corundum, Sri Lanka.12, quality.10, gems

Attracting a great deal of attention during the February 1983 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show was the 1,126 ct pinkish orange sapphire crystal from Sri Lanka shown in figure 23. The firm displaying the crystal expected it to yield a cut stone weighing at least 200 ct. This unusual crystal was illustrated and discussed in the article “Padparadscha: What’s in a Name?” by Robert Crowningshield (Gems & Gemology, Spring 1983). Discussed in this article was the term padparadscha and the fact that the precise hue represented by this term is often a subject of controversy and discussion. Most of the gem dealers who saw this spectacular crystal agreed that the color was aptly referred to as padparadscha. Because of the subjectivity of the term, however, GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, Inc., does not use it on GTL identification reports, treating it in the same manner as the trade grades “Burma ruby,” “Kashmir sapphire,” and “Siberian amethyst.” Although this crystal was remarkable and many felt that it should be kept intact as a mineral specimen, everyone was curious as to what color of faceted gems it would yield, since it seemed inevitable that the crystal was going to be cut.