha, which is completely incorrect.

Such tricks attract buyers, and many people, who have no idea what color such a sapphire should have, make a rash purchase.

A jeweler will help you find out the truth and recognize padparadscha, but not every craftsman can do this. The difficulty lies in the fact that experts are still arguing about the shade that crystals should have. The palette of shades is not so wide, so it can be difficult to determine the authenticity of the stone.

However, the cost of jewelry will help you recognize a “lotus flower” (that’s what sapphire of a similar shade is called in the East). Jewelry inlaid with padparadscha cannot be cheap, since the crystal is rare in nature and is prized by jewelers. An exception can be considered those minerals that received a tint after processing. But their price is far from affordable.

History of the Padparadscha Stone

Sapphires belong to one of the varieties of the mineral corundum. Their traditional color is blue or purple in various shades. Another precious type of corundum is ruby. And all of them, oddly enough, are related to ordinary emery stone.

Helpful information

Padparadscha was originally classified as a ruby ​​for its color. Only in the 20th century, after careful physical and chemical analysis, it was determined that it was sapphire.

The birthplace of the sun stone is Sri Lanka. On this island, rightly called the land of gems, hego has been found among ordinary blues since ancient times. The name means "lotus flower" in the local Sinhala language.

How to care for stone

Padparadscha is a very fragile stone, although at first glance it doesn’t seem so. Any scratch or blow can seriously harm it. To prevent this from happening, the nugget must be placed in a special individual box, the basis of which is fabric. Never mix it with other stones!

But padparadscha will tolerate moisture and the rays of the sun calmly. If dust has formed on the stone, simply wipe it with a damp cloth. There is no need to use any additional chemical compounds.

Who is suitable for Padparadscha according to the zodiac?

A rose gold ring with Padparadscha sapphire
Padparadscha suits almost all zodiac signs, with rare exceptions. But this stone is so rare that becoming its owner is a great success.

• Aries can safely rely on this gem. He will become a good assistant for them in difficult situations and when making difficult decisions. These people should internally feel its support and try to understand what exactly this stone wants to “say.”
• He will make Taurus even more purposeful and persistent in achieving their goal. It will give them strength and energy, which will help them resist any pressure from ill-wishers and turn the situation over to their side.
• It is advisable for Geminis to wear such a talisman to all serious events, be it negotiations with investors, meetings with business people or businessmen. It will help them concentrate, think clearly, and delve into all the details so as not to miss the necessary information.
• It will help Cancers understand love relationships and decide on a life partner. Just don’t rush and carefully understand your own feelings, and then turn to the stone for help. Moreover, this requires some time; it is recommended to wear the product with this mineral on your hand, and it does not matter which finger.
• Thanks to Padparadscha, Leos can get rid of depression, bad mood, and indecision. The aura of the stone can have a positive effect on their mental state, calm them down, and direct thoughts and actions in the right direction.
• Virgos should wear jewelry with this stone all the time. This will help them find themselves in society, decide on their occupation, so that work is not a burden to them, but brings not only pleasure, but also a decent reward.
• Padrapaja will help Libra climb the career ladder, even if there are many envious people who will do everything possible to prevent this. The stone can positively influence the well-being of people born under this zodiac sign, but for this they must make a lot of independent efforts.
• Scorpios are able to cope with their problems on their own, but the gem can neutralize the impact of negative energy on such people from their enemies. And it doesn’t matter what shape it’s cut into. He will be your assistant always and everywhere.
• Sagittarians under the influence of the stone become less impulsive, calm, and harmonious. They begin to get along with everyone around them. Many positive aspects appear in their character.
• Whoever the mineral is not suitable for is Capricorns. He is able to absorb everything negative that belongs to such people and multiply these negative qualities. Therefore, such a zodiac sign should pay attention to the warnings and under no circumstances carry this mineral with them all the time.
• Aquarians may not be afraid to become the owner of Padparadscha, but only if they have complete mutual understanding with the stone and there is compatibility. It needs to be checked this way. Before going to bed, place the gem under your pillow for the whole night. The possibility of having this mineral as a talisman will depend on what kind of dream a person has (bad or good), or whether it is better to refrain from such proximity.
• Pisces should pay special attention to this stone. He is able to make them charming and attractive, emphasize their individuality, raise self-esteem, and make them the soul of any company. Moreover, it does not matter how to wear Padparadscha: in the form of jewelry or as a talisman. The result will be the same.

This is interesting

• The stone's name "Padparadscha" is translated from Sinhala as "lotus flower", and refers to its characteristic color, which is reminiscent of lotuses.
• Women of any zodiac sign who carry this sapphire with them will be more attractive to the opposite sex.
• They say that a padparadscha talisman helps you learn unknown secrets.
• The largest specimen of padparadscha (weighing 100.18 carats) is in the Museum of Natural History (New York). This stone is yellow in the center and orange around the edge.

Sources and literature

1. Anderson B. Definition of precious stones - M.: Mir, 1983
2. Kievlenko E. Ya., Senkevich N. N., Gavrilov A. P. Geology of precious stone deposits - M.: Nedra, 1974.
3. Pylyaev M. I. Precious stones - M.: Strelets, 1990.
4. Reed P. Gemology - M.: Mir, 2003.
5. Litvinenko A.K. Sapphire- and ruby-bearing metasomatites of the South-Western Pamirs. Lipetsk, Leningrad State Pedagogical University, 2006. - 128 p.
6. Fersman A. Stories about gems - M.: Nauka, 1974.
7. Ruby and sapphire. M.: Nauka, 1974

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Padparadscha and the signs of the zodiac

In astrology, the orange-pink crystal is of great importance due to its strong energy and aura, but it is not suitable for all zodiac signs.

It is not recommended for Capricorns to wear the mineral - they are opposite to each other. Sapphire is unlikely to bring happiness and good luck to representatives of this sign.

Padparadscha favors Leo, Aquarius and Sagittarius. According to the astrological forecast, a stone of a yellow hue will have a positive effect on them:

• Sagittarius will acquire charm and charm, enhance natural beauty and emphasize advantages;
• Aquarians will be freed from fears and worries;
• Leos will become sensitive and friendly.