Fancy colour diamond prices up 3.9% in 2022

Only one in 10,000 diamonds found are coloured, according to the Gemological Institute of America.
Only one in 10,000 diamonds found are coloured, according to the Gemological Institute of America.

Average prices for fancy coloured diamonds of any size climbed by 3.9% in 2022, led by yellows and pinks, the Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), a non-profit that promotes transparency and fair trade in the market, said on Wednesday.

The industry body said prices for all yellow diamonds climbed by 4.6% from the previous year, followed by a 3.9% rise in pinks and 1.8% in blues. 

The improved prices reached by these diamonds, the FCRF said, contrast with the annual decline in white diamonds prices.

“2022 was a very good year for yellow fancy colour diamonds in all sizes and saturations. It seems like yellow diamonds with high visual grades and in certain shapes increased by more than what is reflected in the Index,” FCRF data supplier, Israel Papushado, said in a statement.

Source: FCRF.

“Pink fancy colour diamonds performed with no significant change in comparison to previous years; however, blue diamonds did not perform as expected, probably due to limitations in the Chinese market,” he noted.

The prices reported by the FCRF are based on its own Fancy Colour Diamond Index, which is built on tracked data for yellow, pink, and blue fancy colour diamonds’ performance in major global trading centres such as Hong Kong, New York, Geneva and Tel Aviv.

Nature bestows fancy colours on about one in every 10,000 rough diamonds of gem quality that are mined around the world.

The precious stones that can be blue, pink or green form a special asset class, relying on a consumer preference for exotic and unusual items. This also means they are less affected by other factors driving supply and demand in the main diamond market.

Source: Mining.com

Rio Tinto unveils Argyle’s largest Fancy Purplish Red diamond

Fancy Purplish Red diamond

Rio Tinto has revealed its 2018 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender in New York, including the Argyle Muse, the largest purplish red diamond ever offered.

The Argyle Muse, a 2.28-carat oval shaped Fancy Purplish Red gem, is one of 63 diamonds weighing a total of 51.48 carats being tendered at the event.

Argyle in Western Australia is the world’s only consistent source of rare pink, red and violet diamonds.

The 2018 tender is named Magnificent Argyle in honour of the mine’s role in charting the history of the world’s most coveted diamonds.

Rio Tinto copper and diamonds chief executive Arnaud Soirat said New York was the epicentre for rare fancy coloured diamond collectors and a key market for gems from Argyle.

“This is our 34th Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender and the potency of colours in this collection is a testament to the extraordinary Argyle ore body – rare fancy coloured diamonds, created and limited by nature.” Soirat said.

“The combination of strong demand and extremely limited world supply continues to support significant value appreciation for these stunning diamonds.”

The tender includes five Fancy Red diamonds, two Purplish Red diamonds and three Violet diamonds.

It includes six hero diamonds, which Rio Tinto selected for their unique beauty and were named to ensure a permanent record of their contribution to the history of Argyle’s diamonds.

Source: australianmining