Padparadscha journey

[Lilith112]

Looks very promising. The price is probably not too high if everything checks out. This color is much rarer than even cornflower blue especially considering unheated. In the US, people would pay $5k-$6k PER CARAT, or $10-12k total, for an unheated 2 ct padparadscha, so if your seller has access to the US market, it would fetch something more like RMB60,000.

Unfortunately, the tariff of 30% is something a Chinese vendor would likely have to eat, if they export it to the US. That would cut significantly into margins and leaves then only RMB42,000 after all that hassle of exporting. So, the current trade situation benefits Chinese consumers at the expense of Chinese vendors, at least in terms of the market for fine gemstones.

Ohhh so that explains the price difference! As a consumer, I have noticed that generally, prices in Asia seem to be more competitive. Emeralds here are still really pricey though- even pricier than rubies it seems!

@natasha-cupcake @minousbijoux fingers crossed! I'm also checking if another vendor I know can get the pad over to Shanghai so I can take a look at it; apparently, she also knows the supplier!

 

[icy_jade]

A contender? Oval, 2.05ct, unheated, Madagascar:




One thing I'm unsure is the price; vendor's quoting me RMB39000. She'll send over more pics tomorrow in natural daylight, but my gut tells me the pricetag's a bit high atm.

Can’t tell from pic how nice the color is. For pads uncertainty about color stability bothers me so personally I’ll only buy one that’s stability tested and if I’ve seen irl as I don’t trust vendor pics...

Price seems a little on high side but suspect can nego a bit right.

 

[Lilith112]

Can’t tell from pic how nice the color is. For pads uncertainty about color stability bothers me so personally I’ll only buy one that’s stability tested and if I’ve seen irl as I don’t trust vendor pics...

Price seems a little on high side but suspect can nego a bit right.

That's what I'm thinking as well. My gut is telling me that I can probs drop the price by at least 20% if not more.

Outdoor pic that the vendor sent over. She says that the color's not very accurate since the orange is washed out:

 

[icy_jade]

Can u ask for shots against hand?

 

[Lilith112]

Can u ask for shots against hand?

I have....she says she'll take more pics.

 

[icy_jade]

Well... the color intensity plays a big part in pricing. But if you like a more pastel stone then why not

 

[Lilith112]

Well... the color intensity plays a big part in pricing. But if you like a more pastel stone then why not

Vendor says the color is more like this (I gave her permission to tweak the colors based on what she sees):



If that's the case, on the pad scale of lightly to heavily saturated, I'd place this at the moderately saturated level. Problem is, the Singapore one was about this level of saturation and almost USD2000 cheaper lol. Hence my uncertainty.

 

[icy_jade]

Then go for cheaper one?

Did the stone speak to you?

 

[Lilith112]

Then go for cheaper one?

Did the stone speak to you?

It did in the first vid. Didn't so much in the second vid. And the vendor's attitude at times is honestly a turn off...I feel like I have to wrangle additional pics out of her urgh -_-

 

[Lilith112]

Update on the 2.05ct! I chatted w/another vendor, and she actually managed to get the gem over to Shanghai and took pics for me! Annnnd the verdict is...too purple-pink

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

You are right. I don't see much orange!

 

[Lilith112]

You are right. I don't see much orange!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

There's a very real possibility that I'll pick up the 2.54ct one I saw in Singapore during my Xmas trip if it's still available... this search is driving me nuts!

 

[icy_jade]

Just saw this 1.07 ct 50% pink/orange, 6.15x4.58x4.22mm in 1 ct diamond setting

No heat, Sri Lanka

 

[ChaiK]

Just saw this 1.07 ct 50% pink/orange, 6.15x4.58x4.22mm in 1 ct diamond setting

No heat, Sri Lanka

It's 3600 sgd. I think that is a fantastic price. The diamonds are 8 points. I am setting my tiny 3.8 carat spinel that way.

 

[Lilith112]

Just saw this 1.07 ct 50% pink/orange, 6.15x4.58x4.22mm in 1 ct diamond setting

No heat, Sri Lanka

Omgggggg that's gorgeous! Thank you for posting about it!

Would it be possible to see/purchase the pad seperately? Does Wriston have it?

 

[ChaiK]

I normally whatsapp Wriston. But I only whatsapped him after messaging him on FB and he gave me is Whatsapp details.

I cannot seem to post his FB page. I think ICY might be able to help you better.

 

[Lilith112]

A seller in SH also just showed this to me- Madagascar, 1.03ct, unheated:

Top:


Bottom:



And the 2.49ct is still available! Refresher pics:

 

[icy_jade]

It's 3600 sgd. I think that is a fantastic price. The diamonds are 8 points. I am setting my tiny 3.8 carat spinel that way.

Erm 3.8ct is not very small

 

[icy_jade]

Omgggggg that's gorgeous! Thank you for posting about it!

Would it be possible to see/purchase the pad seperately? Does Wriston have it?

I’ll suggest you get with the setting but probably can get separately.

It’s too tiny for me else I’ll probably get it. I like the setting and the pad color. Stone cutting is so-so only but can’t really see at that size (eyesight getting worst lol)

I suspect at that price point it won’t last long...

 

[Lilith112]

I’ll suggest you get with the setting but probably can get separately.

It’s too tiny for me else I’ll probably get it. I like the setting and the pad color. Stone cutting is so-so only but can’t really see at that size (eyesight getting worst lol)

I suspect at that price point it won’t last long...

Hmm... well, guess I have 3 contenders now lol. What do you think of the 1~ carat one I just posted? Madagascar, very saturated color.

 

[icy_jade]

$2.3k sgd for the stone alone

Wriston also has wechat

Edit: still think get with setting better. The setting is nice and sparkly

 

[icy_jade]

Hmm... well, guess I have 3 contenders now lol. What do you think of the 1~ carat one I just posted? Madagascar, very saturated color.

Tbh I really like it but it’s not a classic pad color. So depends on what you like. And the prices for them. I can’t rem how they stack up price wise.

 

[Lilith112]

$2.3k sgd for the stone alone

Wriston also has wechat

Oh cool! What's his WeChat QR code?

Still waiting on more info for the saturated pad. Btw are Wriston's pads color stable?

 

[icy_jade]

Oh cool! What's his WeChat QR code?

Still waiting on more info for the saturated pad. Btw are Wriston's pads color stable?

QR I ask for you but are we allowed to post?

Color stuff u ask him lah...

Edit: wechat Id is wristontan
I don’t get any commission from him and I’m not related to him ya. Don’t want to get into any trouble for posting this

 

[ChaiK]

QR I ask for you but are we allowed to post?

Color stuff u ask him lah...

Edit: wechat Id is wristontan
I don’t get any commission from him and I’m not related to him ya. Don’t want to get into any trouble for posting this

Me neither. I have never met Wriston. I like the setting. Have yet to buy a stone from him. At the moment, I am all about setting.

 

[Lilith112]

QR I ask for you but are we allowed to post?

Color stuff u ask him lah...

Edit: wechat Id is wristontan
I don’t get any commission from him and I’m not related to him ya. Don’t want to get into any trouble for posting this

Thaaaaank you!

 

[icy_jade]

Another pic. I took these out to see so took some pics

Me neither. I have never met Wriston. I like the setting. Have yet to buy a stone from him. At the moment, I am all about setting.

Can I pretty pls see your stones that are with Wriston? Am so sad I never get to see the spinel

 

[ChaiK]

The first spinel set by Wriston arriving this week.

I am still deliberating over setting for the tiny 3.9 carat one. @icy_jade I will let Wriston know to show you when that is done. Should be so fun. I really don't know yet how to set it - Wriston has yet to quote me. I am also going skiing so may not be until after December.

 

[icy_jade]

The first spinel set by Wriston arriving this week.

I am still deliberating over setting for the tiny 3.9 carat one. @icy_jade I will let Wriston know to show you when that is done. Should be so fun. I really don't know yet how to set it - Wriston has yet to quote me. I am also going skiing so may not be until after December.

3.9 ct is not tiny!!! Btw have you seen my Frozen ring? My stone is also longish but the design worked out fine.

Anyway I think his settings ppl won’t be here until next year. That reminds me... I probably should chase for xiaohuang CAD...

 

[Lilith112]

So after some thought...I ruled out the 1.03ct Madagascar one since the color's almost...too saturated? I think I'd prefer a softer color.

Regarding Wriston's, I think I'd prefer a pad that's slightly bigger and just a tad more saturated, something more in the medium range for Sri Lankan pads.

In the meantime, a 2.09ct Mada pad. It looks promising, but it almost looks like there's a lavender color shift? In the center of this pic:



Or am I being over-finicky?

Other pics: