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Pre-Auction Analysis: July 09th 2021, Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Important Jewels

By FCRF Team | 08.07.21
Pre-Auction Analysis: July 09th 2021, Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Important Jewels

Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Important Jewels & Handbags, July 9th, 2021

As most of the industry has been prevented from traveling to Hong Kong during this challenging period, this Auction Analysis could help those who would like to bid without physically inspecting the goods.                                                 

Our Sotheby’s Hong Kong 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: 1827 

Description: 3.81 ct, Fancy Purplish Pink, Pear 

And a pair of triangular-cut Fancy Blue diamonds, 0.31 ct VVS1 and 0.29 ct VVS2

High Auction Estimation: $966,338 Total

Didn’t reach the minimum

GIA Report: View

Analysis: A Fancy Pink Pear-shape with a color-only report dated 2012. The inclusions in the stone are visible to the naked eye and the fluorescence seems to be Strong Blue. The Fancy Blue triangles flanking the pink Pear shape, appear to have a significant gray undertone. 

Visual Assets:

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
3.81 ct, Fancy.P/P, PS
3
2
3
Color- only report. I1 clarity, strong blue

 

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
A pair of triangular-cut Fancy Blue diamonds, 0.31 ct VVS1 and 0.29 ct VVS2
3
2
2
Gray undertone is visible

Total Average Score 7.5 out of 12


Lot: 1707

Description: 1.01 ct, Fancy Pink-Purple, Radiant, SI1 

High Auction Estimation: $76,519 pc

Price realized: $68,124 pc

GIA Report: View

Analysis: A purple diamond with approximately 40%  pink hue in the color mix. The stone depth is 58% which gives the stone a large appearance relative to its weight. 

Visual Assets:

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone 
Quality Remark
1.01 ct, F.P/P, Rad, SI1 
3
4
4

Total Visual Score 11 out of 12


Lot: 1809

Description: 17.01 ct, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Radiant, VS1

High Auction Estimation: $53,015 pc

Didn’t reach the minimum

Rarity: An extremely small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here 

GIA Report: View

Analysis: A large Vivid Yellow cushion cut diamond set in a semi-open gold cup which positively impacts the inner-grade. Dark colorless patches are scattered around the crown.  The diamond’s hue exhibits a primary yellow hue with no green or brown undertone.

Visual Assets:

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
17.01 ct, F.V.Y, Rad, VS1
3
3
4

Total Visual Score 10 out of 12


Lot: 1749

Description: 8.15 ct, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Cushion, VS1

High Auction Estimation: $50,588 pc

Didn’t reach the minimum

Rarity: A small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here

GIA Report: View

Analysis: An elongated Fancy Vivid Yellow cushion cut diamond with high grade on all three visual assets. Although mounted in yellow gold, the inner-grade seems to be above average. The color is well dispersed across the face up view of the stone and no green or brown undertone is visible in the hue, exhibiting a primary yellow.

Visual Assets:

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
8.15 ct, F.V.Y, CU, VS1
3
4
4

Total Visual Score 11 out of 12


Lot: 1746

Description: 3.18 ct, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Radiant, IF

High Auction Estimation: $32,404 pc

Price realized: $33,156 pc

Rarity: A small number of similar diamonds enter the market yearly… Check Rarity Here

GIA Report: View

Analysis: A Vivid Yellow radiant cut with solid inner-grade, a subtle undertone and some colorless patches surrounding the crown. Buyers should be aware the GIA is dated 2010

Visual Assets:

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
3.18 ct, F.V.Y, Rad, IF
3
3
3

Total Visual Score 9 out of 12


Lot: 1826

Description: 

5.01 ct, Fancy Yellow-Green, Pear, I1

4.01 ct, Fancy Yellow-Green, Pear, VS2 

High Auction Estimation: $28,559 pc

Didn’t reach the minimum

GIA Reports

5.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, I1 – View

4.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, VS2 – View 

 

Analysis: Two Fancy Yellow Green pear-shaped diamonds with a high compatibility. In fact, looking at the identical color, the matching Very Strong fluorescence grade and the GIA date of issue, it is reasonable to assume they were cut and polished from the same rough. One stone has an I1 clarity which is visible to the naked eye.

Visual Assets:

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
5.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, I1
3
3
3
I1 – VISIBLE

 

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
4.01 ct, F.Y/G, PS, VS2
3
3
3

Total Average Score 9 out of 12


Lot: 1706

Description: 2.07 ct, Fancy Intense Yellowish Green, Cushion, VS2

High Auction Estimation: $87,591 Total 

Didn’t reach the minimum

GIA Report: View

Analysis: A Green Fancy Color Diamond with a ~15% yellow modifier in the color mix. The inner-grade is high, the undertone meets our expectations from the GIA report and the color dispersion is perfect. The strong Green fluorescence will intensify the green hue under direct sunlight, a fact that will grant a premium to the price in this case.  

Visual Assets:

Inner Grade Hue
Color Dispersion
Undertone
Quality Remark
2.07 ct, F.I.Y/G, CU, VS2
4
4
4

Total Visual Score 12 out of 12


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. 

 

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