Star, Padparadscha and Other Sapphire Varieties

Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink, Orange, and Color-Changing Sapphire

Apr 7, 2009 Victoria Anisman-Reiner

Sapphires are famed the world over for their royal blue color... but purple, yellow, pink, green, white, color-changing and star sapphires set the blue gem in a new light

Sapphire is a traditional gemstone that has captured the heart of jewelry wearers the world over. The trademark of a sapphire is its clear, deep blue color – but not every sapphire is blue. Sapphires can occur in almost any color, and several varieties of sapphire have special names and traditions that make them interesting in their own right. Read on for details on fancy sapphires, star sapphire, padparadscha, and color-changing sapphires.

Ruby, Blue Sapphire and Fancy Sapphire

Sapphire is made up of the mineral corundum, also known as aluminum oxide or alumina. Depending on impurities of iron, titaniun, vanadium or chromium, corundum can have almost any color.

Red corundum is known as ruby – the blood-red birthstone for July. Every other variety is considered a type of sapphire. Sapphires other than the classic blue are known by their color – purple sapphire, green sapphire, yellow sapphire, orange sapphire, and even white (colorless) sapphire. Collectively, they are called fancy sapphires.

The one exception to this naming rule is a form of pinkish orange sapphire that goes by the name "padparadscha."

Padparadscha, the Rose Orange "Lotus Colored" Sapphire

Padparadscha is derived from two Sanskrit words meaning "lotus" and "color," and these sapphires are a vivid mixture between orange and pink, poetically described as the marriage of ruby and yellow sapphire or a cross between the colors of a pink lotus blossom and a sunset.

Padparadscha are mined in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and elsewhere that sapphires are found. They have fewer inclusions than ruby, appearing clean to the unaided eye. Padparadscha are one of the world's most expensive gemstones.

There is a some conflict among gemologists over the classification of sapphire colors – particularly over where to draw the line between rubies, pink sapphires, and padparadscha. The distinction is by no means agreed up, and the same gem may be considered any one of these by different jewelers.

Star Sapphires

Blue sapphire often has inclusions of rutile, a mineral which forms tiny strands or branches within other gemstones. The most beautiful of these are called "star sapphires" and are highly valued. Legend says that lovers can be joined together for life by the gift of a star sapphire.

Star sapphires are usually sold in cabochon or half-dome cuts to display the rutile stars to their best effect. The stars usually have six rutile branches, but some have 12. Star sapphire is the official gemstone gift for the 65th wedding anniversary.

Color-Changing Sapphire

Some very rare sapphire varieties appear to change color in different light. These sapphires can change from blue in natural light to purple under fluorescent lighting, or from pink in sunlight to green under artificial lights. Some sapphires change only subtly, from royal blue to violet-tinged blue.

Tanzania is the main source for sapphires that change colors, but they can also be produced synthetically.

Reference

Hughes, Richard W., "Walking the line in ruby & sapphire," Palagems.com, 2009.
International Colored Gemstone Association, "Sapphire," Gemstone.org, 2009.

The copyright of the article Star, Padparadscha and Other Sapphire Varieties in Jewelry is owned by Victoria Anisman-Reiner. Permission to republish Star, Padparadscha and Other Sapphire Varieties in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.