Natural coloured diamonds and gemstones have long been regarded as the one of rarest commodities in the world. Celebrated for their deep hues and vibrant colours, these precious gems are more than a fashion statement and status symbol, they are also a sound investment in the midst of financial uncertainty. Add to that the fact that diamond prices have risen 160 percent in the last decade, and the fact that the price of coloured diamonds happens to be significantly higher than their white or colourless counterparts.
Fancy natural coloured diamonds in a custom setting are considered the haute couture of the jewelry industry. Jewel designs are growing more intricate and elaborate as demand for these gems grows and more designers emerge wanting to create a name for themselves. Designers like Payal Shah of L'Dezen Jewellery are garnering the attention of celebrities like Lady Gaga and Sofia Vergara and others for their unique hand-crafted designs that incorporate beautiful coloured gems.
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), one in every 10,000 diamonds has a fancy colour. Natural coloured diamonds are classified and evaluated differently than other diamonds. Their value greatly depends on their depth of colour, and “unlike colorless and near-colorless diamonds, fancy-color diamonds are evaluated less for brilliance or fire and more for color intensity. Shades that are deep and distinct are rated higher than weak or pale shades,” the GIA website outlines.
Natural coloured diamonds and gems are the ultimate fashion accessory as they are extremely scarce and denote a level of sophistication and class that other jewels cannot match. Fancy diamonds and gemstones are renowned because of the unique conditions required to produce one. Yellow and brown fancy diamonds receive their colouring from a concentration of nitrogen, combined with carbon. Yellow natural coloured diamonds are amongst the most sought after diamonds because of the notoriety they have garnered from their celebrity owners. Meanwhile, diamonds with varying blue hues come from a combination of boron and carbon.
Natural gamma radiation gives green diamonds their sheen. Pink diamonds and the highly coveted red diamonds have a more mysterious origin than their colourful counterparts. With no concrete evidence of how their soft powder pink or deep maroon hues are achieved, it is speculated that massive amounts of pressure over long periods of time created these highly sought after gems.
“More than any other fancy color, certain shades of pink possess what seems to be the most promising returns in colored Diamonds. Pink holds the second place immediately after yellow for highest market demand, but pink is far rarer and much more expensive,” the Minerals.net website states.
In 2010, the Graff Pink Diamond sold at auction for $46 million (USD), making it the most expensive diamond ever auctioned. The price of diamonds is expected to rise six percent annually over the next decade, while fancy diamonds is expected to gain on average 15 to 30 percent on annual basis. That makes investing in a fancy coloured diamond a stable and secure way to diversify any portfolio, while also having a stunning piece of one-of-a-kind jewelry.
However, with any high end acquisition, ensuring you are getting what you paid for is critical. Finding a reputable diamond dealer can ease worries and guarantee you get the best quality for your money.
The Toronto-based colored diamond and gemstone dealer Griffin and Highbury offer their clients the highest quality diamonds and gemstones through their comprehensive acquisition process. Their expert consultants are highly trained and able to source the world’s rarest gemstones. “Historically, coloured diamonds have never decreased in value,” Geoff Black of Griffin and Highbury mentions.
With the instability of world markets that coupled with a diminishing mining production, acquiring a fancy diamond or gemstone is a hard asset that is highly desirable. “Natural coloured diamonds and precious gemstones are not a speculative endeavor. Institutional investors and funds have been unable to use these assets in risky trading platforms,” Griffin and Highbury’s Geoff Black adds. “Not having the traditional markets speculate in diamonds and gemstones and their value has allowed for consistent growth for this asset.”
Demand for natural coloured diamonds and gemstones is growing globally, with emerging countries like India reporting that 19 percent of Indian women own a piece of jewelry with a natural coloured gem. It means that purchasing a natural colored diamond or gemstone is not only smart from a fashion standpoint, it’s also an intelligent investment decision. After all, diamonds are forever - especially coloured ones.
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