Colour Balance in
Padmaraga
Presented by – Mr.Upali Nandalal
Gemmologist
1
Historical background of Padmaraga
 The name derives from the Sinhalese
word for Lotus blossom, from time to
time. It changes as “Pathmaraja”
according to the Sanskrit language.
 Pathmaraja, Padmaraga and
Padmaradscha are words referred to
the same stone.
2
Corundum Family
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
Ruby
Blue Sapphire
Pink Sapphire
Yellow Sapphire
Orange Sapphire
Padmaraga
Purple Sapphire
Green Sapphire
White Sapphire
Star Sapphire
Colour Changing Sapphire
3
Properties of Corundum family
Chemical composition
2) Crystal System
3) Crystal habit
4) Hardness
5) Specific Gravity
6) Refractive Index
7) Birefringence
8) Optic sign
9) Cleavage
10) Fracture
11) Luster
12) Streak
1)
-
Al2O3 (Aluminum Oxide)
Trigonal
Barrel shape
9.0 (Moh’s scale)
3.99
1.762 – 1.770
0.008
Uniaxial – (Negative)
None
Conchoidal, Splintery
Vitreous
White
4
 Padmaraja is a Pink – Orange
Sapphire, originally being mined in
Sri Lanka, but also found in Gem
deposits of Madagascar, Tanzania
and a few in Vietnam and Africa.
 Padmaraga (Sapphire) is very Rare
and therefore highly valued.
5
Behavior of Light rays within Gemstones
Singly Refractive
Doubly Refractive
A light ray entering into a Doubly Refractive Gemstone will split into two rays
with two different velocities and vibrational directions (Other than parallel to
the optic axis).
6
 As corundum belongs to Doubly Refractive category, light will
behave in the same manner.
 Corundum with a single colour (e.g. :- Blue Sapphire and Ruby)
the colour splits into two colours.
7
Atomic structure of Corundum (without
colouring elements)
1) Colourless Corundum
(White Sapphire)
Pure Aluminum Oxide
without colouring elements.
8
Possible sites of Colouring elements.
9
Pink Sapphire
Substitution positions are occupied by Chromium atoms (randomly) [Lesser number of
Chromium atoms, which are not enough to create deep red colour of Ruby.]
10
Yellow Sapphire
Substitution positions are occupied by Iron atoms (randomly) [further the yellow colour
of Sri Lankan Yellow Sapphires is also produced by colour centers].
11
Orange Sapphire
Substitution positions are
occupied by a lesser number
of Chromium atoms and
Iron atoms (Colour Centers
could also produce yellow
colour).
12
Padmaraga
Patchy Orange colouration of Pink Sapphire creates Orangish Pink
Sapphire, Which is called “Padmaraga”
13
Pink Sapphire
Yellow Sapphire
Substitution positions are occupied
by Chromium atoms (randomly)
[Lesser number of Chromium
atoms which are not enough to
create deep red colour of Ruby.]
Substitution positions are occupied
by Iron atoms (randomly) [further
the yellow colour of Sri Lankan
Yellow Sapphires is also produced
due to colour centers.
Orange Sapphire
Patchy Orange colouration of Pink
Sapphire creates Orangish Pink Sapphire,
Which is called “Padmaraga”
Substitution positions are occupied by
a lesser number of Chromium atoms
and Iron atoms + Colour Centers.
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Colour distribution of Blue Sapphire
• Distribution of Blue colour is shown in this
picture.
• Distribution of Pink and Orange colourations
although not commonly visible, it is assumed to
be in the same manner.
Patchy colouration of Padmaraga.
15
Variations of Pink and Orange
Colour Intensities.
16
1. Pink with a low intensity of Orange
colouration.
 Colour is evenly distributed but intensity of Orange is very very low.
 Therefore the stone can not be classified as “Padmaraga”
17
2. Light Purplish pink with a highly intensed patchy
Orange Colouration.
 Orange Colour is patchy. As the colour patch is located close
to the culet, the colour gets dispersed throughout the stone,
showing Orangish Pink through the table. Therefore it could
be classified as “Padmaraga”.
18
3. Purplish Pink with low intensity of Orange colouration
 Here, Orange colouration is masked by high intensity
of Purplish Pink colouration of the stone. Therefore it
could not be classified as “Padmaraga”.
19
.
4. Pinkish Orange – Padmaraga
 Both Pink and Orange colours are evenly distributed throughout the
stone. But intensity of the Orange colour is higher than Pink.
 It is termed “Pinkish Orange Sapphire”.
 If the intensity of Pink colour is higher than orange, it is termed
“Orangish Pink Sapphire”.
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 When both Pink and Orange Colour components are there
in equal proportions (50% - 50%), then the stone is termed
Pink/Orange Sapphire or Orange/Pink Sapphire. This is
the ideal colour balancing of Padmaraga.
21
 Colouration of Padmaraga could also vary in following manner.
30% Orange + 70% Pink
2.
70% Orange + 30% Pink
There could be varying proportions of Pink/Orange colourations which
could also be considered as Padmaraga.
1.

Pink
Orange
30% - 70%
(Orangish Pink)
50% - 50%
(Ideal colour of Padmaraga)
70% - 30%
(Pinkish Orange)
22
 Pink prominent Padmaraga is preferred by Japanese
buyers.
 Orange prominent Padmaraga is preferred by German
and European buyers.
50 – 50 %
Padmaraga
Orangish pink
Padmaraga
Pinkish Orange
Padmaraga
23
Colouring elements in Corundum
 Ruby
 Blue
 Yellow
 Orange
 Padmaraga
 Green
 Purple
 Pink
- Cr3+
- Fe2+/ Ti4+
- Fe3+, Colour centers
- Cr3+, Fe3+, Colour centers
- Cr3+, Fe3+, Colour centers
- Fe2+
- Cr3+, Fe2+, Ti4+
- Cr3+
24
Colour Centers
 Electron imbalance of crystal lattice, creates colour
centers.
 It may be naturally occurring or could be created by
supplying energy.
25
Colour Comparison
Pink
30% - 70%
50% - 50%
Orange
70% - 30%
(Orangish Pink)
(Ideal colour of
Padmaraga)
(Pinkish Orange)
26
References
 Hughes. W. Richard, Ruby and Sapphire, USA, 1997, 01st edition, 51, 57,






83, 109, 200, 398 pp
Dharmaratne. P.G.R., Gemmology, Sri Lanka, 2007, 01st edition, 39 p.
Hughes. W. Richard, Walking the line in ruby and Sapphire, www.
Palagems.com
Hughes. W. Richard, www. Palagems.com Padparadscha Sapphire
buying Guide.
Webster Robert, Gemmologists Compendium, 1970, 01st edition, 161 p.
Read Peter G, Gemmology, 2006, Third edition, 70 p,
Read Peter G, Dictionary of Gemmology, 1982, 01st edition, 45 p.
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