It is unusual to find Padparadschas that are more than two carats in weight. Padparadschas are second only to diamonds in their hardness, giving them a longevity that makes them ideal for setting in high-quality jewellery.īy Alextryan via Wiki Commons Princess Eugenie’s flawless pale pink stone is the perfect example of this. Unlike most sapphires, which are considered more valuable the more saturated the colour, in the case of Padparadschas, a medium saturation is often more highly regarded as these gems are expected to be pastel in colour and tone. They owe their colour to the additional trace elements of chromium and iron present during their formation. Padparadscha sapphires are a variety of Corundum, an aluminium oxide mineral that forms in crystals. By Wiener Edelstein Zentrum via Wikimedia Commons While most Padparadschas are found in Sri Lanka, these coveted stones are now also being produced in Madagascar, Vietnam and Tanzania, though their quality is not considered as high by some experts, which affects their value. Originally discovered in Sri Lanka, the prized gem gets its name from the Sinhalese word ‘padma radschen’, meaning ‘aquatic lotus blossom’, which has a similar orange-pink hue and is also native to that region. The Padparadscha is the rarest form of sapphire. Since then, Diamond Rocks has seen a rise in popularity of ‘non-traditional’ pink gems.

Eugenie, ninth in line to the throne, worked with her fiancé on the design of the ring and, in particular, the choice of the delicate pale pink central stone (you can see our full Royal Rings comparison infographic here). The couple announced their betrothal in January, when they revealed the Princess’s stunning engagement ring, which features an oval Padparadscha sapphire surrounded by 10 brilliant-cut diamonds flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds on a yellow gold band ̶ not dissimilar in stone arrangement to the ring her father, the Duke of York, presented to her mother, Sarah Ferguson, back in 1986.

This precious lotus pink gem never fails to dazzle and has even won royal approval in the form of Princess Eugenie's engagement ring. If you are in search of an engagement ring that stands out from the crowd, look no further than the rare Padparadscha sapphire.