Natural hues are all the rage at sales across the globe, but superb quality whites remain as popular as always
Prices of extraordinary diamonds, particularly those in vibrant natural fancy colours, often break world records at auctions and attract global attention.
These diamonds are almost guaranteed to trigger frenzied bidding and are sold way above the estimate prices. In April, Sotheby’s Hong Kong achieved a record-breaking US$71.2 million for the CTF Pink Star, a 59.60ct oval fancy vivid pink, internally flawless diamond. The auction house sealed the deal for the fancy vivid blue 10.10ct De Beers Millennium Jewel 4 at US$32.01 million (lower estimate price: US$30 million) in April 2016 – then a record for any jewel sold at auction in Asia.
Christie’s Hong Kong secured a hammer price of HK$130.04 million (lower estimate: HK$125 million) for the Aurora Green Diamond, a 5.03ct rectangular fancy vivid green diamond set in a ring, in May 2016. This diamond broke the world auction record and price per carat (HK$26 million) record for a green diamond.
Advertisement
Pink and blue diamonds are the favourites among diamond collectors.
Collectors around the world are equally enthusiastic about acquiring white diamonds of superb quality. Sotheby’s Hong Kong set a world record of HK$238.68 million for a white diamond by selling a D flawless type IIA, 118.28ct oval brilliant diamond in October 2013.
A pair of perfectly matching triple-excellent round brilliant diamonds, each of around 30ct, in D colour, flawless, type IIA, realised a price of US$10.63 million (lower estimate: US$9.01 million) at Poly Auction Hong Kong in October 2016.
A pair of D flawless round diamonds sold for US$10.63 million at Poly Auction Hong Kong in October 2016.
“The pair’s hammer price sets the global benchmark for diamonds of comparable quality,” says Yu Wenhao, Poly Auction Hong Kong’s deputy general manager and head of jewels and prestige collections.
The investment value of these highly coveted diamonds lies in their extreme rarity. Those available on the market are few and far between.
At 56.83 million Swiss francs, the Oppenheimer Blue was the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction at the time when it was auctioned off by Christie’s in Geneva in May 2016.
“Production at the Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia, known for its high-quality pink diamonds, is very limited,” Yu says. “Collectors of top-quality, fancy-coloured diamonds tend to keep them for a long time.
“Many pass them as family heirlooms to the next generation. Prices of blues and pinks go up steadily. The demand is partially driven by the next generation of mega rich.
