History of origin and place of production
The original stone was discovered in Sri Lanka. In local dialect the name means "lotus flower". For a long time, padparadscha stone was not mined anywhere else in the world. In the 20th century, gems began to be found in Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Tanzania, and Thailand. However, only in their homeland are there “ideal” padparadschas, which have three warm shades: pink smoothly turns into red, and from there into orange. “Solar” sapphires found in other places are conventionally called by gemologists by this sonorous and prestigious name.
The gem is not found in Russia. The gem brought in ancient times from overseas countries was called scarlet yacht.
By the way
Initially, this variety of corundum was classified as a ruby: pink-orange is closer to scarlet than to blue. Only a few decades ago, thanks to careful spectral analysis, it was recognized that Padparadscha is a sapphire.
Physical and chemical properties
Padparadscha is aluminum oxide. The chemical formula, like all corundums, is Al2O3.
- The mineral is hard (9 Mohs points), but does not differ in cleavage, and therefore has an uneven or conchoidal fracture.
- Density within 4 g/cm³.
- Melts at a temperature of 2050 °C.
- There are transparent, translucent and frosted crystals.
- Glass shine.
- It has the effect of pleochroism (color change under different lighting).
- Occasionally, stones with an asterism effect are found: 4- or 6-rayed stars are visible inside the mineral.
- The dispersion is high, hence the famous pink-orange sparkles on the surface.
- The shape is barrel-shaped, prismatic, lamellar, dipyramidal.
For corundum to turn out to be padparadscha, chromium is required in the crystal lattice of the stone and a powerful thermal effect. The combination of these conditions explains the fact that in nature it is found exclusively in alluvial placers and not in massifs.
By the way
Usually 1-2 carat crystals are found; stones of 5 carats or more are rare. The largest Padparadscha sapphire weighs 100 carats. Kept in the New York Museum of Natural History.
Color
The color scheme of padparadscha consists of pink, orange and red shades. There are few ideal representatives where all three colors are easily identified. Most of the colors are blurry, and the level of color saturation is also uneven. Over time, the stones fade. But the value of an orange sapphire is determined not by its brightness, but by the combination of colors. Look at the photo how the edges of the crystal play.
Aluminum oxide is colorless. Warm colors appear due to metal impurities and the energetic arrangement of atoms in crystals that have been exposed to irradiation and ultra-high temperatures for a long time.
Gemologists distinguish two types of stone:
- those in which pink color imperceptibly flows into orange and vice versa,
- those where pink and orange tones are clearly separated from each other.
Magical and healing properties
From a magical point of view, padparadscha is responsible for the sphere of love. Charms with this stone, on the one hand, protect against love spells, and on the other hand, give the owner the energy to attract the desired person. The stone helps to recognize sincere and false feelings. Strengthens and harmonizes family relationships, protects against betrayal. Helps single people find a life partner.
Padparadscha has powerful protective energy. The evil eye and damage, the bad intentions of evil people will not break through the protective shell of solar sapphire.
The stone develops ambition in a person, at the same time gentleness and kindness. Will help you find true friends.
Padparadscha also reveals secrets and broadens the owner’s horizons.
Each specific person is given what they lack.
For maximum concentration of the magical properties of the Padparadscha stone, the crystal must be free of defects.
Healers recommend using orange sapphire to strengthen the immune system. They say that this mineral, set in gold, prevents viral and respiratory infections, bronchial asthma. Moreover, the stone rejuvenates the body. Able to increase the effects of medications, so it perfectly complements traditional treatment.
Wearing a talisman is useful for diseases of the heart, skin, and rheumatism.
If you keep the stone in clean water and drink a glass of this water every night for a month, you can increase potency and alleviate diseases of the genitourinary system. Don’t forget to wash the stone and glass every day and fill it with fresh water.
Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?
Orange padparadscha sapphire is perfect for the fire signs of the zodiac: Leo, Sagittarius, Aries. Reduces their impulsiveness, brings them out of crises, and establishes mutual understanding with partners.
With a padparadscha amulet, modest Cancer feels more confident, and Aquarius, who often acts under the influence of a sudden impulse, becomes less explosive.
By the way,
representatives of the fairer sex of any zodiac sign with padparadscha jewelry will certainly achieve the attention of the opposite sex, since the gem increases the sexual attractiveness of the owner.
According to the horoscope, wearing orange sapphire is not recommended for Capricorns.
The stone favors Svyatoslav, Maxim, Oleg, Vladimir, Irina, Tamara, Victoria, Olga, Valentina.
In general, it interacts positively with all zodiac signs. But it's better to check if this is true. The stone is placed under the pillow at night and the dream is remembered. If it is favorable, the stone is yours.
Price of natural peridot
It is very difficult to say the average cost per carat or gram of peridot, since it depends on a number of factors: deposit, shade, quality of cut... And it is much more interesting for an ordinary buyer to know the cost of the entire piece of jewelry. And here the situation becomes much more complicated, because the cost of the frame, other stone inserts, and design decisions are added...
For example, gold earrings with chrysolites and cubic zirconia will cost almost 35 thousand rubles. A silver brooch in the shape of an oak leaf, decorated with a scattering of chrysolites and cubic zirconias costs about 8 thousand. The cost of the gold bracelet “Hummingbird (photo above) with inserts of chrysolites, cubic zirconia and topaz is almost 12 thousand rubles.
Peridot is an incredibly beautiful stone with a friendly attitude. He will definitely help you change your life for the better and achieve considerable heights.
Chrysolite, I repeat, from the Greek chrysos - golden and lithos - stone, that is, a golden stone. Glass shine. But its crystals can have different shades of green - mustard, tobacco, pistachio, golden, grassy. Peridot is a fairly fragile stone. This stone is highly valued by jewelers. It has been known since ancient times, but the attitude towards it was not always the same. It gained particular popularity in the Baroque era, then in the 60s of the 19th century. At the beginning of the twentieth century, it again found itself at the peak of popularity in connection with the “green fashion”.
The stone was highly prized among jewelers and gem aficionados. It is still used today as inserts in jewelry. The golden-green color of peridot requires a gold frame. The cut stone sparkles, yellow-green shades shimmer, reflected in the gold frame. Its beautiful golden-green color, transparency and shine allow jewelers to create unique pieces. Often inserted into men's rings.
Rings with peridot are made extremely rarely, as the stone can quickly be scratched. Brooches, earrings and necklaces are mainly decorated with chrysolite inserts. Jewelers constantly compete with nature, and thereby create masterpieces.
And although researchers call the volcanic island of Zaberget in the Red Sea one of the first deposits of chrysolite. There are chrysolites in Brazil, South Africa, the USA, Zaire, Russia, and are also found in Norway. However, today the main suppliers are Burma and Pakistan.
For this stone, tabular, stepped and occasionally diamond cuts are most often used. Large peridot crystals are quite rare. The largest faceted peridot, 310 carats, was found on the island of Saberget; it is kept in the Smithsonian Institution in the USA. A 287-carat peridot (from Burma) is also stored there. The Diamond Fund of Russia exhibits a 192.6-carat chrysolite. Large crystals can be seen in Vienna and in the London Geological Museum. Peridot can be confused with other transparent green stones, such as beryl, chrysoberyl, demantoid, etc., including emeralds. Peridot is sometimes called “evening emerald”. Indeed, it is similar to some varieties of emerald. And this can be confirmed by the famous “Emerald of Nero”, which is kept in the Vatican; in fact, it turned out to be chrysolite. After sunset, its golden hues disappear and it becomes pure green. Peridot is considered a powerful magical stone. Since ancient times, it has been credited with the ability to protect against the evil eye, envy, and to win the friendly attitude of others towards the owner of the stone. It preserves love and mutual understanding in the family, and the most interesting thing is that it reveals the secrets of existence. On what they based their assertions of such properties of the stone in ancient times is difficult to say now, but behind this stone, like many others, there is a trail of myths and legends.
Products and prices
Natural padparadscha is so rare and expensive that it is used only in exclusive jewelry, amulets and talismans.
Authenticity and minimal (cutting only) impact influence the value of the stone. Additionally, they look at the size, color, transparency, absence of inclusions and defects.
The cost of a carat of a small crystal is 1000 - 2000 dollars, the price of 5 carats reaches $50,000. Pebbles with defects that are not suitable for cutting are valued at hundreds of times cheaper.
Madagascar treated pink sapphires are often found on the market. Their price should be significantly lower than natural colored stones.
Mostly famous companies (Cartier, Chanel) that produce exclusive items work with ideal solar sapphires.
How to spot a fake
Orange tourmalines are sold under the name Padparadscha, counting on the incompetence of the buyer. And also sapphires that match the color, but are actually much cheaper.
In addition, colorless corundums are refined. To do this, they are influenced by:
- high temperatures in the chrome mine. The resulting uneven coloring indicates a fake;
- ion accelerators. Under a magnifying glass you can see that the color has developed to a minimum depth, and besides, traces of firing and cracks from it are noticeable;
- gamma radiation. The desired color appears, but quickly fades and returns to the original color.
In this case, corundums can be synthesized rather than natural.
Products after such manipulations are sold cheaper than natural sapphires, and even more so padparadscha. If the buyer is not informed that the stone has been treated, this is fraud.
In order not to become a victim of deception, you should purchase goods in reputable stores, focus on the price, and it is better to rely on the documentary conclusion of a gemological examination.
How to wear
The stone is set in platinum, white and rose gold. Natural pearls and diamonds are excellent companions for Padparadscha.
You can wear it however you like.
How to care
The stone requires careful handling. You can clean it by immersing it in a soapy solution for a short time and then rinsing thoroughly with running water. Do not use chemical compounds. Wipe with velvet cloth. It is recommended to store padparadscha sapphire in a separate box.
To purchase a real padparadscha stone, you need to be a wealthy person. They don’t regret the investment, since it works for prestige, protects against ill-wishers, promotes health and increases well-being. After all, the cost of such a thing is growing all the time.
[Translation] "Gemland" is the most visually interesting show in years.
I love this particular show, that's why.
This is easily the best of the roughly three dozen anime I've watched this year. This post is a translation of this article. It was written by a transsexual, so there are some specific points that slip through here, which I tried to provide as best I could. Feel free to kick me in soft places (and I’m all soft). This is not a full-fledged review article of the anime artist, but simply a “look how awesome this looks.” So it goes.
Your body is not really yours.
It is a collection of parts that define who and what you are, but you do not choose it. This is the basis, the template. You are you because of him, not in spite of him. At least that's what they say.
Few films truly capture the horror and beauty of what it means to have a body. Recent examples that come to mind include Walk in My Shoes by Jonathan Glaser; a meditative reflection on how owning a human, female body fundamentally changes you and the way you live in this world. And now we have the Land of Gems from Takahiko Kyogoku, an adaptation of the manga of the same name by Haruko Ichikawa, which tells the story of the agony and beauty of owning any body at all.
"Land of the Gems" (or "Houseki no Kuni") takes place in a world inhabited by gem people who are hunted by the Lunarians, strange creatures from the moon who value the Gems for their beauty. If this sounds like a weird fusion of Steven Universe and NieR Automana, that's because it is - a bright, post-human fever dream that can turn into body horror in the blink of an eye. “Country” is as playful as it is mysterious; delightful as well as terrifying.
Making anime almost entirely in CGI is an infrequent event, mostly frowned upon, and often ends up looking clunky. While CG is the main method in Western animation, Japanese anime is primarily created in 2D. 3D models in Japanese animation often look animatronic, plastic and, frankly, creepy. There was simply no technology or opportunity for this.
It's hard to say whether or not Gemland allows you to add "... up to this point" in that sentence, but I provide it as important context for what makes Gemland such a unique visual splendor: it's the only show I'm talking about. I can say that it looks beautiful and amazing because of the 3D animation, not in spite of it.
It’s not just the clear and concise composition of the scenes or the dynamic, but at the same time smooth camera work that raises “Country” to this level. These are textures, the movement of bodies, reflections of light, the heaviness with which each Gem can shatter into millions of fragments. “Land of Gems” is an incredibly physical, spontaneous show that is unlike anything else. It could only be done with this special ratio of 3D animation and 2D effects and details. It could only have been created this way.
It speaks volumes that director Kyogoku previously worked on Love Live! School Idol Project, which was (in)famous for using 3D models for complex dance scenes. Like a lot of CG anime of the past, these scenes don't really stand the test of time, but that was the basis of what he would achieve with Orange (the animation studio), who had previously worked on Hideaki Anno's Rebuild of Evangelion films.
Their CG doesn't have the jumpy energy of the work of American giants like Pixar, nor does it have the smooth polish of Japanese CG found in games like Final Fantasy. On the contrary, their characters turn out to be weighty and heavy. I'm reminded of Robert Ebert's comparison between the models in Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man film, which he called cartoonish, and those in its sequel, Spider-Man 2, which he praised for being "eerily alive." . "Sinister" is the key word here.
By all accounts, Kyogoku is deeply interested in creating models in such a way that they appear two-dimensional in still frames, but at the same time can move in three dimensions. He is fascinated by this middle ground between the two modes of animation, the beautiful combination of these spatial projections. "Land of Gems" is his first experiment in overcoming the classical framework, in which he practically uses the uncanny valley to achieve the desired goal.
The Country Gems don't move like we do. They are alien, inhuman, but at the same time they are not at all those animatronic idols from “Love Live!” They clatter as they walk across stones or marble floors, and the animators take great care to convey the way the light moves and reflects in their iridescent, translucent hair. When Gems break, the edges of the shards have detail and shine that would be impossible to capture in traditional animation. The fight scenes feel almost like a dance, with every swing of an arm or leg being heavy and realistic. The camera, without being tied to a static two-dimensional landscape, can now fly around them, capturing every run and every jump from different angles. There simply isn’t anything else out there—whether it’s movies, TV series, or anything else—with the structure and movement of the “Land of Gems.”
Kyogoku and his animators clearly enjoy giving the Gems unique properties. Gemini Amethysts move symmetrically in unison; Bort has long and razor-sharp hair, which she uses in battle; Antarcticite consists of liquid material, which allows it to emerge only in frosty temperatures.
There is also Cinnabar, the central character, constantly surrounded by droplets of mercury, flying around her like moths around a flame. When she uses liquid mercury in battle, it's like the T-1000 from Terminator 2 on steroids - she creates an army of fighters that melt and flow into each other. This is probably the grandest presentation of all the elements of "Country" together, the main essence and secret weapon of this show.
The destruction and restoration of bodies is one of the constant elements in the "Land of Gems", as well as one of the main themes. Gems are functionally immortal, but break easily (or not at all) depending on their Mohs hardness scale. Fortunately, the shards can be put back together, but there is a catch - if a shard is lost, the memory is lost along with it. So if a Gem is put back together but the hand is missing, they may forget the other Gem's name or a moment they shared together.
This idea is woven into the story of our main character, Phosphophyllite (“Phos” for short). The hardness of this Gem is so low that all other Gems consider it useless. She wants to prove otherwise and overcome the limitations of her “inferior” body; Over the course of the show, she permanently loses her limbs and replaces them with materials that are incompatible with her body. Gradually she becomes the humanoid Ship of Theseus. How many Phos parts will be replaced? How much will it change? And for what? To become “useful”? What determines the “usefulness” of a body?
This plays into the body horror of the show. It's not bloody, but it's terrifying nonetheless. Gemland, like David Cronenberg's films before it, is one of the rare stories that captures the horror of what it's like to own a body only to lose it to external forces. This physicality, which the show playsfully conveys, is taken into account in many scenes that, while not gory, are still very uncomfortable. Bodies are regularly broken, put back together and one day simply melt into nothingness. If the body dictates our sense of self, then are we slaves to our body? How much of our sense of self is determined by the boundaries of bones and flesh?
And yet the body in the Land of Gems is a beautiful image, which only gives its destruction more weight. Each lost fragment leaves a feeling of bitter loss and, like all losses, causes grief. "Sorrow" is the theme that Ishikawa (the manga's author) recalls as the main reason for the Gems' odd clothing choices: small tuxedos and tight shorts. She called them "mourning clothes," which only makes sense if we consider it in light of the show's handling of the gender binary.
In keeping with the theme of the body being the main totem of a person's essence, the Gems are depicted as having no specific gender and refer to each other with neutral pronouns (not really, since in the original some of them use explicitly masculine pronouns and given that gender-neutral pronouns in Japanese there is no such thing as a class, but let’s leave it to the conscience of the author of the original article - translator’s note). They appear quite feminine in appearance and are voiced by female actors, but they lack breasts and (presumably) genitals. Like many elements of the show, their very design is made to exist somewhere in the middle, in a non-binary state. Despite the theme of the Ghost's inseparability from the Armor, the show's presentation of bodies (and gender) is as fluid as it is weighty—like drops of mercury swirling around Cinnabar—and only further brings out the unique physicality of their movements. Like everything else in Country, these elements conflict with each other, but the show itself comfortably exists at the blurred intersection of these lines.
The footage showing these bodies also contributes to their deeply corporeal aspect of the Country's surroundings. Unlike most shows on American popular television, which imitate Kubrick's habits of open space and symmetrical composition, Country's presentation is always emotionally clear and concise. These shots definitely contribute to the uniquely mysterious mood and atmosphere, but they're primarily about the characters they portray and their roles in this devastated world.
Each of these frames is a captured story in itself. But like the rest of the show, they're even more striking when they move. They exist in contradiction, in a constant battle within themselves. Each frame is a conflict of space, depth and movement; the result of this is extremely mystical.
While only halfway through its completion, Land of the Gems has already proven itself to be something very special. The only show this year that beats Country is David Lynch's magnum opus Twin Peaks: The Return. But while Lynch rewrites the rules of storytelling and structure, Kyogoku redefines movement in cinema. We've been incredibly lucky to see something so bold, something so wildly new this year, and nothing looks or feels as unlike anything else as Gemland.
tags-tags, anime, stones
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