For over 100 years, reference has been made to a unique sapphire, the color of a lotus blossom, the padparadscha. Yet the precise hue represented by this rare stone has been a subject of discussion, and often controversy, ever since the term was first introduced. In an effort to establish some grounds for a common understanding, the author reviews the historical references to the padparadscha sapphire, examines the modern usage of the term, and states GIA's current interpretation of the trade name padparadscha.
For over 100 years, reference has been made to a unique sapphire, the color of a lotus blossom, the padparadscha. Yet the precise hue represented by this rare stone has been a subject of discussion, and often controversy, ever since the term was first introduced. In an effort to establish some grounds for a common understanding, the author reviews the historical references to the padparadscha sapphire, examines the modern usage of the term, and states GIA's current interpretation of the trade name padparadscha.
