For over 100 years, reference has been made to a unique sapphire, the color of a lotus blossom, the padparadscha. Yet the precise hue represented by this rare stone has been a subject of discussion, and often controversy, ever since the term was first introduced. In an effort to establish some grounds for a common understanding, the author reviews the historical references to the padparadscha sapphire, examines the modern usage of the term, and states GIA's current interpretation of the trade name padparadscha.
