FCDI Q4 2017
Fancy color diamond price index slightly up in Q4 2017
Blue diamond prices continue to appreciate
New York, February 1st, 2018: According to The Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), the fourth quarter of 2017 saw a slight rise in fancy color diamond prices over the previous quarter. There were significant increases in prices of fancy blue diamonds, offset by continued softness in fancy yellow diamonds and stagnation in fancy pink diamond prices.
The Fancy Color Diamond Index in Q4 2017 indicates an overall rise of 0.1% over Q3 2017 for fancy yellow, pink and blue diamonds, in all sizes and saturations. Continuing the trend throughout 2017, prices of fancy blue color diamonds in Q4 increased 2.6%, with fancy intense and fancy vivid blues performing best, especially in the 1ct and 5ct categories. During the same period, fancy pink and yellow diamond prices declined slightly by 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively. For the fancy yellow color category, the overall 2017 results indicate stabilization following a 2016 decline of 4.0%.
On a year-on-year basis, when compared to Q4 2016, the Fancy Color Diamond Index increased by 0.1%, with fancy blue prices up 5.9% and fancy yellow and pink prices down by 1.8% and 0.8%, respectively.
In Q4, white diamonds performed relatively better than fancy colored diamonds, with the RAPI™ showing prices of 0.3ct, 0.5ct and 1ct diamonds rising in December 2017 over the first three quarters of 2017.
| Category | Q4/17 vs. Q3/17 | Q4/17 vs. Q4/16 |
| All fancy color diamonds | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| All yellow fancy color diamonds | (0.6%) | (1.8%) |
| All pink fancy color diamonds | (0.4%) | (0.8%) |
| All blue fancy color diamonds | 2.6% | 5.9% |
The Fancy Color Diamond Index is published by the non-profit Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), and tracks pricing data for yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in three key global trading centers – Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv.
FCRF Advisory Board chairman Eden Rachminov said: “We are seeing a stagnant supply picture of important pink and blue fancy color diamonds. Rare pinks and blues are very hard to come by and continue to command significant premiums. After more than 18 months, we are starting to see some price stability in commercial yellow fancy color diamonds, in line with the performance of white diamonds, driven by lower availability”.
FCDI Q3 2017
Fancy color diamond price index climbs slightly in Q3 of 2017
Blue and pink fancy color diamond prices rise due to reduction in supply
New York, November 6, 2017: The Fancy Color Diamond Index for the third quarter of 2017 indicates a slight rise overall of 0.2% over Q2 2017, for Yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in all sizes and saturations. Moreover, the index shows that in Q3 prices of fancy blue and pink color diamonds appreciated 0.4% and 0.3% respectively. Similar to Q1 2017 trends, the strongest performing price categories during Q3 2017 were fancy intense and fancy vivid blue diamonds across all carat sizes.
In Q3 2017, fancy yellow diamond prices declined by 0.1%, the lowest price decrease for the category since Q3 2016. There was price stability across most other fancy color diamond categories, continuing the trend in fancy color diamond pricing patterns during 2016 and early 2017.
| Category | Q3/17 vs. Q2/17 | Q3/17 vs. Q3/16 | Q3/17 vs. Q3/15 |
| All fancy color diamonds | 0.2% | (0.2%) | 0.7% |
| All yellow fancy color diamonds | (0.1%) | (2.5%) | (4.1%) |
| All pink fancy color diamonds | 0.3% | (0.6%) | 1.2% |
| All blue fancy color diamonds | 0.4% | 4.7% | 8.1% |
On a year-on-year basis, when compared to Q3 2016, the Fancy Color Diamond Index is slightly down by 0.2%, with fancy blue up 4.7% and fancy yellow and fancy pink down 2.5% and 0.6%, respectively. Compared to the same period in 2015, the Fancy Color Diamond Index is up 0.7% with fancy blue and fancy pink up 8.1% and 1.2% respectively, and fancy yellow down 4.1%.
The Fancy Color Diamond Index is published by the non-profit Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), and tracks pricing data for yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in three key global trading centers – Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv.
FCRF Advisory Board chairman Eden Rachminov said: “As far as supply is concerned, 2017 and the year before were record low years for blue fancy color diamond production from mines. The majority of the blues that are coming into the market are pre-owned stones. Manufacturers have seen a significant drop in availability across all sizes and qualities, and consequently prices have continued to increase. Going forward the market will have to adjust to a lower “new normal” supply level for blue fancy color and pinks in the high saturations levels.”
FCDI Q2 2017
Fancy color diamond price index unchanged during Q2 2017
Blue fancy color diamond prices appreciate moderately
New York, August 7, 2017: Analysis of pricing data by the Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF) for the second quarter of 2017 indicates overall pricing stability across all categories over the same quarter in the previous year. A deeper look at the data reveals that blue fancy color diamond prices continued to appreciate, climbing 5.5% over last year, while yellow fancy color diamond prices declined by 2.5% for the year. Overall, the Fancy Color Diamond Index for all shapes and sizes was flat for the period. According to RAPI™ during the same period, most white diamond categories experienced meaningful price declines.
| Category | Q2/17 vs. Q1/17 | Q2/17 vs. Q2/16 |
| All fancy color diamonds | (0.3%) | 0.0% |
| All yellow fancy color diamonds | (0.8%) | (2.5%) |
| All pink fancy color diamonds | (0.5%) | (0.4%) |
| All blue fancy color diamonds | 0.8% | 5.5% |
The strongest performing price categories during Q2 2017 were 10 carat fancy intense blue, 5 carat fancy vivid blue and 8 carat fancy intense blue, which appreciated by 2.5%, 2.4% and 2.3%, respectively.
On a year-on-year basis, when compared to Q2 2016 the strongest performing categories were 1 carat fancy vivid blue, 8 carat fancy intense blue and 1 carat fancy intense blue, appreciating by 13.1%, 11.5% and 11.4% respectively. The weakest categories were large carat yellow fancy color diamonds. As in recent periods, across all color segments, fancy intense and fancy vivid broadly demonstrated price increases, whereas color diamonds in the “Fancy” category maintained price softness.
The Fancy Color Diamond Index is published by the non-profit Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), and tracks pricing data for yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in three key global trading centers – Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv.
FCRF Advisory Board chairman Efraim Zion said, “Demand in China and other Asian markets for extremely rare fancy color diamonds is still robust. However the pipeline is experiencing continued supply shortages, which results in price stability, and in some categories continued appreciation. We will not be seeing changes in the foreseeable future.” Mr. Zion added, “Yellow fancy color stones are enjoying healthy demand as well, however their price behavior, especially for the commercial categories, more closely resembles that of white diamonds.”
FCDI Q1 2017
Fancy color diamond price index slightly up in Q1 2017
Price stability especially for yellow and pink fancy color diamonds
New York, April 26, 2017: The Fancy Color Diamond Index for the first quarter of 2017 indicates pricing stability across most fancy color diamond categories. The main exception was blue fancy color diamonds, which saw a 1.9% price increase in the first 3 months of 2017, continuing the trend of 2016. During the same time, yellow and pink fancy color diamond prices remained largely unchanged. Overall, the Fancy Color Diamond Index for all shapes and sizes was up 0.2% for the period.
| Category | Q1/17 vs. Q4/16 | Q1/17 vs. Q1/16 |
| All fancy color diamonds | 0.2% | 0.7% |
| All yellow fancy color diamonds | (0.2%) | (2.5%) |
| All pink fancy color diamonds | (0.2%) | 0.8% |
| All blue fancy color diamonds | 1.9% | 5.7% |
The strongest performing price categories during Q1 2017 were fancy intense and fancy vivid blue diamonds across all carat sizes.
On a year-on-year basis, when compared to Q1 2016, the Fancy Color Diamond Index is up 0.7% with blue fancy and pink fancy up 5.7% and 0.8%, respectively, and yellow fancy down 2.5%. As in Q4 2016, across all color segments fancy intense and fancy vivid demonstrated robust price increases, which were offset to some extent by price declines of color diamonds in the “Fancy” category.
The Fancy Color Diamond Index is published by the non-profit Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), and tracks pricing data for yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in three key global trading centers – Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv.
FCRF Advisory Board chairman Eden Rachminov said, “Highly coveted fancy intense and vivid blues are challenging to find in the market, while interest and demand for these categories continue to grow.” Mr. Rachminov added, “This trend is likely to continue well into 2017 as owners react to supply shortages with price hikes.”