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Natural inorganic gem materials · Mineral / gemstone variety · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Padparadscha Sapphire
Also known asPadparadscha
A corundum variety whose colour is limited to the pinkish-orange to orange-pink range; stones with brownish-yellow tones, or that are diffused or dyed, must not use this name. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Padparadscha Sapphire forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale; where its colour and optical effects come from, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify Padparadscha SapphireIdentification points from the research literature; how far lab testing can go
- Treatments and enhancements of Padparadscha SapphireThe enhancements and treatments the GB/T and JJA/AGL tables list
- Caring for and wearing Padparadscha SapphireCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them; durability indicators and wearing advice
- Hardness, density and refractive index of Padparadscha SapphireEach value with its source and check date
- Padparadscha Sapphire in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name, names in national standards; and: Which of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A have a name for it on record, and do those agree?
- Listing and disclosing Padparadscha SapphireThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale; how lab reports word it
- Standard clauses that define Padparadscha SapphireWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Padparadscha sapphire is not an independent mineral species but a colour variety of corundum defined by the simultaneous presence of pink and orange, i.e. a pinkish-orange or orange-pink hue. Gemologically it is the orange-pink or pinkish orange sapphire whose name derives from the lotus blossom. Its colour combines two chromophores: Cr3+ gives pink-to-red in corundum, and under acceptor-dominated conditions with relatively high oxygen fugacity a trapped hole (h•) pairs with Cr3+ to form the h•-Cr³⁺ chromophore that gives orange; the two together produce the pinkish orange colour.
Scope: Applies to the colour explanation of the padparadscha corundum variety, defined gemmologically by a colour range in which pink and orange occur together; does not apply to sapphires of other colours or to artificially coloured corundum.
Sources G&G Winter 2019 · G&G Spring 2020
Where it forms
The settings in which natural corundum forms are the same as for other sapphires—marble-hosted metamorphic terrains and basalt/magmatic-related environments among them; according to the source, Sri Lanka has to date been the leading source of fine padparadscha.
Sources G&G Winter 2019
How it forms, step by step
Corundum crystallises in its host environment and trace Cr3+ replaces some of the Al3+ ions in the lattice.
Under acceptor-dominated conditions and relatively high oxygen fugacity a trapped hole (h•) forms and pairs with Cr3+ to create the h•-Cr³⁺ chromophore.
Absorption by the Cr3+ (pink-red) and h•-Cr³⁺ (orange) chromophores adds together to give the pinkish orange colour.
Link to appearance
Cr3+ absorption near 560 nm (U band) and 400 nm (Y band) produces the pink component, while h•-Cr³⁺ absorbs strongly below 560 nm to give orange; their coexistence and sum yields the pinkish orange padparadscha colour.
Sources G&G Spring 2020
Timescale
The cited sources give no absolute timescale for padparadscha sapphire formation.
Sources G&G Winter 2019
Related base materials
- Corundum (Al2O3): color variety of corundum
Supporting findings
To date, Sri Lanka has led the world as a source of fine padparadscha sapphire.
Evidence grade BScope: A review-level locality statement, not quantitative production data, and subject to change.
Recorded localities
Authoritative sources list the localities below; the list is not exhaustive.
Africa
- MadagascarReported in 2015: Madagascar producing fancy sapphire including padparadscha colors
Sources Gems & Gemology Spring 2015
Asia
- Sri LankaG&G (2019): so far the most important producer of fine padparadscha; GIA: initially only Sri Lankan stones carried the name (naming history, not current exclusivity)
Sources G&G Winter 2019 · GIA Gem Encyclopedia
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Causes of colour and optical effects
The pinkish orange colour of padparadscha sapphire is created by the Cr3+ and h•-Cr³⁺ chromophores together.
Evidence grade AScope: The mechanism concerns these two chromophores in corundum; the source gives no pink/orange ratio limits.
Cr3+ causes colour by replacing some of the Al3+ ions in the corundum lattice.
Evidence grade AScope: A general Cr3+ colouring mechanism in corundum, applying to ruby and pink sapphire.
How it is identified
Padparadscha sapphire's salmon-orange colour is prized, yet colour alone does not establish what a corundum gem is or where it came from. Laboratories combine several lines of evidence: magnification of inclusions and growth features; routine tests such as refractive index, specific gravity and polariscope behaviour; ultraviolet fluorescence; and spectroscopy (for example FTIR, UV-Vis-NIR and Raman). Trace-element chemistry measured by EDXRF or LA-ICP-MS helps separate natural from synthetic corundum and, compared with a reference collection, may point to a geographic origin; glass-filled fractures and coatings are caught by clues such as anomalous luster, gas bubbles, X-ray radiography, and FTIR or EDXRF signatures. Origin calls can remain inconclusive, so the finding should be issued by a qualified gem laboratory.
Evidence grade AScope: Applies where natural, synthetic and treated corundum, and geographic origin, must be assessed; no self-administered criteria are given.
Sources G&G Summer 1998 · G&G Winter 2019 · G&G Fall 2019 +2
- Separating Natural and Synthetic Rubies on the Basis of Trace-Element Chemistry (Gems & Gemology, Summer 1998, Vol. 34, No. 2)
- Geographic Origin Determination of Ruby (Gems & Gemology, Winter 2019, Vol. 55, No. 4)
- Cobalt-Coated Sapphire (Lab Notes, Gems & Gemology, Fall 2019, Vol. 55, No. 3)
- Translucent Ruby Filled with Zinc Glass (Lab Notes, Gems & Gemology, Fall 2023, Vol. 59, No. 3)
- Bismuth Glass-Filled Burmese Star Ruby (Lab Notes, Gems & Gemology, Spring 2020, Vol. 56, No. 1)
Padparadscha sapphire (orange-pink) is often priced on locality, with goods traded under names such as Sri Lanka or Madagascar. A locality name, however, is only a trade attribution and is not a determined origin. Origin work is a laboratory exercise: the deposit type is addressed first, then inclusion suites and trace-element suites (measured by methods such as laser ablation ICP-MS) are compared with reference databases for known localities to yield a conclusion of consistency or inconsistency with a source. Because the characteristic ranges of different localities overlap and vary within a single deposit, the conclusion is probabilistic and may be only inconclusive; heating, filling and diffusion alter the measurable features and must be excluded first. Origin cannot be inferred from appearance or name; an origin conclusion must be issued by a qualified laboratory for a specific specimen. This entry offers no self-test criteria or thresholds.
Evidence grade AScope: Origin cannot be inferred from appearance or name; an origin conclusion must be issued by a qualified laboratory for a specific specimen, and this entry provides no self-test criteria or thresholds.
Sources G&G Winter 2019 · G&G Summer 1998 · G&G Spring 2015 +1
- Geographic Origin Determination of Ruby (Gems & Gemology, Winter 2019, Vol. 55, No. 4)
- Separating Natural and Synthetic Rubies on the Basis of Trace-Element Chemistry (Gems & Gemology, Summer 1998, Vol. 34, No. 2)
- Mozambique Ruby Discovery: A 21st Century Rush (Gems & Gemology, Spring 2015, Vol. 51, No. 1)
- Sapphire Beneath the Rich Black Soil of Muling, Northeastern China (Gems & Gemology, Fall 2022, Vol. 58, No. 3)
Other research findings
Padparadscha is the orange-pink or pinkish orange variety of sapphire, its name derived from the lotus blossom.
Evidence grade AScope: A gemological colour-variety naming convention, not an independent mineral species.
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- The cited source gives the Cr3+ plus h•-Cr³⁺ mechanism for padparadscha but no quantitative boundary for the simultaneous pink-and-orange colour range.
- The cited sources give no absolute timescale for padparadscha formation.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Padparadscha Sapphire
IMA Mineral List 2026-07 “Corundum” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.169 “Padparadscha”
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments recorded for this material: Heated / Heat-treated, Dyed (via parent material), Filled / Fracture-filled (via parent material), Diffusion-treated, Irradiated (via parent material)
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
Padparadscha Sapphire is Pinkish-orange to orange-pink corundum variety of defined colour range; use "Padparadscha Sapphire" for listings, and disclose any known treatments.
Evidence
- CIBJO · 7.2.1.169
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Padparadscha Sapphire" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Care and wear
The item-by-item care advice that the GIA Care and Cleaning Guide gives for the whole class, and so for Padparadscha Sapphire, is set out in full under care on the Sapphire entry.
Care
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Durability and wearing
Toughness
Excellent
Sources GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
Daily wear
Padparadscha sapphire is corundum at Mohs 9 with excellent toughness and no cleavage, a great choice for daily wear including rings; the main risks come from treatments — filled/dyed stones are harmed by even mild acids like lemon juice, and shallow lattice-diffused colour can be removed by surface damage or re-cutting.
Care
Warm soapy water is always safe; ultrasonic and steam cleaning are usually safe for untreated, heat-treated and lattice-diffusion treated sapphire; fracture-filled, cavity-filled or dyed material should be cleaned only with a damp cloth; boric acid powder will etch the surface of even untreated stones.
Sources GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
Scope: This field describes general material properties and does not constitute a durability or safety warranty for any specific finished product; the durability of treated (filling/dyeing/coating) or assembled pieces must be assessed separately.
Treatments and identification leads
One row per treatment, with three standards side by side: how often it occurs and how stable it is (CIBJO), its category in GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (this site's paraphrase) and how the JJA/AGL 2025 table lists it. Each CIBJO value links to its entry under “Testing and market”, where the wording and source are given in full.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heating | — | — | Optimization | — | — |
| Dyeing | — | — | Treatment | — | — |
| Filling | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | — |
| Diffusion | — | — | Treatment | — | — |
| Irradiation | — | — | Treatment | — | — |
| heating | — | — | — | heating | — |
| diffusion heat treatment | — | — | — | diffusion heat treatment | — |
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (row for Sapphire); JJA/AGL 2025
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
How lab reports word it
A general LMHC wording rule also covers Padparadscha Sapphire (Information Sheet #16): see the LMHC rule “Colour stability testing”.
Padparadscha Sapphire — how lab reports word it (definition used on reports): the sheet then lists cases that rule the name out — in short: other colour modifiers or uneven colour, diffusion or glass filling, irradiation, dyes or coatings, or colour that falls outside the range after stability testing.
LMHC Information Sheet #4
Rule in the information sheet (original wording): shall not be applied in the following cases
- Case
- when the variety name may not be used
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #4, Version 11, May 2025 (LMHC): p.1, “Definition”, exclusions (Information Sheet #4) (locator checked 2026-09-28)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — how lab reports word it (definition used on reports): This is the colour required for the name: a soft blend of pink and orange, pastel, of low to medium saturation, judged in standard daylight and after a colour stability test.
LMHC Information Sheet #4
Definition in the information sheet (original wording): a subtle mixture of pinkish orange to orangey pink with pastel tones
- Case
- when the variety name may be used
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #4, Version 11, May 2025 (LMHC): p.1, “Definition” (Information Sheet #4) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — how lab reports word it (identification line): Heating does not decide the name; any heating is stated separately.
LMHC Information Sheet #4
Rule in the information sheet (original wording): The name 'padparadscha sapphire' shall be applied to both unheated and heated 'padparadscha sapphire'.
- Case
- when the variety name may be used
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #4, Version 11, May 2025 (LMHC): p.1, “Report wording” (Information Sheet #4) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — how lab reports word it (optional comments): If testing moves the colour out of the range (to pink, say), the name is dropped and the stone is reported as a pink or fancy sapphire.
LMHC Information Sheet #4
Rule in the information sheet (original wording): the name padparadscha cannot be applied
- Case
- colour shifts in the stability test
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #4, Version 11, May 2025 (LMHC): p.1, “Report wording”, colour stability (Information Sheet #4) (locator checked 2026-09-28)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Besides Padparadscha Sapphire, the name register records "Padparadscha", for which no restriction on use as a name is recorded; one further name in a non-Latin script is listed in the name register below (1 with no restriction recorded on use as a name).
Recommended listing nameThe suggested listing name for Padparadscha Sapphire is Padparadscha Sapphire, with Padparadscha as a trade name or synonym. Names in four languagesNames are given in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Padparadscha Sapphire) and Japanese. Chinese standard nameThe GB/T naming counterpart is sapphire (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1); this name itself is not listed in the standard. Institution usageGIA, FTC and CIBJO record Padparadscha Sapphire; GIA qualifies the colour range as per GIA, FTC requires that variety names not be misrepresented and that treatments be disclosed, and CIBJO points to the LMHC information sheet on padparadscha sapphire nomenclature; Gem-A is unchecked. Japanese namesThe Japanese name shown is the entry's own, and the GSJ (Japan) wording for this name is not yet verified by this site. Candidate search termsThe Japanese transliteration of padparadscha is only a candidate search term, per the JJA/AGL (Japan) gem name handbook 2025. National standard namesGermany (RAL) writes Padparadscha-Saphir, and the EU writes Padparadscha Sapphire.
Name register
Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Name | Type | Matching | Use as a name | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no restriction recorded (2) | ||||
| PadparadschaEnglish | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited) |
| パパラチャJapanese | transliteration | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | JJA/AGL Gemstone Nomenclature 2025 p.12 |
How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- パパラチャサファイア (not yet checked for this body — the entry's own Japanese name is shown)
- GB/T naming counterpart (this name is not in the standard)
- 蓝宝石 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1)
- Mineralogical name
- Pinkish-orange to orange-pink corundum variety of defined colour range
- Trade names and synonyms
- Padparadscha (market name)
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 帕帕拉恰蓝宝石
- 繁體中文
- 帕帕拉恰藍寶石
- English
- Padparadscha Sapphire
- 日本語
- パパラチャサファイア
National and regional formal names
- Germany (RAL)
- Padparadscha-Saphir
- European Union
- Padparadscha Sapphire
Qualifiers stripped from the headline name
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Oxide minerals
- Identity tier
- Mineral / gemstone variety
- Mineral chemical class
- Oxides / hydroxides
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Under the “Sapphire” row of Table B.1: Heating Optimization; Dyeing Treatment; Filling Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1; Diffusion Treatment; Irradiation Treatment. The full row, with the effect column, is on the Sapphire page.
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
JJA/AGL (Japan) table of principal gem names, 2025
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Gem name | Species | Colour | Listed in the table | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire | Corundum | orangy pink to pinkish orange | the source lists no untreated tier; no indication of heating (see Heated / Heat-treated); heating (Heated / Heat-treated); diffusion heat treatment (Diffusion-treated) | also called padparadscha; the name padparadscha may not be used for diffusion-heated stones |
JJA/AGL definitions and nomenclature (2025 revision), table of principal gem names, p.12
How to read the JJA/AGL table: see the Gem treatments page.
What it is and how it's identified
The composition (phase) of Padparadscha Sapphire is corundum; chemical composition, fluorescence, spectra and magnification are written in the cited clauses for sapphire as a whole (regardless of colour and origin), see the sapphire entry. Structure, hardness, cleavage, density, optical character, refractive index, birefringence, pleochroism, optical effects and lustre are likewise registered for sapphire as a whole, not data measured on padparadscha sapphire alone: crystalline, trigonal; Mohs hardness 9; no cleavage, though stones with well-developed twinning may show three sets of parting; density 3.95–4.1 g/cm³, derived from the clause value of 4.00 with an allowed deviation of +0.10/−0.05; optically anisotropic, uniaxial, negative; refractive index 1.757–1.779, derived from the clause value of 1.762–1.770 with an allowed deviation of +0.009/−0.005; birefringence 0.008–0.01; a star effect may be seen, commonly six-rayed, and a colour-change effect may be seen; pleochroism is strong and varies with body colour, and the lustre is vitreous to subadamantine, pleochroism and lustre both having the treatment status untreated.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Chemical composition, luminescence, UV-visible spectrum, infrared spectrum, magnification: these whole-class features are given in the cited clause for sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins), so they are not repeated on the Padparadscha Sapphire page; see the material facts on the Sapphire entry.
Items below that name the class they cover give the cited clause’s value for that whole class, not a measurement of Padparadscha Sapphire (how to read class-level values).
Definition
Padparadscha Sapphire — composition (phase): corundum
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Structure
Padparadscha Sapphire — structure (overall): crystalline
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — structure (crystal system): trigonal
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — structure (crystal habit): hexagonal prisms or barrel shapes, occasionally tabular or bladed.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Durability
Padparadscha Sapphire — Mohs hardness: 9
GB/T 16553—2017
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — cleavage: no cleavage; stones with well-developed twinning may show parting in three directions.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Physical properties
Padparadscha Sapphire — density: 3.95–4.1 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 4.00, with a stated tolerance of +0.10 / -0.05. The range shown here is worked out from that.
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Optical
Padparadscha Sapphire — optic character: uniaxial, optically negative (anisotropic)
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — refractive index: 1.757–1.779
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 1.762–1.770, with a stated tolerance of +0.009 / -0.005. The range shown here is worked out from that.
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — birefringence: 0.008–0.01
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — pleochroism: strong, and varying with color: blue shows blue and green-blue; green shows green and yellow-green; yellow shows yellow and orange-yellow; orange shows orange and orange-red; pink shows pink and pink-red; purple shows purple and purple-red.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — optical effect (asterism): seen; commonly a six-rayed star
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — optical effect (colour change): seen
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Padparadscha Sapphire — body colour: Padparadscha is a variety of corundum from any geographical origin whose colour is a subtle mixture of pinkish orange to orangey pink with pastel tones and low to medium saturations when viewed in standard daylight.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Qualification
In chapter 7 of the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book, the colour descriptions of Morganite, Spessartine, Ruby and other entries also name orange or an orangish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
- CIBJO definitions
- asterism, colour change
Quality factors
Padparadscha Sapphire — quality factor (lustre): vitreous to subadamantine
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- sapphire as a whole (all colours and origins)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.3 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.768 / 4.03; Closest values: 1Rhodolite 1.755 / 3.9, 2Almandine 1.79 / 3.9, 3Grossular 1.745 / 3.9, 4Tsavorite 1.74 / 3.9, 5Spessartine 1.802 / 3.9
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
What distinguishes Padparadscha Sapphire from other sapphire varieties is a list of cases in which the name Padparadscha Sapphire must not be used: colour modified by hues other than pink and orange; obvious uneven colour distribution visible to the eye; yellow or orange epigenetic material in fractures affecting the overall colour; diffusion, irradiation or glass filling; failing a colour stability test; and dyeing, coating, painting, varnishing or sputter coating. If any one of these applies, the name Padparadscha Sapphire must not be used; this distinction is stated for the untreated state and comes from the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024. The CIBJO laboratory protocol places Padparadscha Sapphire under Sapphire; the identification section and list of required methods are on the Sapphire entry and the laboratory testing page.
The CIBJO laboratory protocol covers Padparadscha Sapphire under “Sapphire” (§6.1.69): see identification on the Sapphire entry; the required tests are listed on the CIBJO laboratory protocol table for Sapphire.
How far testing can go
Padparadscha Sapphire — criteria for distinction from other varieties: The name 'padparadscha sapphire' shall not be applied in the following cases: • If the stone has any colour modifier other than pink or orange • If the stone has major uneven colour distribution when viewed with the unaided eye and table up +/- 30° • The presence of yellow or orange epigenetic material in fissure(s) affecting the overall colour of the stone • If the stone underwent any diffusion, irradiation or glass-filling treatment • If the colour of the stone is not stable and shifting out of the padparadscha colour range (e.g. shifting to pink) by a colour stability test • If the stone has been dyed, coated, painted, varnished or sputtered.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Padparadscha Sapphire is defined directly in CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the entry name Padparadscha, with mineral species corundum and mineral/gem variety Padparadscha, or Padparadscha sapphire, and the CIBJO wording quoted in full under Clause-level definitions on this page; the cross-check result is that it is defined directly by CIBJO, and no identically named English entry was found in this edition of the GB/T annex. GB/T 16552—2017 Annex A lists it as Padparadscha Sapphire, defined as a pinkish-orange to orangy-pink variety of corundum with a clearly delimited colour range; the cross-check result is that it is listed directly by GB/T, and CIBJO carries no standalone entry under the same name.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padparadscha | 7.2.1.169 | Padparadscha is a variety of corundum from any geographical origin whose colour is a subtle mixture of pinkish orange to orangey pink with pastel tones and low to medium saturations when viewed in standard daylight. The colour of some Padparadscha sapphires is not stable when exposed to light | Defined directly by CIBJO; no identically named English entry was found in this edition of the GB/T annex. |
| Padparadscha Sapphire | GB/T 16552-2017 Annex A | Pinkish-orange to orange-pink corundum variety of defined colour range | Listed directly by GB/T; CIBJO carries no standalone entry under the same name. |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- RRUFF Project, in partnership with the IMA – International Mineralogical Association. IMA Mineral List.
- Geological Survey of Japan, AIST (Japan). Museum mineral specimens, browse by classification.
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
Related-entry tree for Corundum on this site: 18 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (Padparadscha Sapphire) is marked.
- Corundum
Sub-entries (13)
- Colour-change Sapphire
- Green Sapphire
- Orange Sapphire
- Padparadscha Sapphire
- Pink Sapphire
- Purple Sapphire
- Ruby
Sub-entries (2)
- Lead-Glass-Filled Ruby
- Synthetic Ruby (Synthetic product)
- Sapphire
Sub-entries (2)
- Beryllium-Diffused Sapphire
- Synthetic Sapphire (Synthetic product)
- Star Ruby
- Star Sapphire
- Synthetic Corundum (Synthetic product)
- White Sapphire
- Yellow Sapphire
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Oxide minerals | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Heated / Heat-treated, Dyed (via parent material), Filled / Fracture-filled (via parent material), Diffusion-treated, Irradiated (via parent material) | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Padparadscha Sapphire entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.