HELP! - Pricing a 1.26 ct Fancy Yellow diamond (VS2)

[Nicrez]

A friend of mine is in the market for this stone, but I have no idea what a price range would be for such a stone as I hardly deal with the pricing of this type...anyone know?

I attach the cert. He has to see it on Monday and needs to make a valid offer, so if anyone can help me with pricing on this....?

THANKS!!![:wavey:]

 

[RockDoc]

Hi Nicrez

In estimating the value of Fancy Color Diamonds - they have to be seen.

Even in the Fancy range there is a wide variance between a slightly above light fancy, and one that didn''t quite make deep.

Prices are "all over the place" on these stones. In yellows there do seem that there is a lot more available inventory than there used to be in years past. Part of this is because cutters figured out ways to intensify the yellow color.

One can search a lot of on line sellers, but in researching that, I think the best you will find will be a rather broad range of prices.
Also looking at a color on the internet, may not be the most reliable way of judging the color.

The GIA report doesn''t look too bad, as it says the color is even and it fancy yellow ( without a modifying color - which is potentially good ).

Many times the face up light return is "ignored" , but I consider it an important characteristic. Some fancy yellows have good face up yellow but many have shallow crowns ( which help the color face up ) but they lose the liveliness sometimes too. A lot of "experts" seem to judge the "light return liveliness factor" secondarily. But logically if you had two the same size and color etc, and one out "sparkled" and one less, I think any appraiser or dealer would price the more lively stone higher. How much higher I believe is sort still "seat of the pants" consideration based on experience of seeing a great number of these and knowing what to look for.

I''m currently doing one that is just under 4 carats and IF, and preliminarilly I''ve found the prices of comps varying wildly.

Hope this helps....

Rockdoc

 

[Nicrez]

RockDoc, thanks for responding!

I know how all over the place these prices are, so that is why I have never been into the whole pricing scheme of colored diamonds. I almost see people choose prices out of nowhere... and i am no good at guessing arbitrary numbers.

I have not seen the stone, and I would be hardpressed to find anyone I know shopping for such a stone online. This friend is also a gemologist, but they don''t know pricing. What we learned about colored diamonds is from GIA''s course, which as you know is quite inadequate to truly purchase stones. But they do know about cut and color, hue, saturation, overtones and undertones. Just pricing is what stumps us the most. How can we find out?

I know the factors are too great to be specific, but even a ballpark range would be useful to start with? Getting into the colored diamond market slowly here. I tread carefully. I have seen some real doozies on price points but never really any "deals", so to learn more about the market, what is the best way to learn? So far I am watching auction prices for colored diamonds...

 

[RockDoc]

Your friend needs to consult with an appraiser who IS experienced in this area, and show him the stone.

There a few folks in your area that could help too.

Rockdoc

 

[Richard Sherwood]

A lot of it depends on the hue of color, and the intensity of the stone. Whether it is "warm" yellow (golden hues), or "cool" yellow (greenish yellow hues). Brown modifiers always flatten the price. How much it "pops" to the eye comes greatly into play. Etc, etc, etc.

That said, my estimate for a sight unseen 1.26 fancy yellow radiant cut would be between 5,000 to 8,000 if bought smartly, and according to the hue (with modifying tones). Very poor or very fine hues might expand this range, but usually you would fall within it for most stones.