Blues Top Colored-Diamond Price Index

RAPAPORT... Fancy blue diamonds continued to outshine other major color categoriesin price terms during the second quarter, the Fancy Color Research Foundation(FCRF) said.Prices of fancy blues climbed 6% year on year for the threemonths ending June 30, according to the FCRF, which released its quarterlyFancy Color Diamond Index (FCDI) on Monday.By contrast, prices of fancy pink diamonds declined 0.6%,while yellows slid 0.7%, the organization said. The overall index for fancy-colordiamonds inched up 0.5%. Prices of stones from 1 to 3 carats increased across allcolors, but the index decreased slightly for diamonds weighing 3 carats and higher. Amongpinks, the strongest categories were 2-carat fancy pinks, 1-carat intense pinksand 3-carat vivid pinks, the FCRF said.The price of yellow fancy-color diamonds rose 0.2% quarteron quarter, the first time the category has seen an increase in four years. "The demand for the 1- to 3-carat weight category remainspositive as they are relatively more affordable in their total amount comparedto 3 carats and above," said Jim Pounds, an FCRF advisory board member."However, larger exceptional yellows continue to command strong prices." The Fancy Color Diamond Index tracks prices of fancy yellow,pink and blue diamonds in Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv. Image: A rectangular-cut, 3.09-carat, fancy intense bluediamond ring with a tapered baguette-cut diamond on either side. The piece soldat Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction in New York in April for $5.4 million.Credit: Christie's