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The most famous of all fancy sapphires is the Padparadscha. Pads (amongst friends) are one of the most sought-after gemstone varieties. They have a long tradition and come with an outstanding mystical image. Described as a color merger of the lotus flower and a tropical sunset, they are a famous topic of discourse amongst gem color specialists. However, anyone who knows how many colors the lotus flower shows (not to talk of a sunset), can imagine the confusion regarding the definition and usage of the term "Padparadscha". The color effect of a true Pad is easy to capture. But, given their extreme value, Pads are probably the most faked variety on the Internet. The combination of orange and pink is more a challenge to the photographer's honesty than to his skills. One will find anything from pinkish lavender to dull brown offered as Pads. Some sellers do not even go through the hassle of "photoshopping" their stones, but simply sell all off-colors holding any suggestion of pink or orange as Pads. To qualify as true Pad, a sapphire must show orange and pink at the same time. Here we may distinguish two forms of Padparadscha: The first is one with pink and orange merge throughout the stone. The eye is puzzled with the melting color equilibrium. Some might perceive more pink, while others see more orange. Even more fascinating are those that show more pinkish orange in tungsten light, while being crispy orange pink at day. The second type in one in which pink and orange are separated. An orange sapphire with pink areas also qualifies as a true Padaparadscha (and the other way around). Though Pads with thoroughly merging orange and pink are even higher priced than those with "simple" color zones, the latter can also make very beautiful gems. Additionally Pad connoisseurs distinguish between "pinkish orange" (orange is the more dominant color) and "orange pink" (pink being more dominant). In
Though, as mentioned before, sapphire comes in a myriad of colors, most people think of sapphire as being blue.
Blue sapphire is the number one in sales of all colored gemstones. Famous are Cornflower, Velvet- and Sky-blue and the rarest
In Though not strong in color they do excel in luster and crystal. A well cut light yellow sapphire is a delightful lively gemstone. Very often, these light yellow stones mark the border to white (colorless) sapphire. White sapphires with only an idea of yellow (or any other color) are here called "Tinted White". Such a yellow can be just as fascinating as a fancy diamond but will cost only a fraction. Intensely colored yellow sapphires of bigger size usually come with a tint of orange or green. Thus they can range from a rich canary yellow to an intense greenish lemon hue. However, flashy colors are extremely rare in natural and untreated yellow sapphire. In the past years, light yellow has been the favorite sapphire color amongst collectors, and their prices have soared. Nevertheless they are still affordable when compared to blue or pink. More than other lightly colored stones, yellow sapphires do not stomach inclusions very well. Even an only "lightly included" yellow may seem to be somehow dirty on a photo, though, in fact, the eye will not perceive any inclusions at all. In deeper colors even the lens would not reveal those fine inclusions, but in a yellow they seem to spoil the photo. A yellow sapphire free of inclusions on the other hand is a grateful gem to work with. They will shine and sparkle especially when exposed to a little bit of sunlight. Frequently however their luster is so strong that the camera captures them just as a blurred light source. In this case, the photographer has the choice to either show the stone as a somewhat fuzzy shining star, or he has to sacrifice the luster and show the stone from the side only. Frequently, we also experience that the greenish character of a stone becomes strongly exaggerated by the camera. Some stones in fact turn so green that they are hardly recognizable as yellows anymore. This presents one of the rare cases in which it might be legitimate to manually decrease the amount of green captured by the lens. Again, the primary goal of any photo is to present the stone as close to reality as possible, yet the additional description ought to mention any potential deviation between photo and eye perception.
Regarding purple sapphire, some cultures and languages use the term "purple" differently. As most North Americans and Europeans, we take purple as a color on its own. Violet, also a mixture of blue and red, lies closer to the blue and is therefore counted into the blue gemstones.
Purple sapphires are far undervalued given the strong color sensation they offer. A good purple is as thrilling to the eye as a good blue or violet. Nevertheless they have not been getting much attention until the quest for untreated sapphire made many people consider other colors than the classical pink and blue. Yet, besides the terrific but rare electric purple, collectors seem to prefer stones with an undertone rather than fully saturated purple ones. This looks like an exception to the rule "the higher the saturation the higher the price". A reason for this exception may be found in the way pure purple defies the camera. When looking at images of purple sapphire on the web one quickly realizes that they can not compete with the dazzling presentation of good blue or pink. Whenever you see a breathtaking image of a purple sapphire it is mostly the secondary hue that gives it the "bang". Pinkish purple, reddish purple or violet/bluish purple are great models, but purple on its own does not perform well in front of the camera. Fully saturated purple shows somewhat dull or lifeless in front of the camera. Add a tint of secondary color, and the tone changes dramatically. Thus, when buying purple sapphires on the web: Give them some credit! You might well be surprised how reasonably you have obtained a fully colored untreated sapphire. Though prices shall not be a function of the photogenic capabilities of a variety, they do influence the market situation. Hence, purples are sold relatively more expensive in the traditional channels than they are sold on the web. This is true for all gems, but especially for the camera-shy purple.
Pink, being a lightly colored form of red sapphire or ruby, has become popular in recent years. Its colors range from a light lavender rose to the so-called "hot pink", which resembles a vivid bubble-gum hue.
Aside from padparadscha, which is partly orange, pink sapphires have become the most expensive variety within the fancies. Prices of pinks vary greatly with size and color intensity. However, untreated hot pinks of several carats have buyers lined up at the mines. In the wake of this popularity, prices of pink spinel have increased as well. The fact that heart shapes are much more frequent in pink sapphires than in any other color points to the emotional occasions they like to be used for. Especially the Japanese market has an almost insatiable demand for big pink hearts. Hot pink was once a unique offer from
Truly colorless sapphires are called white and are said to be found exclusively in Fine white sapphires have become rare since they can be turned blue, orange or yellow with high heat, irradiation and various other treatments. White sapphire rivals diamond. Thus, they were often used as a substitute. However, many people have become aware that they do have their own charm, and, since then, they have become valued far above cheaper diamond substitutes. Most whites, like the pinks, are heated, even if on lower temperatures. Some like to conceal this as "only blow-heat". Many whites do have light hues - pink, purple or a tint of blue. The border between a pale blue and a white sapphire with a blue tint is not clearly set. From the point of view of untreated stones, the description should fall in favor of color, calling a white sapphire that shows some, say, blue "tinted white", rather than white. Such a tint may be imagined as the lightest of all tones. Clear water in a glass bottle for example may sometimes leave an impression of being bluish, or white marble might shine yellowish. However, we wouldn't call this blue or yellow straight away. The tints in white are in fact often so fine that professional graders can not agree on them. Some labs define such a stone as "faint blue" some tend to call it "colorless". At the end of the day it comes down to your personal perception and taste. In any case, even the faintest idea of color should be mentioned in the stone’s description. All whites do exhibit color when in colored light of course, but that does not count as a tint. When choosing a tinted white sapphire on the web, make sure that the stone does not only show colors resulting from an external light effect. Ask the seller and look at the color definition of the lab certificate if you are not sure. If there is a tint, and you like it, you might have the chance for a bargain in your color of choice. At any rate, white sapphires are thankful photogenic models. They sparkle and shine with all might. Surprisingly they are not as sensitive to inclusions as one would expect from the experience with yellow or light pink. The only difficulty one encounters with whites is to rightly capture their luster. Some well cut whites are so good in throwing back light (which is somehow the life-purpose of any gem) that they can't be photographed from the front. Those stones you will find to be shot from a side angle. Though not satisfying this is often the only way of capturing the stone without simply having a fuzzy light in, say, oval shape on the picture. That of course does not mean every white with a frontal photograph are dull. Buy them before prices go up.
As so often in gem photography, one can not show all qualities (or flaws) in one shot. Examining a row of photos is probably the best way to overcome this issue. A seller should be willing to provide you with a written statement or additional photos if you have doubts about certain features like color or are worried about a flaw.
Browse some beautiful photos of natural sapphires in all colors at Wild Fish Gems. Our gems are unheated and untreated and offer the finest colors that nature has to offer.
Green cats eyes
in midnight gloom
fly with the witch
on her ragged broom
over dark hills where
bonfires loom.
It is time for the colors of Halloween.
Electrified velvety purples, alien life
form green and the starlit black of the night sky.
Some treats are SO much better than candy!