Padparadscha

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A particular variety of orange-pink sapphire commonly sought after in jewelry
2. A rare gemstone characterized by a unique hue of pinkish-orange, valued for its beauty and rarity
3. This distinct color variation of sapphire is prized in the gem industry for its vibrant orange-pink tone

Etymology: The gem's name is a Sanskrit phrase meaning "colour of the lotus flower," from "padmaraṃga," where "padma" is lotus and "raṃga" is colour. The stone is prized for a delicate blend of orange and pink, and the name tells you exactly what it is meant to recall: the soft tones of a lotus bloom. The word reached English by way of the gemstone trade, carrying its original floral image with it. Because the stone is so rare, the name has stayed largely within jewellery and gemmology, where it is used for the particular sapphire colour rather than for orange or pink in general.