Why does one sunset-hued gem command a king's ransom while a nearly identical neighbor is dismissed by top-tier auction houses? It's a question that can leave even the most passionate connoisseur feeling uncertain. You likely understand that the Padparadscha is the most elusive member of the sapph …

If you find a gemstone labeled as a padparadscha priced under $5,000 per carat today, you're likely holding a common peach sapphire or a stone compromised by Beryllium diffusion. True padparadscha sapphires are so rare that they account for less than 1% of all gem-quality corundum pulled from Sri La …