COLOURED DIAMONDS

At www.dejoria.co.uk, we specialise in natural and colourless diamonds. However, we are also experts in natural coloured diamonds from across the world. Therefore, if you are looking for a natural coloured diamond, please either call us on 0845 355 1164 or email info@dejoria.co.uk where we are sure we will be able to assist you.

Coloured diamonds - also known as "fancy coloured diamonds" - are even more expensive than their colourless counterparts due to their rarity. Such diamonds are amongst the more rare and beautiful diamonds that nature has to offer. In fact, from the 80,000 carats of rough diamonds mined across the world each year, only 0.001% are regarded as fancy coloured diamonds. The value goes higher exponentially as the intesity of the colour increases, and multiplies as other characteristics such as the carat weight, clarity and cut are factored in.

Coloured diamonds are the world's most concentrated form of wealth. A coloured diamond portfolio fits inside an envelope and can easily be transported in a coat pocket. They can be transported quietly and legally, and sold globally in most major cities. These facts alone make coloure diamonds worthy of consideration by sovereign individuals seeking discreet investment opportunities. Prices for the highest grades of coloured diamonds have increased in value by an average of 10-15% per year, with rarer colours and higher grades enjoying the greatest appreciation. In additional, this appreciation has statistically been non-correlated to the stock and bond markets - an important consideration for investors seeking a diversified portfolio. A coloured diamond should be viewed as a mid to long term investment. With demand for coloured diamonds continuing to grow and supply becoming even more scarce, experts predict that prices will significantly outperform the historical averages over the next 5 years.

Certain coloured diamonds are more rare and, therefore, more valuable than others -

NATURAL RED DIAMONDS
Red is by far the rarest of all coloured diamonds. Fewer than 20 diamonds have so far been certified as red diamonds. Some of these have fetched over a million dollars per carat, whereas most other coloured diamonds fetch between five to six figures per carat. Intense colours can be priced around $1,000,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL GREEN DIAMONDS
Green diamonds with no other secondary hues or modifiers are some of the rarest and, depending upon intensity and purity of colour, can command astronomical prices. Most green diamonds have either grey, brown or yellow modifiers. Intense colours can be priced around $1,000,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL BLUE DIAMONDS
Natural blue colour is rare. As a result, these diamonds are amongst the most sought after by collectors. The colour of blue diamonds can range from faint blue to a very deep blue, and blue diamonds can command even higher prices than pink diamonds. Intense colours can be priced around $100,000 - $250,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL PINK DIAMONDS
Pink diamonds are rare and highly desired. Pink diamonds of higher intensity are the most rare and command very high prices. Most pink diamonds mined are faint to light coloured. Many of the deep coloured pink diamonds come from the Argyle mine in Australia. Intense colours can be priced around $100,000 - $250,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL PURPLE DIAMONDS
Purple diamonds with no secondary hues are very rare. Most of these diamonds are less than one carat in size and are very seldom found in dark to vivid lilac colours. Most purple diamonds exhibit needle-like colour zones. Intense colours can be priced around $100,000 - $250,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL ORANGE DIAMONDS
Orange diamonds are not as rare as red or green diamonds. Most orange coloured diamonds have strong yellow or brown modifiers. Pastel coloured orange diamonds are of similar value pastel pinks and some blues. Intense colours can be priced around $35,000 - $75,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL YELLOW DIAMONDS
Yellow is one of the most familiar names known aside from white "colourless" diamonds. The term "canary" is often used to describe intense yellow diamonds. Some of the yellows with higher intensity of colour (fancy vivid yellow) are as rare as pink diamonds and blue diamonds and command unusually high prices. Intense colours can be priced around $10,000 - $50,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL GREY DIAMONDS
Diamonds with grey as the primary dominant colour are also unique. These diamonds are comparatively reasonably priced (in the high four to low five figures per carat). Intense colours can be priced around $3,000 - $8,000 per carat or more.

NATURAL BROWN DIAMONDS
These diamonds are the most widely available and surprisingly affordable coloured diamonds. They provide a beautiful low cost alternative to pink diamonds, blue diamonds, grey diamonds, green diamonds or yellow diamonds. Intense colours can be priced around $1,500 - $3,500 per carat or more.

NATURAL BLACK DIAMONDS
Black diamonds are not transparent, and do not show fire (flashes of colour) as do other diamonds, but can be extremely impressive when they are in the dark to vivid colour ranges. Black diamonds may give off secondary colours of hue of grey or white. Intense colours can be priced around $2,000 - $4,000 per carat or more.

The price and value of fancy coloured diamonds is determined by a number of factors, as it is with colourless diamonds - ie CUT (or shape), CARAT, COLOUR AND CLARITY.

CARAT
Fancy coloured diamonds follow the same carat weight grading as their colourless counterparts. Click here for more information.

COLOUR
This is the main difference between fancy coloured diamonds and colourless diamonds, and the colour of these diamonds is the most important value-determining characteristic of all.

Colour in fancy coloured diamonds is based on the following -

- The actual colour of the diamond (the rarer the colour, the greater the price)
- The intensity or saturation of the colour ("Light", "Fancy", "Intense", "Deep", "Vivid")
- The purity of the colour (ie whether the colour is bright and clear, or clouded in any way).

Unlike colourless diamonds, the grading of coloured diamonds improves in relation to a greater presence of strong colours. Fancy coloured diamond grading differs from colourless diamond grading and a few simple descriptions will be useful when analysing coloured diamonds -

- Where there is a predominant colour, the diamond is named in this colour. Eg "Pink"
- Where there is a secondary colour - this is called a modifying colour - the diamond is described as "ish". Eg "Greenish Pink"
- Where a coloured diamond has two colours that are equally present, they are both named. Eg "Purple Pink"
- Fancy colours vary from "faint" to "intense". These ranges in intensity are graded, with higher intensities of colour increasing the value of the diamond.

The grid below shows an example of this for fancy yellow diamonds. The GIA use this "Coloured Diamond Scale" for grading all fancy coloured diamonds.


As a result, fancy vivid yellow diamonds will command the highest prices.

CLARITY
Fancy coloured diamonds follow the same clarity grading scale as their colourless counterparts. Click here for more information.

BUYING FANCY COLOURED DIAMONDS THROUGH DEJORIA
Fancy coloured diamonds are not as prevalent as colourless diamonds and do not follow the same precise colour scale. Ultimately, despite all efforts to categorise the colour of fancy coloured diamonds, this remains a subjective assessment of the person carrying out the grading.

With all the above in mind, therefore, at DeJoria we offer you the following service for fancy coloured diamonds -

- Once we have ascertained your requirements, we will present you with the best available option, together with providing you with a copy of the diamond grading certificate.

- We will also provide you with a digital image of the diamond from its location in the world.

- If you are happy, then we will bring the diamond to our HQ here in the UK.

- You can then either visit our HQ for a viewing, or alternatively we can visit you.

- Once you are completely satisfied with the diamond, we can move forward with your purchase.

PRICING
Natural coloured diamonds are expensive. However, contrary to popular belief, you can still purchase a fancy coloured diamond with a smaller budget. See below some examples of the size of coloured diamond you might be able to afford -

WITH A BUDGET OF £2,000...
0.10ct Fancy Blue
0.10ct Intense Pink
0.40ct Brownish Pink
0.30ct Intense Orange
0.40ct Intense Yellow
1.00ct Brown
1.00ct Black

WITH A BUDGET OF £6,000...
0.30ct Fancy Blue
0.35ct Intense Pink
0.65ct Brownish Pink
0.45ct Intense Orange
0.65ct Intense Yellow
3.00ct Brown
3.50ct Black

FAMOUS COLOURED DIAMONDS

Several fancy coloured diamonds are worthy of note due to either their amazing size or quality, or indeed a combination of both.

ALLNATT DIAMOND
Discovered pre-1950, this 101.29ct cushion cut diamond is certified by the GIA as "Fancy Vivid Yellow", clarity VS2. The Allnatt diamond commanded the fourth highest auction record price for a single yellow diamond. It was auctioned by Christie's in May of 1996. On that occasion, it fetched the phenomenal sum of $3,043,496.


DRESDEN GREEN DIAMOND
When the GIA examined the stone in 1988, the Dresden Green diamond was proved to be not only of extraordinary quality, but also a rare type II1 diamond. A staggering 41ct in weight, the diamond measures approx 30mm x 20mm and has a natural green body colour which is extremely rare, and has a historical record dating back as far as 1722.

HEART OF ETERNITY DIAMOND
This 27.64ct "Fancy Vivid Blue" heart shaped diamond has a clarity grade of VS2 and is certified by the GIA. It is a member of an exceedingly rare class of coloured diamonds. Discovered in the Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa, its current estimated market value is in the region of at least $16million.


HOPE DIAMOND
The amazing 45.52ct "Fancy Deep Grey-ish Blue" Hope diamond is one of the most beautiful diamonds in the world today and is currently on display at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in the USA. The diamond has had a glorious history since its discovery in 1812, and was even given by King Louis XVI of France to Marie Antoinette. It has a current market value of a staggering $200,000,000 - $250,000,000.

MOUSSAIEFF RED DIAMOND
At 5.11ct, this triangular shaped diamond is the largest fancy red diamond ever graded by GIA's internationally respected team of gemologists. Diamonds described by experienced gemologists as red are some of the rarest known. The Moussaieff Red was discovered in Brazil in the mid-1990s.

OCEAN DREAM DIAMOND
By virtue of its colour alone, the Ocean Dream is one of the very rarest diamonds known to man. The incredible colour this 5.51ct diamond is so rare that many gemologists would presume it is artificially coloured. However, following scientific evaluation, the GIA concluded that Ocean Dream's breathtaking "Fancy Deep Blue-Green" colour is the result of exposure to natural radiation over millions of years in the earth. The diamond was discovered in Central Africa.

STEINMETZ PINK DIAMOND
The Steinmetz Pink diamond is the largest "Fancy Vivid Pink" diamond in the world. Pink diamonds are extremely rare and usually found in much smaller sizes. The Steimetz Pink weighs 59.60ct and has been assessed as Internally Flawless - an extremely rare and coveted clarity grade for pink diamonds. Following its discovery, it took 20 careful months to cut the diamond from the rough, and was finally unveiled to the public in Monaco in 2003.