On the hunt for a well-cut Padparadscha around 2 cts

[Autumn in New England]

Fun!


Yes!



Question for you, Autumn, and it might help you too, OP.
Through the process of the 4 stones - how much was it you learning what color of pad you ultimately wanted to have after (I assume) thinking you had it figured out by pictures online?- and did your wants evolve?
And how different was the color you saw throughout your different environmental lightings compared to the vendors photos on those stones?

not a ding on the vendors at all - but I’m really convinced this color range is the most difficult to photo compared to what you see with eye. Without post photo processing. And taking 50 for one that looks representative and the time involved in that. Also not to go on a speal if a vendor is using a camera or phone.
Brown where it’s not there.
Purple where it’s not there
Negating orange /amping pink.

failing in love with a photo posted online and trying to replicate that to your own IRL experience - can be a sad thing or happy thing.
I can’t offer much to you as I settled for a super shifty peach sapphire in my own Pad journey. Just that my opinion is cost of shipping (or travelling to see) multiple stones back and forth is an investment or a tuition - not a wasted loss. Because minute change is a world of change in Pad color. Maybe you’ll find you will prefer less clear crystal as a compromise to compensate for less saturation of color? Or something like that, as an example.

Best wishes on your journey OP!
I’ll enjoy following along.

This is such a mindful post! I totally agree. To answer your question... it was a combination of factors. The first stone really just came down to eventually wanting something larger (it was 1.48ct). I sold it. The second stone was just over 2ct. It ended up being more pink in daylight than I wanted. "What a pretty stone... is it pink sapphire?" Done. So that was part "me realizing I like them more orangey" and part "the vendor photos did not fully illustrate the shift." The third stone came from the NSC uncertified. It was mined in Umba Valley (the others had been Sri Lankan). This one was just under 3ct, more orangey, and more saturated. I think the NSC's photos and videos were pretty accurate. But once received, it had that somewhat coppery appearance in daylight that I mentioned previously. Combined with the deeper tone and more intense saturation, AGL qualified that as reading brown, and precluded it from the pad designation. GIA later certified it as a pad. By that time, I was well beyond the return period. I sold it and decided my next pad would be my final one. I put aside a healthy budget for it and that was that. Definitely a learning experience!

 

[Autumn in New England]

There is a two day inspection period with the buyer paying for shipping and insurance. I’m considering doing that, but I’m struggling to decide.

So are you comfortable with only having 2 days to return it? If so, it may be worth a look. As @Rfisher said, return shipping costs are simply part of collecting. I think of them as a rental fee. Plus, you gain experience!

 

[toomuchB]

There is a two day inspection period with the buyer paying for shipping and insurance. I’m considering doing that, but I’m struggling to decide.

For a big likely once-in-a-lifetime purchase it may be worth it as the two above posters mentioned. Depends on the cost and your degree of acceptance on losing out on the money. Estimate chance of return. Lets say you decide its 75%. How does that affect your thoughts on going for it?
That is how I would balance it.

What I would do first (I'm cheap!) - ask the seller to do some post processing on the outdoor video (a filter, editing like increase saturation - whatever). And to send a version of the video he thinks is more accurate than what he sent - even if it oversells the stone a bit. As long as you know its edited, it is ethical (even desirable).

 

[Autumn in New England]

Just for sh*ts and giggles, what would such a ring have gone for?

If memory serves me, it was listed in the $50k range. Maybe one day the buyer will find her way to PS and bless us with more photos.

 

[shewhowanders]

I think I found the one! It’s 1.69 ct, unheated, and I think the cut is sufficient for me I really love the color and it’s within budget too.

https://imgur.com/a/Mi6xzMy

 

[Autumn in New England]

I think I found the one! It’s 1.69 ct, unheated, and I think the cut is sufficient for me I really love the color and it’s within budget too.

https://imgur.com/a/Mi6xzMy

It looks just about perfect to my eyes, especially in the first video! In the others, I see more yellow, so just be mindful of that. However, it could simply be the warm incandescent lighting... you'll want to see her in natural, indirect light. The tone and saturation look just right to me. This is clearly a Sri Lankan pad, which I love.