Padparadscha journey

[Lilith112]

That's too bad. I had hopes for the larger one.

Super disappointing for me too!

The 1.51 ct is better in my opinion because too much orange can quickly go brown in certain lighting.

That was my first impression- it looked more like orange-brown than pink orange. The 1.51ct one.was much nicer, but had more of a pink-peach shift than pinky orange. This search is much harder than cornflower blue lol!

 

[Lilith112]

Was sent this one; 2.02ct, unheated, GRS cert-ed, sunrise range:

Under white light:






Daylight, outdoors:


It looks...very shallow? Also the cut quality doesn't look that great :/

Other one (1.51ct) that I've just been sent; still waiting on normal pics so I only have vendor pic for now:


Cut quality looks better, window's not too big, but who knows what it looks like in normal lighting. Which one seems more promising?

 

[natasha-cupcake]

I think the second one looks more promising. But I'm impressed (not in a good way) with how different most of these stones look when comparing the vendor photos to your photos and/or your descriptions of what you see. I can imagine that this is a somewhat frustrating search.

 

[Lilith112]

I think the second one looks more promising. But I'm impressed (not in a good way) with how different most of these stones look when comparing the vendor photos to your photos and/or your descriptions of what you see. I can imagine that this is a somewhat frustrating search.

Oh for sure! I'm not even sure how they're doing it or what kind of filters they're using lol. It makes the overall experience more difficult, especially when vendors get defensive and swear up and down that the actual stone looks exactly like vendor photos... not lol.

Also, I think certification labs really need to tighten their standards for pads. I've seen ones that are straight yellow + brown be certified as sunset...somehow. It really is ridiculous imo.

 

[Lilith112]

On the plus side, I now know which 3-4 vendors to go to for quality

 

[suzanne2]

I like the second one...but after seeing the real life pics you post, I should keep my mouth shut. I've lurked on a zillion pad threads and this is the hardest color to buy. You are going about it the right way Lilith. No deadline and training your eye.
I'm too lazy to read the entire thread again to see if this has already been mentioned, but I recommend Richard Hughes and his articles on pad colors. Have you read them?

 

[Lilith112]

I like the second one...but after seeing the real life pics you post, I should keep my mouth shut. I've lurked on a zillion pad threads and this is the hardest color to buy. You are going about it the right way Lilith. No deadline and training your eye.
I'm too lazy to read the entire thread again to see if this has already been mentioned, but I recommend Richard Hughes and his articles on pad colors. Have you read them?

I've read his articles along w/other PS threads, but it took seeing them irl to make up my mind.and realize my ideal pad! This has definitely helped improve my eye for color lol.

On the other hand, another 2 options!

2.06ct, unheated, RMB21000



2.01ct, unheated, RMB18000

 

[AV_]

What happened with the 1.7? Else, the 2.06 is intriguing.

It is too easy to decide on a colour instead of a stone. I'd www & it is not even official.

 

[Lilith112]

What happened with the 1.7? Else, the 2.06 is intriguing.

It is too easy to decide on a colour instead of a stone!

Saw more vendor pics and pink looked a bit cool toned fpr my.tastes. Yes, the 2.06 is my frontrunner...for now lol!

 

[voce]

I really hope the 2.06 works out. If so, based on the Madagascar origin she'd be a sister to your velvet blue sapphire!

 

[Lilith112]

I really hope the 2.06 works out. If so, based on the Madagascar origin she'd be a sister to your velvet blue sapphire!

Lol just gathering my Madagascar collection! I'm also thinking of scheduling a trip to Shenzhen to see it....we'll see!

 

[Lilith112]

Pads really are tricky.... here's the 2.01ct and 2.06 ct in various lighting:

Daytime sunlight (vendor says it's more orange irl, camera washes out about 20% of it):


]

Indoors super bright white light



Indoor yellow light:



Just changed my mind yet again...the 2.01ct color looks better. Less brown and more pure pink-orange. Thoughts?

 

[voce]

They're sunrise vs sunset type pads. Depends on what lighting you'll be viewing the gems from. As I am in natural lighting in my office, I would prefer the 2.06ct because the 2.01ct looks washed out in natural light. In indoor lighting, the 2.01ct looks brighter, but there you'd get little to no orange, and it actually looks rather like spinel. Sorry to say, not all the pictures in the world would make a difference if you don't go inspect them in person.

 

[Lilith112]

They're sunrise vs sunset type pads. Depends on what lighting you'll be viewing the gems from. As I am in natural lighting in my office, I would prefer the 2.06ct because the 2.01ct looks washed out in natural light. In indoor lighting, the 2.01ct looks brighter, but there you'd get little to no orange, and it actually looks rather like spinel. Sorry to say, not all the pictures in the world would make a difference if you don't go inspect them in person.

The pictures are more for deciding whether or not I want to see them in person...maybe I should ask him to take pics of both on the same hand? Currently trying to decide which one I want to see in person (seller is in Shenzhen so I can receive a pad, by delivery, within a day).

Regarding the 2.06ct, the vendor did admit it has a bit of brown in it, especially in indoor lighting. Hence why I've been focusing more on the 2.01ct (even though the daylight color looks a bit washed out).

 

[Lilith112]

So a friend of mine who's in Shenzhen visited the vendor for me and sent me more pics....both are a bit too brown for my taste, especially the 2.06ct one.

For the 1.5ct, vendor says it's a 50-50 pink-orange mix. Outdoor color apparently washes out the color a bit & leans a bit pink compared to the pad's real appearance.

Indoor:



Outdoor:


Certificate:



Also, the cert says it's a pinky-orange....which seems to support what the vendor says about the pictures washing out the orange.

 

[suzanne2]

Pics of both on the same hand is a great idea. The 1.5 is gorgeous in the indoor shot but as you said, it washes out when you go outside. How feasible is a quick day trip to see them?

 

[Lilith112]

Pics of both on the same hand is a great idea. The 1.5 is gorgeous in the indoor shot but as you said, it washes out when you go outside. How feasible is a quick day trip to see them?

I could also have it delivered within the same day (Beijing to Shanghai) and if I don't like it, can return it hassle free. Usually though, I like to see pics first to decide if I want to take the time for that (did that for my cornflower sapphire, but vendor pics on top of requested pics all made my heart skip a beat).

 

[Lilith112]

Just a bit crazy that even now, the front runner is that 1.03ct one from almost 2 months ago....lol.

 

[Lilith112]

More indoor pics of the 1.5ct on the vendor's hand:




Color's better than yesterday's, but the bottom part's color looks washed out. Overall, the tone is nice but it looks like half the color's missing imo.

 

[Lilith112]

Waaaaay out of budget.... but this 2ct, unheated srilankan one is gooooorgeous. Basically my ideal.

 

[voce]

Waaaaay out of budget.... but this 2ct, unheated srilankan one is gooooorgeous. Basically my ideal.

Have you seen this stone in person? It appears quite brown to me in the photos.

 

[Lilith112]

No, but on my phone, it's reading as only orange-pink, no brown :/

 

[distracts]

Waaaaay out of budget.... but this 2ct, unheated srilankan one is gooooorgeous. Basically my ideal.

um. yes. I love that one from those pics.

 

[Lilith112]

um. yes. I love that one from those pics.

So pretty....but so out of budget lol! At least I have a very solid idea of the color I want now lol.

 

[Lilith112]

Vendor will send over additional photos tomorrow, but this 2.02ct seems to have a nice color! I need additional pics to get a sense of how big that window will be though:




Price is RMB27600

 

[icy_jade]

I haven’t been commenting much but have been following your hunt! Not in the market for one but if I am think I will find it so difficult to decide on a pad based on pics...

Window looks big on the last one...

Btw any of the vendors doing an 11/11 sale? If so maybe is a good time to buy

 

[Lilith112]

I haven’t been commenting much but have been following your hunt! Not in the market for one but if I am think I will find it so difficult to decide on a pad based on pics...

Window looks big on the last one...

Btw any of the vendors doing an 11/11 sale? If so maybe is a good time to buy

Yes, some are! I still want to see more pictures before deciding if I want to use that tomorrow to leverage or not XD The window does concern me a bit; it looks like half the color's missing O,O

Yeah, pad hunting...has been pretty unfun so far. Oh well lol

 

[Lilith112]

Hmm...idk how I feel about this color? For some reason, it's displaying as purple-ish? Also, window's quite large; looks like 2/3 of the face-up color's missing

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

That looks like a browny mauve to me.

 

[Lilith112]

That looks like a browny mauve to me.

Yeah, the color is/was...unimpressive. And it's almost USD4000 lol