When Princess Eugenie got engaged to Jack Brooksbank in 2018, all eyes were on her one-of-a-kind engagement ring. Surrounded by 12 diamonds and set on a yellow gold band, the padparacha sapphire centre stone became an instant sensation amongst international jewellery brands.
Padparacha comes from the Ceylonese word Padparadscha for lotus, and the gem belongs to the corundum family along with rubies and sapphires. The international colour grading standard for Padparacha is highly-stringent - both pink and orange tones must be present on the gem, combining to produce hues akin to a pinkish-orange lotus or an orangy-pink sunset. The ideal Padparacha colour mix is a 50-50 ratio between orange and pink - a one per cent variance will see a gem classified as pink. Although a unified colour grading standard is yet to be established, Padparacha always amazes with its stunning blend of lotus and sunset hues.
Padparacha from Sri Lanka in 3 carats and above holds its best value.
Mohs Hardness: 8
Origin: Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Madagascar
Bring a smile to your loved one's face. (Blossom & Vicker)