Pink Diamond
Do you know the Martian Pink from the Perfect Pink? Christie’s #jewellery specialist Marie-Cécile Cisamolo takes you through 10 history-making pink diamonds which have bedazzled our salerooms. #WednesdayWisdom https://t.co/1ko6R9nMKT pic.twitter.com/kwOZxiJCpX
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) October 3, 2018
(previous purchase ca 1950) The Year of the Pink Diamonds
2010 SOLD 45.4 MCHF including premium
For several years, the fancy vivid blue diamonds obtained top prices. They are now in a close competition with pink diamonds, which have the advantage that top gemstones are bigger.
This trend accelerated on 1 December 2009, when a fancy vivid pink weighing 5 carats reached HK $ 83M including premium at Christie's in Hong Kong, i.e. U.S. $ 2.1 million per carat.
I have already discussed a few days ago the Perfect Pink, a fancy intense pink of VVS2 clarity weighing 14.23 carats, estimated HK $ 110M by Christie's, for sale on November 29.
In this fall, it has found a serious competitor. On November 16 in Geneva, Sotheby's auctions another fancy intense pink diamond, also of VVS2 clarity, also emerald cut, but bigger. Weighing 24.78 carats, it is mounted on a ring and estimated CHF 27M. It is illustrated in the article shared under Creative Commons protocol by LeBlogLuxe. This diamond was already known: 60 years ago, it was purchased to Harry Winston. It had never come back on the market.
Here are two recent examples that confirm the popularity of the pink color.
On October 3 in Toronto, Circa Auctions sold Can $ 2.3M a fancy intense orangy pink weighing 10.11 carats, clarity not found in the catalog.
On October 6 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sold HK $ 60M including premium a diamond ring including a fancy vivid pink, VS2 clarity, weighing 6.43 carats.
POST SALE COMMENT
I had no doubt before the sale, and nobody can have a doubt now: the fancy intense pink diamond sold by Sotheby's is one of the most outstanding lots of current year. The result, CHF 45.4 million including premium corresponds to a value per carat never achieved previously at auction for a diamond of that size: 1.8 MCHF per carat.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Sotheby's :
This trend accelerated on 1 December 2009, when a fancy vivid pink weighing 5 carats reached HK $ 83M including premium at Christie's in Hong Kong, i.e. U.S. $ 2.1 million per carat.
I have already discussed a few days ago the Perfect Pink, a fancy intense pink of VVS2 clarity weighing 14.23 carats, estimated HK $ 110M by Christie's, for sale on November 29.
In this fall, it has found a serious competitor. On November 16 in Geneva, Sotheby's auctions another fancy intense pink diamond, also of VVS2 clarity, also emerald cut, but bigger. Weighing 24.78 carats, it is mounted on a ring and estimated CHF 27M. It is illustrated in the article shared under Creative Commons protocol by LeBlogLuxe. This diamond was already known: 60 years ago, it was purchased to Harry Winston. It had never come back on the market.
Here are two recent examples that confirm the popularity of the pink color.
On October 3 in Toronto, Circa Auctions sold Can $ 2.3M a fancy intense orangy pink weighing 10.11 carats, clarity not found in the catalog.
On October 6 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sold HK $ 60M including premium a diamond ring including a fancy vivid pink, VS2 clarity, weighing 6.43 carats.
POST SALE COMMENT
I had no doubt before the sale, and nobody can have a doubt now: the fancy intense pink diamond sold by Sotheby's is one of the most outstanding lots of current year. The result, CHF 45.4 million including premium corresponds to a value per carat never achieved previously at auction for a diamond of that size: 1.8 MCHF per carat.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Sotheby's :
(previous purchase 1960) The Mystery of the Little Prince
2013 SOLD 39.3 M$ including premium
On April 16 in New York, Christie's sells a cushion-cut pink diamond weighing 34.65 carats. It is identified as historic, which mostly means that some ancient information is available. Here is the link to the catalog.
This diamond has not been seen publicly since 1960. It was then bought £ 46K at auction by Van Cleef & Arpels, who named it the Princie Diamond by friendship with the young prince of Baroda.
I found on the web a page made before the recent resurgence of the Princie Diamond, in which it is fifth in a list of the most famous pink diamonds, but with a wrong color shade.
Its true color, fancy intense pink, is a pleasant surprise, because this is one of the best and rarest colors. The 24.78 carats Graff Pink, sold CHF 45.4 million including premium (U.S. $ 1.85 million per carat) by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010 is also a fancy intense pink.
The provenance of the Princie was not revealed in 1960. The press release from Christie's tells that the seller was the Nizam of Hyderabad himself, which supports the hypothesis that this diamond had been extracted from Golconda.
Unfortunately, its VS2 clarity is not excellent. The Graff Pink, VVS2, is better by two grades.
On 6 October 2010, Sotheby's sold HK $ 60M including premium a VS2 fancy vivid pink weighing 6.43 carats, which approximately corresponds to U.S. $ 1.15 million per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
The market is sometimes of a surprising regularity. I gave here above an example at $ 1.15 million per carat for a diamond of same color and same clarity.
The Princie was sold $ 1.135 million per carat including premium. Its exceptional size has generated an extraordinary price: $ 39.3 million including premium.
This diamond has not been seen publicly since 1960. It was then bought £ 46K at auction by Van Cleef & Arpels, who named it the Princie Diamond by friendship with the young prince of Baroda.
I found on the web a page made before the recent resurgence of the Princie Diamond, in which it is fifth in a list of the most famous pink diamonds, but with a wrong color shade.
Its true color, fancy intense pink, is a pleasant surprise, because this is one of the best and rarest colors. The 24.78 carats Graff Pink, sold CHF 45.4 million including premium (U.S. $ 1.85 million per carat) by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010 is also a fancy intense pink.
The provenance of the Princie was not revealed in 1960. The press release from Christie's tells that the seller was the Nizam of Hyderabad himself, which supports the hypothesis that this diamond had been extracted from Golconda.
Unfortunately, its VS2 clarity is not excellent. The Graff Pink, VVS2, is better by two grades.
On 6 October 2010, Sotheby's sold HK $ 60M including premium a VS2 fancy vivid pink weighing 6.43 carats, which approximately corresponds to U.S. $ 1.15 million per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
The market is sometimes of a surprising regularity. I gave here above an example at $ 1.15 million per carat for a diamond of same color and same clarity.
The Princie was sold $ 1.135 million per carat including premium. Its exceptional size has generated an extraordinary price: $ 39.3 million including premium.
Rectangular Pink Diamonds
2018 SOLD for CHF 50M including premium
On November 13 in Geneva, Christie's sells the Pink Legacy, lot 311 estimated CHF 30M. This pink diamond Type IIa weighs 18.96 carats in a Fancy Vivid saturation without trace of secondary color and in VS1 clarity. Shaped in rectangle with cut corners, it is mounted on a ring. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Very little information has been revealed about its provenance. Its stone had been mined in South Africa and the jewel belonged to the Oppenheimer family. Although it cannot compete with the Pink Star, 59.60 carats Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless, it is one of the best diamonds in its class.
Fancy Vivid is the high end of saturation, better than Fancy Intense, and big diamonds are rare in this shade. Above all, each diamond is different for a jeweler. The shape is chosen according to the homogeneity of the color. The rectangle offers the best brilliance. It is often used for white diamonds but big pink diamonds capable to maintain their full brightness in that shape are very rare.
Here are some examples of rectangular pink diamonds. The results include the premium.
In Fancy Vivid Pink saturation, a diamond weighing 5.18 carats whose clarity was only VS2 was sold for CHF 10M by Christie's on May 13, 2015. Considering that the price per carat increases with the weight, this result approaching CHF 2M per carat confirms that the diamond that is now on sale is an exceptional piece.
In Fancy Intense Pink saturation, big rectangular diamonds are actually less rare. The Perfect Pink weighing 14.23 carats with an excellent clarity VVS2 was sold for HK $ 180M by Christie's on November 29, 2010. With the same clarity, a diamond weighing 24.78 carats was sold for CHF 45.4M by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010. With an even better clarity graded VVS1, a diamond weighing 17.07 carats was sold for CHF 21M by Sotheby's on December 16, 2016.
Very little information has been revealed about its provenance. Its stone had been mined in South Africa and the jewel belonged to the Oppenheimer family. Although it cannot compete with the Pink Star, 59.60 carats Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless, it is one of the best diamonds in its class.
Fancy Vivid is the high end of saturation, better than Fancy Intense, and big diamonds are rare in this shade. Above all, each diamond is different for a jeweler. The shape is chosen according to the homogeneity of the color. The rectangle offers the best brilliance. It is often used for white diamonds but big pink diamonds capable to maintain their full brightness in that shape are very rare.
Here are some examples of rectangular pink diamonds. The results include the premium.
In Fancy Vivid Pink saturation, a diamond weighing 5.18 carats whose clarity was only VS2 was sold for CHF 10M by Christie's on May 13, 2015. Considering that the price per carat increases with the weight, this result approaching CHF 2M per carat confirms that the diamond that is now on sale is an exceptional piece.
In Fancy Intense Pink saturation, big rectangular diamonds are actually less rare. The Perfect Pink weighing 14.23 carats with an excellent clarity VVS2 was sold for HK $ 180M by Christie's on November 29, 2010. With the same clarity, a diamond weighing 24.78 carats was sold for CHF 45.4M by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010. With an even better clarity graded VVS1, a diamond weighing 17.07 carats was sold for CHF 21M by Sotheby's on December 16, 2016.
The 19-carat 'Pink Legacy' ring—the largest and finest fancy vivid pink diamond ever offered at auction by @ChristiesInc—is expected to draw at least $30 million: https://t.co/RO4LdZHUv1 pic.twitter.com/Ce4MKJ3CLb
— ForbesLife (@ForbesLife) October 18, 2018
2003 The Pink Star
2013 recorded 76 MCHF including premium, UNPAID
2017 SOLD for HK$ 550M including premium
The Pink Star is unquestionably and by far the greatest polished diamond that ever hit the auction market. It should have fetched CHF 76M including premium at Sotheby's on November 13, 2013 but the buyer was unable to pay and its sale was cancelled.
Its come back was eagerly awaited by all the fans of highest jewelry and of auction history. It will be sold by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 4, lot 1801. It is estimated in excess of HK$ 468M currently worth US$ 60M, according to the press release of March 20.
The essay below is based on my 2013 discussion :
Its subtle color, Fancy Vivid Pink, is the best graded among diamond colors. Internally Flawless means a perfect clarity. Its weight, 59.60 carats, is the highest recorded for finished flawless diamonds of that color. Its oval shape and its polish are the perfect result of two years of work executed by Steinmetz Diamonds.
It comes from a rough gem of 142.5 carats unearthed in 1999 by De Beers somewhere in Africa, which is currently the best location for new fabulous diamonds. Its mixed cut had required more than 50 subsequent models from epoxy casts. It was unveiled to the public in 2003.
It exceeds in all its features the Graff Pink, sold for CHF 45.4 million including premium by Sotheby's on 16 November 2010, which had 24.78 carats, a VVS2 clarity and a fancy intense pink color slightly lower in theory than the fancy vivid but indeed highly striking in this specimen.
The Pink Star is expected beyond US $ 60M, a suitable and even conservative estimate when we consider that it is "only" US$ 1M per carat, but nevertheless ambitious because no other gem has ever reached such a price at auction. (Note that this expected value has been kept unchanged before the 2017 sale).
Please watch the videos shared by Sotheby's : the 2013 pre sale video and the short video introducing the next auction :
Its come back was eagerly awaited by all the fans of highest jewelry and of auction history. It will be sold by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 4, lot 1801. It is estimated in excess of HK$ 468M currently worth US$ 60M, according to the press release of March 20.
The essay below is based on my 2013 discussion :
Its subtle color, Fancy Vivid Pink, is the best graded among diamond colors. Internally Flawless means a perfect clarity. Its weight, 59.60 carats, is the highest recorded for finished flawless diamonds of that color. Its oval shape and its polish are the perfect result of two years of work executed by Steinmetz Diamonds.
It comes from a rough gem of 142.5 carats unearthed in 1999 by De Beers somewhere in Africa, which is currently the best location for new fabulous diamonds. Its mixed cut had required more than 50 subsequent models from epoxy casts. It was unveiled to the public in 2003.
It exceeds in all its features the Graff Pink, sold for CHF 45.4 million including premium by Sotheby's on 16 November 2010, which had 24.78 carats, a VVS2 clarity and a fancy intense pink color slightly lower in theory than the fancy vivid but indeed highly striking in this specimen.
The Pink Star is expected beyond US $ 60M, a suitable and even conservative estimate when we consider that it is "only" US$ 1M per carat, but nevertheless ambitious because no other gem has ever reached such a price at auction. (Note that this expected value has been kept unchanged before the 2017 sale).
Please watch the videos shared by Sotheby's : the 2013 pre sale video and the short video introducing the next auction :
Sotheby’s Brings ‘Pink Star’ Diamond to Hong Kong https://t.co/D5Lo7D6NIX pic.twitter.com/yk5ph7cUhn
— Art Market Monitor (@artmarket) March 20, 2017
WATCH: World's most valuable cut diamond, the 59.60-carat "Pink Star," could fetch a record $60 million at auction: https://t.co/JsYfyHq5H8 pic.twitter.com/mLNLyhUhBY
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 20, 2017
2017 In Memory of Nijinsky
2020 SOLD for CHF 24.4M including premium
The Yakutia region, which has become the Sakha Republic, has been for half a century one of the best producers of pink diamonds, operated by the Russian company Alrosa.
A gem discovered in 2017 is a purple pink diamond of exceptional weight, 27.85 carats. Prepared in Russia, the diamond has retained the elongated shape of the rough stone, allowing a sensational yield of over 50%. It weighs 14.83 carats and is certified Fancy Vivid Purple Pink and Internally Flawless by the GIA. Its oval modified brilliant cut perfectly reveals both colors.
Much rarer than the Fancy Vivid Pink or the Fancy Intense Pink, the Fancy Vivid Purple Pink shows a perfect balance between its two colors, unlike the Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink which has a pink dominant.
The company gave the raw gem the name Nijinsky, in memory of the costume adorned with rose petals worn in 1911 in Monte Carlo by the Russian dancer in the memorable ballet Le Spectre de la Rose. The finished diamond was named The Spirit of the Rose when it was announced in August 2019. It is estimated over CHF 21M for sale on November 11 in Geneva by Sotheby's, lot 204. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
A Fancy Vivid Purple Pink weighing 8.41 carats, also Internally Flawless, was sold by Sotheby's on October 7, 2014 for HK $ 138M including premium, making US $ 2.1M per carat, one of the highest results recorded in the whole range of pink diamonds.
With identical characteristics and an optimized shape, bigger diamonds are more expensive per carat. The higher estimate of The Spirit, CHF 35M, corresponds to more than US $ 2.5M per carat before fees.
A gem discovered in 2017 is a purple pink diamond of exceptional weight, 27.85 carats. Prepared in Russia, the diamond has retained the elongated shape of the rough stone, allowing a sensational yield of over 50%. It weighs 14.83 carats and is certified Fancy Vivid Purple Pink and Internally Flawless by the GIA. Its oval modified brilliant cut perfectly reveals both colors.
Much rarer than the Fancy Vivid Pink or the Fancy Intense Pink, the Fancy Vivid Purple Pink shows a perfect balance between its two colors, unlike the Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink which has a pink dominant.
The company gave the raw gem the name Nijinsky, in memory of the costume adorned with rose petals worn in 1911 in Monte Carlo by the Russian dancer in the memorable ballet Le Spectre de la Rose. The finished diamond was named The Spirit of the Rose when it was announced in August 2019. It is estimated over CHF 21M for sale on November 11 in Geneva by Sotheby's, lot 204. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
A Fancy Vivid Purple Pink weighing 8.41 carats, also Internally Flawless, was sold by Sotheby's on October 7, 2014 for HK $ 138M including premium, making US $ 2.1M per carat, one of the highest results recorded in the whole range of pink diamonds.
With identical characteristics and an optimized shape, bigger diamonds are more expensive per carat. The higher estimate of The Spirit, CHF 35M, corresponds to more than US $ 2.5M per carat before fees.
Unique Qualities of a Pink Diamond
2016 SOLD for CHF 31M including premium
For physicochemical reasons, pink diamonds are different from other colored diamonds. They have in common with colorless diamonds the lack of chemical impurities. Their color is due to the distortion of the crystal.
For this reason, pink diamonds offer a continuous range of hues from the paler (faint) to the most saturated (fancy vivid). The fancy intense pink often discussed in this column is less prestigious than the fancy vivid. The atomic intrusions can also generate more complex pinks approaching to purple or orange.
The most exceptional diamond ever offered at auction was the Pink Star, fancy vivid pink internally flawless weighing 59.60 carats. Its sale by Sotheby's on November 13, 2013 for CHF 76M including premium was later canceled after buyer payment deficiency.
On May 17 in Geneva, Sotheby's sells the Unique Pink, lot 495 estimated CHF 26,9M.
This fancy vivid pink of astonishing transparency and splendid purity offers a very saturated color. The total absence of atomic intrusions in the carbon crystal was verified by spectroscopy. Without approaching the weight of the Pink Star, the Unique Pink remains nevertheless very large in its category, 15.38 carats. It is VVS2, the best clarity below internally flawless and VVS1.
Because of their creation by pressure during the formation of the rock, the pink gems have an axis. The jeweler takes it into account to choose the shape. The Pink Star, absolute wonder of mineralogy, has been cut as a perfect oval obtained after two years of work by Steinmetz Diamonds. The Unique Pink was pear shaped by Cora International.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Sotheby's :
For this reason, pink diamonds offer a continuous range of hues from the paler (faint) to the most saturated (fancy vivid). The fancy intense pink often discussed in this column is less prestigious than the fancy vivid. The atomic intrusions can also generate more complex pinks approaching to purple or orange.
The most exceptional diamond ever offered at auction was the Pink Star, fancy vivid pink internally flawless weighing 59.60 carats. Its sale by Sotheby's on November 13, 2013 for CHF 76M including premium was later canceled after buyer payment deficiency.
On May 17 in Geneva, Sotheby's sells the Unique Pink, lot 495 estimated CHF 26,9M.
This fancy vivid pink of astonishing transparency and splendid purity offers a very saturated color. The total absence of atomic intrusions in the carbon crystal was verified by spectroscopy. Without approaching the weight of the Pink Star, the Unique Pink remains nevertheless very large in its category, 15.38 carats. It is VVS2, the best clarity below internally flawless and VVS1.
Because of their creation by pressure during the formation of the rock, the pink gems have an axis. The jeweler takes it into account to choose the shape. The Pink Star, absolute wonder of mineralogy, has been cut as a perfect oval obtained after two years of work by Steinmetz Diamonds. The Unique Pink was pear shaped by Cora International.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Sotheby's :
#MyLoveAffairWithDiamonds w/ @Sothebys 15.38ct FVP “Unique Pink” diamond sold for $31m in May 2016!#YourDailyDoseOfSparkle#ChampagneGem pic.twitter.com/RKsjUqB4wA
— CHAMPAGNE GEM (@xCHAMPAGNEGEMx) November 9, 2017
The Pink Cushion
2015 SOLD for CHF 29M including premium
The best pink diamonds meet the qualification of Fancy Vivid Pink, characterized by the absolute purity of the color with no hues of purple, orange, brown or gray. This feature provides an excellent homogeneity of color throughout the bulk of the gem.
Two Fancy Vivid Pink ensured the prominence of this variety at auction although one of them was finally unsold.
A potentially flawless diamond weighing 5.00 carats, named The Vivid Pink, was sold for HK $ 83M including premium by Christie's on December 1, 2009, corresponding to US $ 2.1 million per carat.
The sensational Pink Star is enormous, 59.60 carats, and internally flawless. Sotheby's estimated it in excess of US $ 60M, corresponding to $ 1M per carat, in Geneva on 13 November 2013. Considering certainly in due course that this estimate per carat was too low for such an exceptional rarity, a connoisseur offered the highest bid but was unable to pay.
Another significant example is the Clark specimen, sold for CHF 14.8 million including premium by Sotheby's on May 12, 2015 after a clarity improvement from SI1 to VS2 for a final weight of 8.72 carats after its rework.
We should not misunderstand the example of the Pink Star: the fancy vivid pink weighing more than 10 carats are extremely rare. The other pink diamonds which recently achieved a very high price at auction due to their heavy weight are fancy intense pink, along with an interesting fancy vivid purple-pink.
On November 10 in Geneva, Christie's sells a cushion cut fancy vivid pink of VVS2 clarity weighing 16.08 carats, mounted on a ring in a surrounding of rows of small diamonds, lot 409 estimated CHF 22M.
Let me remind here the scale of clarities : IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2.
I invite you to watch the post sale video shared by Christie's.
Two Fancy Vivid Pink ensured the prominence of this variety at auction although one of them was finally unsold.
A potentially flawless diamond weighing 5.00 carats, named The Vivid Pink, was sold for HK $ 83M including premium by Christie's on December 1, 2009, corresponding to US $ 2.1 million per carat.
The sensational Pink Star is enormous, 59.60 carats, and internally flawless. Sotheby's estimated it in excess of US $ 60M, corresponding to $ 1M per carat, in Geneva on 13 November 2013. Considering certainly in due course that this estimate per carat was too low for such an exceptional rarity, a connoisseur offered the highest bid but was unable to pay.
Another significant example is the Clark specimen, sold for CHF 14.8 million including premium by Sotheby's on May 12, 2015 after a clarity improvement from SI1 to VS2 for a final weight of 8.72 carats after its rework.
We should not misunderstand the example of the Pink Star: the fancy vivid pink weighing more than 10 carats are extremely rare. The other pink diamonds which recently achieved a very high price at auction due to their heavy weight are fancy intense pink, along with an interesting fancy vivid purple-pink.
On November 10 in Geneva, Christie's sells a cushion cut fancy vivid pink of VVS2 clarity weighing 16.08 carats, mounted on a ring in a surrounding of rows of small diamonds, lot 409 estimated CHF 22M.
Let me remind here the scale of clarities : IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2.
I invite you to watch the post sale video shared by Christie's.
The largest cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond to come to auction, for sale Nov 10 in Geneva. pic.twitter.com/t5nT7XYV6s
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) September 24, 2015The Perfect Pink
2010 SOLD 180 MHK$ including premium
The major diamonds have a name. The specimen coming for sale at Christie's in Hong Kong on November 29 is the Perfect Pink.
Without being one of the heaviest pink diamonds, it still weighs 14.23 carats. This marvel of nature and of jewelry has special features that justify the estimate of HK $ 110M.
The color classified Fancy Intense Pink is saturated and pure, with no shade of secondary color. Its purity VVS2 is exceptional for a diamond of this category. The emerald cut is perfect, too, and the press release indicates that this quality is an assurance that the stone has not been modified.
Last year, I discussed here another pink diamond sold by the same auction house on 1 December 2009. Less intense, this 5 carats Vivid Pink had reached the stellar achievement of U.S. $ 2.1 million per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
With US$ 1.67 million per carat, the Perfect Pink takes its place among the finest colored diamonds. It was sold HK $ 180M including premium.
Without being one of the heaviest pink diamonds, it still weighs 14.23 carats. This marvel of nature and of jewelry has special features that justify the estimate of HK $ 110M.
The color classified Fancy Intense Pink is saturated and pure, with no shade of secondary color. Its purity VVS2 is exceptional for a diamond of this category. The emerald cut is perfect, too, and the press release indicates that this quality is an assurance that the stone has not been modified.
Last year, I discussed here another pink diamond sold by the same auction house on 1 December 2009. Less intense, this 5 carats Vivid Pink had reached the stellar achievement of U.S. $ 2.1 million per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
With US$ 1.67 million per carat, the Perfect Pink takes its place among the finest colored diamonds. It was sold HK $ 180M including premium.
Two Hues of Pink
2016 SOLD for CHF 21M including premium
New exceptional diamonds invite on this fall in Geneva to compare the two most prestigious shades of pink. Both lots discussed below were analyzed in 2016 by the GIA.
On November 15, Christie's sells a pear-shaped fancy vivid pink weighing 9.14 carats. Its clarity is only VS2 but it is exceptional by the purity of its shade without any trace of secondary color. It is estimated CHF 16M, lot 216.
The fancy vivid pink is the most subtle variant. Let us quote the Pink Star, internally flawless weighing 59.60 carats, sold for CHF 76M including premium by Sotheby's on November 13, 2013 but unpaid by the buyer.
Another example more comparable in size and clarity to the gem coming for sale is the former diamond of Huguette Clark, reduced to 8.72 carats to achieve a VS2 clarity. It was sold for CHF 14.8M including premium by Sotheby's on May 12, 2015.
On November 16, Sotheby's sells a fancy intense pink weighing 17.07 carats, lot 336 estimated CHF 12M. Its clarity is sensational. It was graded VVS1 by the GIA including the suggestion for a polishing that would probably upgrade it to internally flawless. Its beauty is demonstrated in the video below.
The diamond for sale is emerald-cut, often considered as the best cut with regard to brilliance. The Graff Pink, another emerald cut fancy intense pink weighing 24.78 carats in clarity VVS2, was sold for CHF 45.4M including premium by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010.
Clarity is not enough to predict the price per carat. The saturation of the color provides in theory an advantage to the fancy vivid pink variant. Let us remind the scale of clarity : IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM :
Christie's : SOLD for CHF 18M.
Sotheby's : SOLD for CHF 21M.
On November 15, Christie's sells a pear-shaped fancy vivid pink weighing 9.14 carats. Its clarity is only VS2 but it is exceptional by the purity of its shade without any trace of secondary color. It is estimated CHF 16M, lot 216.
The fancy vivid pink is the most subtle variant. Let us quote the Pink Star, internally flawless weighing 59.60 carats, sold for CHF 76M including premium by Sotheby's on November 13, 2013 but unpaid by the buyer.
Another example more comparable in size and clarity to the gem coming for sale is the former diamond of Huguette Clark, reduced to 8.72 carats to achieve a VS2 clarity. It was sold for CHF 14.8M including premium by Sotheby's on May 12, 2015.
On November 16, Sotheby's sells a fancy intense pink weighing 17.07 carats, lot 336 estimated CHF 12M. Its clarity is sensational. It was graded VVS1 by the GIA including the suggestion for a polishing that would probably upgrade it to internally flawless. Its beauty is demonstrated in the video below.
The diamond for sale is emerald-cut, often considered as the best cut with regard to brilliance. The Graff Pink, another emerald cut fancy intense pink weighing 24.78 carats in clarity VVS2, was sold for CHF 45.4M including premium by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010.
Clarity is not enough to predict the price per carat. The saturation of the color provides in theory an advantage to the fancy vivid pink variant. Let us remind the scale of clarity : IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM :
Christie's : SOLD for CHF 18M.
Sotheby's : SOLD for CHF 21M.
From Pink to Purple
2019 SOLD for HK$ 156M including premium
For pink diamonds, the color is either pure or associated with a secondary color : red, orange, yellow, green blue, brown, purple. Throughout this range, the fancy vivid intensity is preferred over the denser, fancy intense and fancy deep, and the softer, light and faint.
The designation Purple Pink or Pink Purple indicates that neither color is dominant. A Purplish Pink is a pink with shades of purple. In both cases, a multi-faceted cut improves the displaying of both colors and of their mingling.
On October 7 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells a Fancy vivid purplish pink internally flawless weighing 10.64 carats. The rectangular shape with cut corners is a combination of an emerald cut and of the sparkling facets of a brilliant. It is mounted on a ring between two white diamonds. This jewel is estimated HK $ 150M, lot 1820.
A similar duality in the cut was also applied to the Pink Star, the Fancy vivid pink in pure color of 59.60 carats which was sold for HK $ 550M including premium by Sotheby's on April 4, 2017. Its outline is not rectangular but oval.
Announced in August 2019 by the Russian mining company Alrosa, the Spirit of the Rose is an internally flawless Fancy vivid purple pink. It weighs 14.83 carats, with an oval cut that takes into account altogether the highlighting of the two colors and an optimal yield from the raw gem, extracted in Yakutia in 2017, which weighed 27.85 carats.
On October 7, 2014, Sotheby's sold for HK $ 138M including premium a pear shaped internally flawless Fancy vivid purple pink weighing 8.41 carats.
At the end of this range of colors, the Purple Orchid announced in February 2018 is an exceptional cushion cut fancy intense pinkish purple weighing 3.37 carats. A pure purple rarely exceeds 3 carats.
The designation Purple Pink or Pink Purple indicates that neither color is dominant. A Purplish Pink is a pink with shades of purple. In both cases, a multi-faceted cut improves the displaying of both colors and of their mingling.
On October 7 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells a Fancy vivid purplish pink internally flawless weighing 10.64 carats. The rectangular shape with cut corners is a combination of an emerald cut and of the sparkling facets of a brilliant. It is mounted on a ring between two white diamonds. This jewel is estimated HK $ 150M, lot 1820.
A similar duality in the cut was also applied to the Pink Star, the Fancy vivid pink in pure color of 59.60 carats which was sold for HK $ 550M including premium by Sotheby's on April 4, 2017. Its outline is not rectangular but oval.
Announced in August 2019 by the Russian mining company Alrosa, the Spirit of the Rose is an internally flawless Fancy vivid purple pink. It weighs 14.83 carats, with an oval cut that takes into account altogether the highlighting of the two colors and an optimal yield from the raw gem, extracted in Yakutia in 2017, which weighed 27.85 carats.
On October 7, 2014, Sotheby's sold for HK $ 138M including premium a pear shaped internally flawless Fancy vivid purple pink weighing 8.41 carats.
At the end of this range of colors, the Purple Orchid announced in February 2018 is an exceptional cushion cut fancy intense pinkish purple weighing 3.37 carats. A pure purple rarely exceeds 3 carats.
