Pre-Auction Analysis: April 13th 2021, Christie’s New York, Magnificent Jewels

As most of the industry has been prevented from traveling during this challenging period in order to inspect the lots physically, we believe this current analysis is more relevant than ever.                                                 

Our Christie’s New York Pre-Auction Analysis focuses on elements that are hidden from the unprofessional eye. We will describe the important visual elements for those who cannot attend the preview and discuss characteristics such as: Undertone, Color Dispersion, and Inner-Grade (UDI; a detailed explanation appears at the bottom of this article). We analyze and grade Fancy Color Diamonds relative to their GIA grade.

We use grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1 being the lowest grade. Grade + is granted in rare cases and stands for stones with an exceptional characteristic. Stones that receive a minimum total UDI score of 8, without a red remark, pass the industry threshold and can be traded easily. Fancy Color Diamonds that are graded 10 or above, (without a quality remark) are usually sought after by high-end jewelry brands, collectors and the investment community.

For your convenience, we have added direct links for the GIA reports.

• All images in this article review were taken with an iPhone 12 pro, no filters were applied.
• All auction valuations are per carat and in US Dollars.

Lot #124

2.13 carats, Fancy Vivid Blue, Radiant, VS1 

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Read More

High catalog estimation: $1,408,450 per carat

Price realized: $1,253,521  pc

A two-carat Fancy Vivid Blue radiant cut diamond with a colorless crown, with most of the color found in the table. No significant gray undertone in the hue and the blue color should meet the expectations from a vivid blue diamond.

The stone was completed with a “Fair” Symmetry, a surprisingly low finish level for such an important and rare Fancy Color Diamond.    

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 9 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 2.13 ct, F.V.B, Rad, VS1 Click here 

Lot #125

2.34 carats, Fancy Vivid Orange, Radiant VS1 

High catalog estimation: $1,068,376 per carat

Price realized: $935,897  pc

Orange-looking diamonds rarely receive a single color description from the GIA. If we look at the unit count, they are rarer than Fancy Red diamonds, especially in higher clarities and larger carat sizes. This Vivid orange diamond exhibits a strong Inner-Grade, however, it leans towards the yellow hue, probably due to the yellow fluorescence. The crown area is semi-colorless for the most part and the general color dispersion is above average. The yellow fluorescence should improve the overall appearance under direct sunlight.  

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 10 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 2.34 ct, F.V.O Rad, VS1 Click here 

Lot #126

2.17 carats, Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, Radiant, SI1 

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Read More

High catalog estimation: $1,152,073 per carat

Price realized: $1,617,511  pc

A Vivid Purplish Pink with an exceptional undertone creating a desirable and sought-after “Bubblegum” hue. Most of the color is dispersed in the table area leaving parts of the crown with lighter shades of pink. The Si1 clarity is a result of several colorless crystals under the table and a transparent feather on the crown. 

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 11+ out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 2.17ct, F.V.P/P Rad, SI1 Click here 

Lot #217

3.02 carats, Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, Oval, SI2

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Read More

High catalog estimation: $496,688 per carat

Price realized: $447,019  pc

A relatively rare size for a vivid purplish pink oval. The stone has a solid Inner-Grade and an attractive purple undertone. The clarity grade is based on a large amount of twinning wisp, black crystals and feathers that are not visible to the naked eye. Due to a high depth percentage, this Oval seems smaller than its actual weight.

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 10 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 3.02ct, F.V.P/P, OS, SI2 Click here 

Lot #184

25.55 carats, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Oval, VS1 

A similar diamond enters the market once every… Read More

High catalog estimation: $47,945 per carat

Price realized: $64,579  pc

A large Vivid yellow oval with exceptional color dispersion leaving no colorless patches. The Inner-Grade is above the average and no green or brown undertone is present in the color mix. The face-up view of the stone does not correspond with its actual weight and seems to appear smaller.

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 11+ out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 25.55ct, F.V.Y, OS, VSI Click here 

Lot #159

6.56 carats, Fancy Intense Orangy Pink, Oval, VVS1 

High catalog estimation: $152,439 per carat

Price realized: $136,280  pc

An orangey-pink oval with a warm undertone typical of this type of color grade. The depth percentage (48%) makes the stone look larger relative to its physical carat weight. The diamond crystal is not fully translucent due to the graining lines in the stone   

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 8 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 6.56ct, F.I.O/P, OS, VVSI Click here 

Lot #56

20.14 carats, Fancy Intense Yellow, Cushion, VVS2 

An extremely small number of diamonds enter the market yearly… Read More

High catalog estimation: $22,343 per carat

Didn’t reach the minimum

A large fancy Intense yellow Old-Mine Cushion cut diamond with an open culet and 72% depth percentage. The Inner-Grade is average and color dispersion is low, a typical characteristic for an Old-Mine cut. The undertone exhibits an absolute yellow hue with no green or brown influence in the color mix.

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 7 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 20.14ct, F.I.Y, CU, VVS2 Click here 

Lot #21

14.62 carats, Fancy Yellow, Radiant, VS2 

An extremely small number of diamonds enter the market yearly… Read More

High catalog estimation: $12,311 per carat

Didn’t reach the minimum

A large Fancy yellow radiant. Analyzing the polished facets on the bottom, the table size and the depth percentage we can assume that the stone was probably polished from what used to be a lighter color – round brilliant polished diamond. The amount of colorless areas is quite significant and the inner-grade is low. The crystal situated under the table is black.

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 8 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 14.62 ct, F.Y, Rad, VS2 Click here 

Lot #191

10.09 carats, Fancy Intense Yellow, Radiant, IF 

An extremely small number of diamonds enter the market yearly… Read More

High catalog estimation: $17,839 per carat

Price realized: $16,105  pc

A Fancy intense yellow radiant cut that was polished out from what used to be a round brilliant diamond with a lighter color. The dark colorless frame surrounding the table area is noticeable which imprisons the color in the table area and reduces the overall aesthetic.

Visual Assets

Total Visual Score 8 out of 12

To review the GIA Report of 10.09ct, F.I.Y, Rad, IF Click here 

General

We use 1, 2, 3, 4, and 4+ to grade the three visual elements that GIA is silent about, although they impact the value dramatically.

Inner-Grade refers to the strength of color within each GIA saturation category:

Grade 1 weakest, bordering the saturation below.

Grade 2 weak (most common).

Grade 3 full-bodied color (above average).

Grade 4 very strong saturation.

Grade 4+ applies to the vivid category only, exhibiting the strongest possible saturation (rarely seen).

Undertone refers to a subtle hue influence in the body color of the stone.

For example:

A Fancy Blue Diamond with a significant gray presence in its general appearance will be graded with a low undertone grade of 1. A Fancy Blue that has no gray influence that is  close to a primary blue will receive the grade, 4.

In a Pink Fancy Color Diamond, a stone with a warm undertone (such as orange or brown) will receive a low undertone grade. A pink stone with a cold undertone (such as purple) will receive a high grade.

In Yellow Fancy Color Diamonds, low foreign influence or a light orange influence will grant the stone a high undertone grade. When the yellow undertone looks like a true primary yellow, it will receive the rare grade 4+. Green and brown undertones will grant a low grade in the yellow category.

Color Dispersion relates to how well the color is dispersed in the face-up view of a Fancy Color Diamond, regardless as to whether the GIA grades the stone as even. A stone with many colorless areas will receive the grade 1, while a stone that exhibits its face-up view with no colorless patches will receive the grade 4+. Unlike the first two elements, the color dispersion is not a gemological quality and is the result of cutter proficiency.