Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels, December 8th, 2020
As most of the industry has been prevented from flying during this special period and inspect the lots physically, we believe this current analysis is even 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). When we analyze and grade any Fancy Color Diamond it is always done in relation to its 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, are considered to be “Gems” and are generally 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 11pro, no filters were applied.
- All auction valuations are per carat and in US Dollars.
Lot #204
31.30 carat, Fancy Intense Yellow, Round, VS2
High catalog estimation: $20,766 per carat
Didn’t reach the minimum
Click here to check the rarity of this diamond
A very large Fancy Intense Yellow round brilliant cut diamond with 63% depth. The Inner-Grade is quite high for a round brilliant cut as well as the color dispersion.
31.30 ct, F.I.Y, RS, VS2
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Total Visual Score 9 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 31.3 ct F.I.Y Click here
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Lot #287
2.61 carats, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink, Pear, VVS1, potentially Internally Flawless
2.34 carats, Fancy Intense Pink, Pear, VVS2, potentially Internally Flawless
High catalog estimation: $444,444 per carat
Price Realized: $418,181 pc
Click here to check the rarity of these diamonds
Two similar pink diamonds mounted together in a pair of earrings. One with a purple modifier and the other without. The millimeter size of both stones is similar.
Inner Grad Hue |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
2.61 ct F.I.P/P, PS, VVS1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2.34 ct F.I.P, PS, VVS2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Total Average Score 9 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 2.61 ct F.I.P/P Click here
To review the GIA Report of 2.34 ct F.I.P Click here
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Lot #273
15.42 carat, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Heart, VVS2
High catalog estimation: $38,910 per carat
Price Realized: $37,289 pc
Click here to check the rarity of this diamond
A relatively large vivid yellow heart shape with above average visual characteristics.
15.42 ct, F.V.Y, HS, VVS2
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Total Visual Score 9 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 15.42 ct F.V.Y Click here
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Lot #136
1.96 carat, Fancy Vivid Yellowish Green, Oval, VS2
High catalog estimation: $255,102 per carat
Price Realized: $223,214 pc
An uncommon Vivid Green diamond with a 15% to 20% yellow modifier in the color mix. The Inner-grade is quite high and there are no significant colorless patches in the face up view of the stone. There is no gray or brown undertone in the overall visual.
1.96 ct, F.I.Y/G, OV, VS2
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Total Visual Score 12 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 1.96 ct F.I.Y/G Click here
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Lot #276
6.09 carat, Fancy Vivid Yellow, Emerald, VVS2
High catalog estimation: $82,101 per carat
Price Realized: $53,366
Click here to check the rarity of this diamond
A square Emerald cut diamond with a strong Inner-grade, exhibiting an absolute yellow color. Although the color dispersion seems high, the yellow gold underneath the stone has a significant impact on this visual parameter.
6.09 ct, F.V.Y, EM, VVS2
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
4 |
2 |
4 |
Total Visual Score 10 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 6.09 ct F.V.Y Click here
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Lot #368
20.01 carat, Fancy Intense Yellow, Emerald, VS1
High catalog estimation: $24,987 per carat
Price Realized: $18,115 pc
Click here to check the rarity of this diamond
A large Intense Yellow Emerald cut diamond that was probably polished during the 1970’s or 1980’s. The face up view, for the most part, is colorless, exhibiting a very low color dispersion. The GIA also graded the distribution as Uneven.
20.01 ct, F.I.Y, EM, VS1
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
3 |
1 |
3 |
Low color dispersion |
Total Visual Score 7 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 20.01 ct F.I.Y Click here
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Lot #291
6.94 carat, Fancy Intense Yellow, Pear, SI1
6.71 carat, Fancy Intense Yellow, Pear, SI1
High catalog estimation: $18,315 per carat
Price Realized: $18,315 pc
Click here to check the rarity of these diamonds
A matching pair of pear shapes with matching measurements and clarity. Both have a solid Inner-grade and some colorless areas in the crown.
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
|
6.94 ct, F.I.Y, PS, SI1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
6.71 ct, F.I.Y, PS, SI1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Total Average Score 9 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 6.94 ct F.I.Y Click here
To review the GIA Report of 6.71 ct F.I.Y Click here
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Lot #139
5.04 carat, Fancy Orangy Pink, Marquise, SI2
High catalog estimation: $29,761 per carat
Price Realized: $54,563 pc
A large Fancy Orangey Pink Marquise with an SI2 clarity. The large feathers on the crown area are transparent and are not visible to the naked eye. All other visual characteristics are graded below.
5.04 ct, F.Orangey Pink MQ, SI2
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
3 |
3 |
3 |
SI2 |
Total Visual Score 9 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 5.04 ct F.O.P Click here
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Lot #75
6.89 carat, Fancy Intense Yellow, Radiant, VVS1
High catalog estimation: $14,513 per carat
Price Realized: $12,699 pc
Click here to check the rarity of this diamond
A Fancy Intense Yellow Radiant with a high color Dispersion and a solid Inner-grade.
6.89 ct, F.I.Y, Rad, VVS1
Inner Grade |
Color Dispersion |
Undertone |
Quality Remark |
3 |
4 |
3 |
Total Visual Score 10 out of 12
To review the GIA Report of 6.89 ct F.I.Y Click here
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General
We use 1, 2, 3, 4, and 4+ to grade the three visual elements that GIA is silent about, however 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 abounded).
Grade 3 full-bodied color (above average).
Grade 4 very strong saturation.
Grade 4+ applies for 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 and will be 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 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 has only to do with cutter proficiency.
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