Colored Sapphires
Padparadscha, pink and yellow: the same corundum as the blue sapphire, with other trace elements.
Each gem in four tones: the hue it is named by, its light part, its deepest part and the sparkle where light bounces off the facets. The colors are our own approximations, not laboratory standards.
Padparadscha
Corundum, any origin
The laboratories of the LMHC define it as corundum of any origin whose color is a subtle mixture of pinkish orange to orangey pink, in pastel tones of low to medium saturation, seen in daylight.
Its name refers to the lotus flower. A color-stability test is compulsory: if the color turns pink, the stone is no longer called padparadscha.
Padparadscha · hue
The main hue, the color the gem is named by.
Material: Padparadscha, faceted, hue
RGB(242, 160, 138)
Padparadscha · light
The light part, where the stone is thinnest or light passes straight through.
Material: Padparadscha, faceted, light
RGB(248, 194, 176)
Padparadscha · deep
The deepest part, in the facets in shadow.
Material: Padparadscha, faceted, deep
RGB(217, 120, 95)
Padparadscha · sparkle
The sparkle, where light bounces off the facets back to the eye.
Material: Padparadscha, faceted, sparkle
RGB(251, 217, 204)
Pink sapphire
Corundum colored by chromium
Pink corundum. The same element that makes ruby red, chromium, gives it its pink.
In the 1990s, finds in East Africa and Madagascar made the so-called fancy sapphires widely known and brought many more yellows, oranges, pinks and purples.
Pink sapphire · hue
The main hue, the color the gem is named by.
Material: Pink sapphire, faceted, hue
RGB(224, 90, 154)
Pink sapphire · light
The light part, where the stone is thinnest or light passes straight through.
Material: Pink sapphire, faceted, light
RGB(240, 140, 188)
Pink sapphire · deep
The deepest part, in the facets in shadow.
Material: Pink sapphire, faceted, deep
RGB(168, 48, 108)
Pink sapphire · sparkle
The sparkle, where light bounces off the facets back to the eye.
Material: Pink sapphire, faceted, sparkle
RGB(247, 181, 213)
Yellow sapphire
Corundum colored by iron
Yellow corundum. Its yellow can have more than one cause: in some stones, pairs of iron ions (Fe3+–Fe3+); in others, color centres.
The same corundum gives red, blue, pink and yellow: only the trace elements change.
Yellow sapphire · hue
The main hue, the color the gem is named by.
Material: Yellow sapphire, faceted, hue
RGB(242, 194, 48)
Yellow sapphire · light
The light part, where the stone is thinnest or light passes straight through.
Material: Yellow sapphire, faceted, light
RGB(247, 217, 106)
Yellow sapphire · deep
The deepest part, in the facets in shadow.
Material: Yellow sapphire, faceted, deep
RGB(201, 147, 15)
Yellow sapphire · sparkle
The sparkle, where light bounces off the facets back to the eye.
Material: Yellow sapphire, faceted, sparkle
RGB(251, 231, 160)
Pigmentoria is an independent color atlas. Gem, variety, place and trade names (for example «pigeon's blood» or «Paraíba») are used descriptively only and do not indicate the origin, quality, treatment or certification of any stone. The colors are our own digital approximations, not official standards of any laboratory. GIA, CIBJO, LMHC, SSEF, Gübelin and the other organisations cited belong to their owners; Pigmentoria is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.