Prices Rise for Pink and Blue Diamonds

RAPAPORT... Pink and blue fancy-color diamonds saw price increases inthe third quarter, while yellows dipped, according to the Fancy Color ResearchFoundation (FCRF).The organization's Fancy Color Diamond Index for pinks grew0.4% versus the previous quarter, while prices of blues rose 0.7%, the FCRFsaid Thursday. Rates for yellow fancy-color diamonds dropped 1%, with theoverall index down 0.1%."The price of fancy yellow[s] is influenced by the generalmood of many diamond traders that carry a mixed inventory of colorless andyellows," explained Eden Rachminov, a member of the FCRF's advisory board. "Dueto the slowdown in the colorless business, and to compensate in their generalturnover, these traders slightly lower the prices of yellows." Prices of blue diamonds weighing 1 carat rose 4.7% versusthe previous quarter, while pinks remained stable. Yellow diamonds decreased2.2% in that size category, while prices of 1-carat, intense-yellow stones grew1.1%.Compared with a year ago, prices of blues climbed 6%, with thefancy-vivid-blue category recording an 8.5% jump in the past 12 months. Pinkfancy-color diamonds lost ground with a 0.5% year-on-year decline, while pricesof yellows fell 1.6%. The index for all fancy-color diamonds increased 0.4%versus the same period of 2017. The index tracks prices of yellow, pink and blue fancy-colordiamonds in Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv, the FCRF said.Image: A pink diamond. (Fancy Color Research Foundation)