Comments on: Fancy Color Diamonds

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:26 +0000

Right, however(if the data can prove their degree of rarity), fancies have the “exclusivity factor” that colorless diamonds do not have… like Lamborghini vs. Honda… like Tiffany vs. your local jeweler. Those who invested in them and collected them over the years prior to their more recent public appearance did so because of this “exclusivity factor.” Will there be vendors who want to move some stock and discount their prices to do so? Sure. But if a fair value system were developed based on statistical rarity, investors and collectors could buy with confidence and not worry about overpaying. …and then higher demand could be allowed to push prices up (like we’ve seen with the pinks). I don’t know how the major players in the industry feel about the issue, but it might be worth a conversation.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:10:37 +0000

Interesting idea. Don’t forget, though, that two factors determine price: supply AND demand. So even if they’re more rare, if clean colorless diamonds are more in demand than heavily included colored diamonds, they’re going to cost more even if the supply is greater.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:59:46 +0000

Thanks, Mike. It would be interesting to see actual statistics from the mines. Having objective data on the relative rarity of each color versus the other colors and also versus colorless stones of different clarity grades would probably help the market tremendously with fair pricing. That could be used to set a fair baseline price range, while allowing demand to push prices higher when demand is high.

I also think it would be great if someone began compiling fancy color price data– similar to Rapaport.

Perhaps you guys can take your site in an additional direction and add a new service both to consumers and to the industry…

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:34:13 +0000

I’m honestly not sure what the answer is. I’ve never been in the rough/mining part of the business.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:36:40 +0000

The more highly included pinks are not as rare as less included pinks, but are they still rare compared to colorless diamonds because of the color? Is my original assumption correct that these stones are still rare in spite of the inclusions?

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:12:41 +0000

I don’t think anyone would say they’re junk if that would be the case. They would just be worth less because they’re so heavily included. The more included they are, the less rare they are as well.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:11:26 +0000

Right. Yes, you need to be careful with Ebay. The question, though, would be assuming the diamonds are indeed natural diamonds, natural color, untreated stones.

Mine are similarly included but are certified natural by the GIA.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:06:54 +0000

The 0.16 is fine. the 0.18 is pretty heavily included, though. But I’m skeptical that either of them are natural. Ebay is unfortunately known for diamond cheats.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Here are a couple of examples on Ebay right now that I found:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-16-Cts-Natural-Unheated-Firing-Luster-Untreated-Fancy-Pink-Loose-Diamond-/150747881655?pt=Loose_Diamonds&hash=item23194620b7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-18-ct-AMAZING-RAREST-OVAL-CUT-100-NATURAL-PURPLE-PINK-DIAMOND-/370581097950?pt=Loose_Diamonds&hash=item56485acdde

I would say that the first example is more similar to my stones, but both of these examples have nice color.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:41:09 +0000

OK. Thanks, Mike.