Pink diamonds worth the money???

Date: 8/31/2009 4:37:20 AM
Author:Trinity Creation
Hi y'all!! I was just wondering, are pink and yellow fancy diamonds worth the money?? Does anyone know for a fact that they sparkle as well as white diamonds??

Date: 8/31/2009 10:44:08 PM
Author: Trinity Creation
Yeah, that is way overpriced.

I was interested in a little pink diamond stacking eternity band under 2mm. I know pink fancy diamonds are past Z on the color scale, that is why I was asking if they sparkle like white diamonds. I read that the closer color to Z on the color scale the less sparkle you get, so how about color past Z??

Date: 9/1/2009 3:10:09 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
HI all!
Kenny- you mentioned that all fancy grades fall outside D-Z- however that is not the case.
If a stone is graded 'Light Pink' for example- the shade would be equivalent to maybe....M color, but still gets called Light Pink. The same holds true for Light Green. Although the intensity of shade would fall between D and Y-Z, GIA does not mention any color other than the Light Pink ( or green).
An exception would be brown, where GIA will describe a color by letter grade, then add the qualifier 'Faint Brown'

We've found that well cut pinks in smaller sizes do have plenty of sparkle. Different than a D, however if someone wants pink they are probably not looking for the same type of sparkle.

Date: 8/31/2009 6:02:42 AM
Author: Lorelei


The colour is everything and the most important factor dictating value, some are cut with bringing out the best of the colour in mind rather than for the best ' sparkle.' As to prices these can vary tremendously and in some cases these stones can be hugely expensive, if you are thinking about buying a fancy colour, do your research first as there is a lot to consider. However if the cut is good then they will still sparkle.

Date: 9/1/2009 4:55:55 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
You're welcome Kenny!
I find this to be a fascinating aspect of Fancy Colored Diamonds. Almost as if GIA is 'prejudiced' against brown. Why call a stone with a very slight pink tint a 'Fancy Color' while a brown is an L ( for example)

Light (or faint) pinks are not categorized as "Fancy" by GIA. (Just faint or light-- no Fancy word in description)...

Personally I feel that many U-V, W-X and Y-Z colored stones ( light yellow ones) are put at a disadvantage simply because of the difference in report- and name. To an observer, a well cut Y-Z is a yellow diamond. After all, the difference in shade between Fancy Light Yellow, and Y-Z is tiny. In fact some Y-Z colored stones are actually darker than some Fancy Light Yellow ones.
This can happen if stones are 'borderline'...for example, the FLY just made Fancy Light, and the Y-Z just missed the next darker grade.

Disadvantage to who???

GIA won't simply do what a client asks, but they will re-check a stone. I've found them to be honest in these cases- if they feel the client is correct, they will change the grade upon re-checking.
But that's really the extent of it. The rules about how a particular diamond is color graded ( such as the M colored pink loosing the 'M' part) are established, and followed.

When you say the reports are different, may I ask what you mean?
If we're speaking of non round diamonds, and comparing GIA Diamond Grading Report, versus a GIA 'Colored Diamond Grading Report', the main differences I see have to do with the cover of the report.
I'm curious to know what you meant when you mentioned they were very different.

Date: 9/1/2009 5:13:44 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 9/1/2009 5:15:58 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
With regads to the second post above Diagem.... so true!
Rounds in fancy colors are so very rare- and can cost double what the same color radiant can cost.
You are conservative here....

Step cuts as well
There was one time a cutter friend of mine showed me the most beautiful 4 and a half carat yellow emerald cut and asked me what I would grade the color.
I saw it as 'fancy Light Yellow'- and he agreed, but would not let me buy he diamond.
Why?
'Do you know how much more a 4ct Fancy Yellow Radiant is worth compared to a 4 and half ct fancy Light Yellow Emerald cut?', he asked. Yes, I sadly answered.
Next time I saw the stone it was a (gorgeous) radiant.

Date: 9/1/2009 5:20:15 PM
Author: Rockdiamond



Disadvantage to the cutter, primarily.
If the shade difference is practically invisible, there can still be a huge difference in price. If the rough was bought anticipating Fancy Light, comes out Y-Z, the cutter just lost a bundle.

Usually its the opposite..., cutter buys a parcel of dark Capes and tricks the cut into a "Fancy" light whatever and charges double....

At the same time, this can be a HUGE advantage to the consumer who can buy a far larger well cut yellow for a price quite a bit lower than even commercial 'white' diamonds.

But that is why you barely see the W-X-Y-Z stones..., they live in a resubmit to GIA mode until they get lucky....

Date: 8/31/2009 11:44:53 PM
Author: Trinity Creation
Thanks for your responses. I love the delicate color of pink diamonds compared to pink sapphires. Does anyone know a credible jeweler who won't rip me off and could get me a pink diamond eternity band?? How about Leon Mege?? I like his work, but he doesn't seem to do much of the pink diamonds, maybe his supplier isn't that great???

Date: 9/1/2009 5:36:06 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
HI Diagem,
The cutter that got Fancy Yellow on the re-cut emerald....do you know how many times he had dissapointing results from GIA?
Many times.
Any idea how much capitol you need to be in that part of the business?
MANY millions of dollars.
I hope he does make money.
If there's no profit, then there's no diamonds. Who wins then?


In terms of Y-Z, U-V, W-X, and even S-T stones- we see them all the time. The cutter I mentioned - and many others we deal with- accept GIA's findings and sell at prices the market will bear.
They need to take a loss sometimes to get the money back, so they can buy more rough, hopefully to have a windfall.
It would not seem to make sense to simply hold onto Y-Z stones in the hope GIA will alter it's view.

Date: 9/1/2009 5:36:06 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
HI Diagem,
The cutter that got Fancy Yellow on the re-cut emerald....do you know how many times he had dissapointing results from GIA?
Many times.
Any idea how much capitol you need to be in that part of the business?
MANY millions of dollars.
I hope he does make money.
If there's no profit, then there's no diamonds. Who wins then?


In terms of Y-Z, U-V, W-X, and even S-T stones- we see them all the time. The cutter I mentioned - and many others we deal with- accept GIA's findings and sell at prices the market will bear.
They need to take a loss sometimes to get the money back, so they can buy more rough, hopefully to have a windfall.
It would not seem to make sense to simply hold onto Y-Z stones in the hope GIA will alter it's view.

Date: 9/1/2009 6:43:25 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
HI trinity,
I ask with all due respect what I wrote that gave you such an idea?

Yes..., I wonder what gave trinity that idea too?

If the cutter could do as Diagem is suggesting- that being keep resubimitting a stone to get a higher grade, it's still not 'cheating'- it's trying to use the system to make a higher price.
If cutters can't make money, they can't continue to cut diamonds- that's just business, not cheating.
If a cutter is smart enough to produce a 4carat stone worth more than a 4.5 he started with, that sounds also like smart business. Personally, I loved the step cut and was very sad that he chose to cut it to a radiant.I get attached to the goods.
That's one of the reasons ( among a gazillion others) I could never be a diamond cutter.

Diagem, specifically how would this work?
Say a dealer or cutter has a Y-Z which they feel is as dark as a Fancy Light Yellow.
Do they submit it monthly? Hold it a few years and try again, while refusing to accept a fair price, based on the current GIA report?
The financial instrument which would pay a far better return would be for cutters to accept market value on such stones, and use the money over and over again.

Date: 9/1/2009 6:56:11 PM
Author: DiaGem
RD..., you know well its customary in the industry to simply resubmit close calls for 'new' reports as re-checks became pretty much a useless battle at GIA...


If a 4.50 ct Cape EC is valued at $X total...., what would a 4.00 ct Fancy (light) yellow be valued in comparisons?